Alison, Heather, Megan, Keisha and Rose are a group of precocious fifth graders who reside on Primrose Street and attend Lincoln Elementary school; they are students of Ms. Austin. A favorite pastime for all the girls is to visit their elderly neighbor, Ellie Goodwin, a former actress who has traveled the world, and her magical attic where they can choose any costume they wish from Ellie's antique steamer. Each time they try on an outfit in front of the attic mirror, they are transported to a different place and time. The "Magic Attic Club" is their special secret, and the girls promise to share with one another each new and exciting adventure.

From the Magic Attic Club website: "The day we first made friends with our new neighbor, Ellie, she gave us the key to her attic and said we could play there anytime. We raced all the way upstairs, and what we found was like a dream come true.
There's a trunk in the attic filled with the most beautiful dresses you've ever seen--ball gowns, ballerina tutus, princess gowns, plus outfits to wear for all of our favorite sports, like horseback riding, gymnastics-- even figure skating!
But that isn't the best part. There's a mirror, too. You just dress up in an outfit from the trunk and look into the mirror--and all of an adventure, like a fantasy that becomes real!
Our last group adventure started with the red, white and blue camp outfits we found in the trunk. We put them on and found ourselves at Camp Whispering Pines.
You can have a key to the attic too, and play with us whenever you want. It's like having a birthday party that never ends!"

Alison McCann (nickname "Ally")

Birthday: Feb 2

Favorite color: blue

Pets: has a dog named "Duke" and a cat named "Matilda"

Alison is the only girl in her family and the second of four children.

Brothers: Mark 13 (whom she considers "A Big Jerk") and twins - Jason and Steven, age 7.

Her father works for a real estate company and her mother runs a catering business. A natural born athlete and tomboy, Alison loves all sports, especially softball, basketball and soccer, and usually is picked first whenever sides are chosen. She also happens to be the captain of her soccer team and was elected president of her fifth grade class. There isn't much Alison is afraid of as she'll take dares even her brothers won't do. Alison once spoke to the P.T.A. group about bringing a live circus to Lincoln Elementary School. She does well in school but struggles with the learning disability dyslexia, and receives additional help from her private tutor, Mrs. Haggerty, on a weekly basis. Although usually on the go, Alison occasionally enjoys dressing up and helping her mother bake.

Heather Hardin

Birthday: August 5

Favorite color: pink

Heather is the youngest of two sisters.

Sister: Jenna 13 (attends jr. high)

Her family is Jewish. Her father's side of the family is descended from the  "Sephardim" (Spanish Jews who settled in Granada, Spain.) Her paternal grandmother is the family historian who teaches Heather about her Jewish heritage when she visits. Heather also attends Hebrew School. Her father is a pilot and her mother, Sarah, is an artist. Heather is very outgoing and sensitive to the feelings of others. Since her family has transferred often, due to her father's job, Heather has always been the "new girl" and often felt left out, so she cherishes the friendships she's made through "The Magic Attic Club". She's always planning fun activities such as parties, sleepovers and special holiday celebrations to enjoy with her friends. Her interests include drawing, painting, fashion and ballet. She wants to be either a fashion designer or ballerina when she grows up.

Keisha Vance

Birthday: May 20

Favorite Color: purple

Sister: Ashley 6 (attends kindergarten)

Brother: Ronnie 2 (attends Day Care)

Her family is African-American. Her father, Benjamin, is a hospital administrator and her mother is a nurse. Keisha is very enthusiastic and puts her heart into everything she does. Her interests include cheerleading, photography and singing in her church choir. She also enjoys volunteering at a local nursing home. Keisha loves her younger brother and sister but isn't always thrilled to babysit after school while her parents are still at work. Her parents often remind Keisha of how proud they are of her. Her dad calls her "pumpkin" and her mother is teaching her all about African customs and foods. Keisha hope that she will be able to travel to Africa one day with her family. Keisha is a very good student and is already considering several possible future careers: becoming a doctor, nurse, paramedic, veterinarian or even a teacher.

From the Magic Attic Club website: "It was incredible to open the trunk for the first time. I'd never seen so many beautiful clothes to dress up in! Every time we go back there's something new to check out. I tried to get Ellie to explain it all, but she just told us "the real magic is in you!" Everybody says I'm pretty enthusiastic. It's true I have a lot of energy, and sometimes I even get carried away. But I can be serious too, serious about having fun! I'm trying to put my heart into everything I do-gymnastics, the church choir, volunteering at the nursing home. But I most like taking pictures of people-especially in funny poses! I'm not always that thrilled about babysitting for my younger brother and sister. But I know my Mom and Dad are proud of me. Dad calls me "Pumpkin," and my Mom's been teaching me all about African customs and foods. One look at my bedroom and you'll know I love purple. The polka-dots on my t-shirt match my quilt. We even made purple an official club color!"

Megan Ryder

Birthday: October 1

Favorite color: yellow

Nicknames: Aunt Frances calls her "Megs". Her father calls her "Red" because her hair is strawberry blonde.

Megan is 11 years old and is an only child. She lives with her mother and Aunt Frances. Her parents divorced when she was five, and her Aunt Frances came to live with them shortly after. Her mother, Julia Wyndham-Ryder, is an attorney and her father is an international correspondent. Although she doesn't get to see him very often, Megan is very close to her father with whom she shares a love of reading and books. She also enjoys writing and hopes one day to follow in her father's footsteps.

Pets: Ginger (her cat)

Megan is a true "animal lover" and never refuses a chance to "pet sit". She is trying to persuade her mom to also let her have a dog and a horse. Megan is an excellent student. Her friends call her "the class star". Megan is also very "thin skinned" and easily offended. Although she isn't very athletic, Megan did enjoy a European skiing vacation with her father.

From the Magic Attic Club website: "When we went on our first adventure through the mirror, we were all scared we wouldn't get home again. But I figured out how it works. Afterwards, Heather, Keisha and Alison agreed that I should write down our adventures, I like to write books as much as I like reading them-and I really hope the mirror takes me to all the places I've read and dreamed about.

My friends tease me for reading so much and call me the "Class star" because I'm pretty smart in school. It's true I really like to read everything, especially mysteries.

I love animals almost as much as books. Someday I'm going to get a horse and a dog. Mom says that for now I can only can have Ginger, my cat.

Do you ever think about the things you'd like to do? I daydream all the time. Sometimes I imagine I'm a foreign news correspondent like my Dad. Or maybe a horse trainer with a whole stable full of horses. Or a pilot! My Dad calls me "Red" because my hair is strawberry blond. But my very favorite color is yellow-I even put yellow laces in my sneakers! "

Rose Hopkins

Birthday: December 15

Favorite Color: green

Rose is the youngest of two sisters. Her older sister, Anna, attends college.

Pets: "Little Squawk" (a Cockatiel bird)

Her family is Native American. Her father is a college professor and her mother is a graduate student who continues to take courses at the university. Rose's grandfather lives with her family and he's teaching Rose all about her Cheyenne heritage through stories. Rose likes to contribute time to humanitarian causes. Her interests include computers and playing soccer. She is a computer expert who has taught many about computers, including her grandfather, her mother, her best friends and neighbor, Ellie Goodwin. Rose practices to become a better soccer player; her sister used to coach her before she left for college. (Rose often exchanges e-mails with her sister.) Since kindergarten, Rose had attended a private school and didn't know if she'd like attending the local public school her parents had her transferred to. At first, Rose wasn't sure she wanted to be friends with Heather, Megan, Keisha and Alison, until they invited her to join them on an attic adventure. Now she considers them "true friends". Her sister, Anna, is studying to become a teacher, but Rose hasn't decided what she wants to do as an adult. Rose's mother thinks she'd make an excellent lawyer because Rose is never afraid to speak up for others.

From the Magic Attic Club website: "I wasn't sure if I would like going to public school. It's so hard to make new friends. Then I met Heather, Alison, Keisha and Megan at Ellie's and they asked me to join the Magic Attic Club. Now, I have true friends and go on the most wonderful adventures!

Grown ups call me a computer whiz. I like playing games best, but I help my mom with her school projects and I'm teaching my grandfather how to use all the software. He calls me Little Flower and is teaching me our native language, Cheyenne. All good things come from the earth he says. That's why my favorite color is green. 

I love playing soccer. My sister used to coach me, but she left for college this year. She wants to be a teacher like my dad. I can't decide what I want to do. My mom thinks I should be a lawyer because I'm never afraid to speak up for others. She found this plaid jumper for me. She knew I would like the color, but it was the hat that sold her. She says it makes me look sophisticated."