Magic Tree House: Time of the Turtle King is a children's book written by Mary Pope Osborne. The story follows the adventures of Jack and Annie, the main characters of the Magic Tree House series. In this installment, they travel back in time to the era of the Turtle King. The story begins when Jack and Annie find a mysterious note from Morgan le Fay, the magical librarian. The note tells them to find four special objects that will help free a captive magicians from King Ludlow's castle. Using their magical tree house, the siblings are transported back in time to the Caribbean in the 1400s.
“From where we are, we couldn’t see the Russian positions. But from the recon drone I can see them constantly mucking about in the rear. So I said, ‘What if we put a Mark 19 on a pickup truck, race up the ‘Road of Life’ [one of the few supply lines Ukraine maintains with Bakhmut] stop behind a hill and lob a full magazine of grenades at them. There’s enough time to empty out all 32 grenades and be gone before return mortar fire reaches us. I did the math!”
Ukraine also appears to have acquired Chinese 60-millimeter shells via Albania, Japanese-manufactured bombs and fuses likely supplied via the United States, and even Iranian and Croatian mortar rounds. Interviews were conducted in three areas live flying zones, areas where drone flights had occurred in the past, and in communities where drones had never flown before.
Using their magical tree house, the siblings are transported back in time to the Caribbean in the 1400s. Once they arrive, Jack and Annie encounter talking dolphins who guide them to the Turtle King, who possesses one of the special objects they need. They learn that the Turtle King is an ancient and wise ruler who guards the secrets of the ocean.
The Witch of Ukraine Reveals How 'Teeny-Weeny' American Weapons Are Beating Russians
A female Ukrainian soldier says a U.S.-supplied light mortar and grenade launcher turned the tide in a desperate battle.
By Sébastien Roblin Published: Feb 23, 2023 saved contained icon An empty outlined icon indicating the option to save an itemThe United States has supplied weapons of increasing cost and sophistication to Ukraine including M777 towed howitzers, Javelin top-attack anti-tank missiles, and eventually M1 Abrams main battle tanks and Patriot air defense systems.
But military aid need not always be exotic to have an impact. Starting before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine one year ago and continued since, the U.S. also provided modest quantities of low-tech infantry support weapons—M240 and M2 machine guns, 60-millimeter mortars, Mark 19 automatic grenade launchers, and M82 Barret sniper rifles.
These small arms have made their way both to elite commando units, but also to some of Ukraine’s most under-equipped troops, where they are making a difference as testified by Olha Bihar, known by her callsign “Witch” (Vyzdma).
Formerly a lawyer working on her Ph.D., Witch now commands a mortar platoon in the 204 th battalion of the 241 st Separate Territorial Defense Force (TDF) Brigade. At least 57,000 women serve in Ukraine’s armed forces, including at least 13,000 in roles near frontline combat.
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The lightly armed 241 st —ostensibly formed for local defense of the capital Kyiv—was one of several brigades thrust into the thick of the fighting for Bakhmut, a town in Eastern Ukraine of middling strategic value that has become an obsessive focus of Russian offensive operations. Since the fall of 2022, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers and mercenaries have been killed or wounded attempting to capture the city.
In a video, Witch recounts an intense battle between October 5-8, 2022 when her platoon defended Bakhmut’s Siniat ALC asphalt mixing plant. (Her translated comments have been lightly altered for concision.)
“The battle was brutal. We faced the enemy three times our number in close quarter gun fights—and Russian long-range artillery on top of that. The Muscovites [Russians] were able to penetrate a quarter of the territory we were defending…So, the orcs occupied part of the planet and we set out to provide fire support to our people pinned there. The fire support team had to work from a depression, without a line of sight.”
“As far as artillery, all we had was a small 60-millimeter mortar—firing range 1.5 kilometers [1 mile] at most. And the American Mark 19 grenade launcher, that saved our butts on multiple occasions, despite its equally short 2 kilometer [1.24 mile] firing range. But again, you don’t see what you’re shooting at, you fire blindly, guided from a drone.”
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Though intended for direct fire as particularly beastly machine gun, the Mark 19 can be adapted for high-angle indirect attacks, a method improvised by a Marine unit to dispatch Taliban ambushers in Afghanistan. Reportedly, tables for indirect fire between 900 meters to 2 kilometers were included in prior Mark 19 field manuals, but not the latest publication.
“In my platoon, I have this hothead name Sheva. He supported us with the Mark 19 in that depression to fire ballistically [in an arc] at the attacking Russians—you have to shoot carefully so as not to hit your own troops. He fires one—nails a Moscovite right in the ass. Fires a second—hits another one. Sheva is holding off the Russian attack when suddenly the Mark 19 jams.
“Meanwhile, the Russians called in the artillery and started adjusting it towards Sheva’s position. Without much deliberation, Sheva whips out that teeny-weeny mortar, basically a toy, an oversized under-barrel grenade launcher. He sticks it into the ground and starts blasting. Just look at how he was aiming it!”
In the interview, Witch produces a cell phone video in which Sheva can bee seen adjusting the mortar’s firing angle by propping it up with a chunk of rock.
“How else were you gonna aim it? That old American mortar didn’t have a bipod. Yet he managed to hit the same enemy trench three times with it. Russian artillery eventually wounded Sheva and his entire crew. He was forcibly evacuated, because he refused to leave, and I had to threaten to arrest him if he didn’t go to the hospital. A shell fragment had busted his helmet and sliced his rifle’s [noise-reducing] suppressor cleanly in half, as if with a knife. When he left, the first thing he did was to pluck a rose. Bakhmut is famous for its roses.”
This is not Witch’s only story involving Bakhmut, Sheva, and their creative use of American weapons, as recounted in an earlier video.
“From where we are, we couldn’t see the Russian positions. But from the recon drone I can see them constantly mucking about in the rear. So I said, ‘What if we put a Mark 19 on a pickup truck, race up the ‘Road of Life’ [one of the few supply lines Ukraine maintains with Bakhmut] stop behind a hill and lob a full magazine of grenades at them. There’s enough time to empty out all 32 grenades and be gone before return mortar fire reaches us. I did the math!”
Though the driver was “aghast,” they gave the idea a try:
“Minefield to the right, minefield to the left, orcs in front, clear line of sight. They swerve the truck, loose a full belt of 40-millimeter grenades. As soon as they dart off, mortar bombs begin falling where they just stood. We terrorized them for two whole weeks this way.”
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Intercepted communications apparently revealed Russians forces were vexed by the ‘devil’s chariot,’ which seemed to combine the rate of fire of an automatic grenade launcher with the trajectory of a mortar.
The asphalt plant eventually fell to Russian troops in mid-October 2022, only to be recaptured later that month by a Ukrainian counterattack. Control has seesawed since. While Russia has struggled to hold any parts of Bakhmut proper, it has made progress interdicting all but one of the road Ukraine relies upon to resupply the Ukrainian garrison. Ukrainian forces may therefore eventually be compelled to withdraw while a line of retreat remains open—but only after having absorbed much of the brunt of Russia’s winter offensive.
To earn his help, Jack and Annie must complete a series of challenges and prove their bravery. Throughout their journey, Jack and Annie learn important lessons about the environment and the importance of protecting it. They witness firsthand the destruction caused by greedy humans and the desperate need for conservation. The story highlights the harmful impact of pollution on marine life and stresses the need for responsible behavior towards the environment. As they navigate through treacherous waters and encounter various sea creatures, Jack and Annie develop a deep respect for nature and its inhabitants. They also learn how interconnected all living beings are and the need for harmony and balance in the world. Magic Tree House: Time of the Turtle King offers an exciting adventure while teaching young readers about the importance of environmental stewardship. By promoting empathy towards animals and ecosystems, the book aims to inspire children to make a positive impact on the world around them..
Reviews for "Unravel the Mystery of the Turtle King in 'Magic Tree House: Time of the Turtle King"
1. Name: Sarah
Rating: 2/5
Review: I was really disappointed with "Magic Tree House: Time of the Turtle King". As a fan of the series, I was eagerly looking forward to this installment, but it fell flat for me. The story lacked the usual excitement and adventure that I've come to expect from the Magic Tree House books. The plot felt rushed and underdeveloped, and the characters were not as engaging as in previous books. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable addition to the series.
2. Name: Michael
Rating: 1/5
Review: I found "Magic Tree House: Time of the Turtle King" to be incredibly boring and uninspiring. The premise of time travel and exploring different historical periods usually captivates me, but this book failed to do so. The pacing was slow, and the story simply did not hold my attention. Additionally, the writing felt repetitive and lacked depth. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting adventure.
3. Name: Jennifer
Rating: 2/5
Review: "Magic Tree House: Time of the Turtle King" was a letdown for me. The plot felt predictable, and I could easily guess what was going to happen next. The characters lacked depth, and I struggled to connect with them. The writing style also felt too simplistic and aimed at a much younger audience. Overall, I was not impressed with this installment and would not recommend it to older readers looking for a more engaging read.