Mallory notices there's something funny about an old oak tree, takes a closer look, and before she knows it, she's broken a magical spell. Arbican the wizard has been trapped in the oak for thousands of years, and his powers are gone. Will he get them back in time to save Mallory's village from greedy Squire Scrupner?Deft storytelling.'AFull of? quotable bits of wisdom about the real nature of magic.' ? Booklist , starred review