# Please help me ID this book... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474 "2005-09-20T02:02:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/1 "2005-09-20T02:02:59Z")
I was (for some unknown reason) thinking about a book I remember reading at some point, but I can’t figure out the title or the author. I _think_ it’s a “young adult” book, but I’m not sure. It’s may be in the mystery/thriller genre. The only details I can remember are something about the Mobil red pegasus, a kidnapping, and a medallion. I think there were metaphysical/witchcraft sorts of overtones. Anyway, if anyone could help or has any idea what I’m talking about, please let me know. TIA! ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/2 "2005-09-20T03:32:24Z")
Is it [_Half Magic_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0152020683/ref=sib_rdr_dp/002-9448666-0013604?%5Fencoding=UTF8&no=283155&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&st=books) by Edward Eager? ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/3 "2005-09-20T04:27:27Z")
I remember reading a YA book about a girl who looked out her apartment window at the Mobil red pegasus and dreamed about flying away on his back. I believe that a funny uncle gets custody of her after her mom dies. He makes a pass at her as he is driving her to his home and the car gets wrecked. She runs off into the woods and is rescued by an odd family who live in a weird old house. They keep her safe until help appears. Unfortunately, I’ve severely pruned my young adult collection and I don’t remember the title or author anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/4 "2005-09-20T17:25:47Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Is it [_Half Magic_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0152020683/ref=sib_rdr_dp/002-9448666-0013604?%5Fencoding=UTF8&no=283155&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&st=books) by Edward Eager? Nope, doesn’t look like it, but thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/5 "2005-09-21T00:54:33Z")
I found it!!! Thanks to those who tried to help. The missing author is _John Bellairs_. The specific book I was remembering is The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring. I found another one of his books (which apparently I’d also read at some point) in the library today browsing through the children’s section. I decided to just look until I saw something that looked familiar. The ones I found are The Figure in the Shadows and The Ghost in the Mirror (which I haven’t read yet.) I’m going to see about getting the one I’m looking for put on hold for me. I must have checked these out of the school library at some point, because I’ve never owned them. But they’re fun books, kind of Stephen King for kids. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/6 "2005-09-21T03:38:12Z")
Thank heaven you found it! But you must read _The House With a Clock in its Walls_ before you do The Figure in the Shadows and The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring and The Ghost in the Mirror. It’s the law. And thank you so much for directing me to The Ghost in the Mirror. I missed that when it was published. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-id-this-book/322474/7 "2005-09-21T04:51:15Z")
I loved John Bellairs as a kid. I’ll still pick one up now and then at the library for fun. See what you think of his novel for older audiences, _The face in the frost_.