“Once upon a time, deep in the Australian bush, lived a tiny possum called Hush and her Grandma Poss.”
— The opening lines, introducing the main characters and setting.
Archivist's Choice
Possum Magic
Mem Fox (1983)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's
Reading Time
10 min
Key Themes
See below
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To reverse a spell that made young Hush invisible, Grandma Poss must journey across Australia to find the specific human foods that will make her visible again.
Synopsis
Grandma Poss, a skilled bush magician, makes her grandchild Hush invisible for protection. Hush enjoys the invisibility at first, but then grows sad because she can't see herself. Realizing her mistake, Grandma Poss consults her magic books and remembers that human food can reverse bush magic. Together, they travel across Australia. In Adelaide, Hush eats Vegemite, and her tail becomes visible. In Melbourne, pavlova makes her legs appear. Sydney's Anzac biscuits reveal her body, Brisbane's lamingtons bring forth her head, Darwin's pumpkin scones make her ears visible, Perth's Minties show her arms, and finally, Hobart's chocolate cake restores her entire self. Fully visible and happy, Hush and Grandma Poss return home, celebrating with a big party and promising to never make Hush invisible again.
Reading time
10 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Whimsical, Heartwarming, Adventurous, Sweet
✓ Read this if...
You love charming stories about Australian culture, magic, and the special bond between a grandparent and grandchild, with delightful illustrations.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer complex plots or stories without a strong focus on specific cultural elements.
Plot Summary
Hush's Invisibility Wish
Hush, a young possum, lives in the Australian bush with her Grandma Poss. Grandma Poss is an old and wise possum who knows 'bush magic.' One day, Hush says she is scared of snakes, so Grandma Poss uses her magic to make Hush invisible to keep her safe. This works; Hush can move around without fear of being seen by predators, and she enjoys the freedom. She can even sneak up on other animals without them knowing, which she likes at first. Grandma Poss is proud of her magic, thinking she has given Hush the best protection.
The Problem of Not Seeing Herself
While being invisible first brought Hush joy and a sense of safety, a new problem soon appears. Hush cannot see herself, and this makes her feel very sad and lost. She can't see her tail, her feet, or her face. She wants to know what she looks like again. She misses seeing her reflection and worries she might have forgotten her appearance. She tells Grandma Poss she is unhappy, and Grandma Poss realizes that while her magic protected Hush, it also took away something important: Hush's sense of self.
Grandma Poss's Search for the Counter-Spell
Grandma Poss is upset by Hush's sadness and immediately tries to undo the spell. She tries every bush magic spell she knows, chanting and waving her paws. She tries 'this spell' and 'that spell,' but none work. Hush stays completely invisible. Grandma Poss realizes that making Hush visible again is much harder than making her invisible. She wants to help her granddaughter and thinks about what kind of magic might be strong enough to undo her own invisibility spell.
A Flash of Memory: Human Food
After many failed tries, Grandma Poss suddenly remembers something. She recalls a specific, strong magic that involves human food. She remembers hearing from other old possums that certain Australian human foods can make invisible possums visible again. The memory is unclear, and she can't recall the exact foods, but she knows it is the only way. She explains this new plan to Hush, who, despite being disappointed by the lack of success, becomes hopeful for a solution, even if it seems unusual.
The Journey Begins: To Adelaide for Vegemite
Grandma Poss and Hush decide they must travel all over Australia to find the specific human foods that will make Hush visible again. Their first stop is Adelaide. They travel far, through the night, until they reach the city. In Adelaide, they find a family having a picnic and carefully manage to sneak some Vegemite sandwiches. Hush eats a Vegemite sandwich, and to their happiness, her tail becomes visible! This small success gives them new hope and confirms Grandma Poss's memory was right.
Melbourne for Pavlova
Encouraged by their progress, Grandma Poss and Hush continue their journey. Their next stop is Melbourne. There, they find and eat a delicious pavlova. As Hush eats the sweet treat, her legs become visible! This further shows their quest is working and that each food helps her become visible, piece by piece. They are happy, knowing they are on the right path, and look forward to what other foods Australia has to offer.
Sydney for Anzac Biscuits
The possums then travel to Sydney. They look for the next magical human food. In Sydney, they find and eat Anzac biscuits. After Hush eats the crunchy biscuits, her body becomes visible! She can now see her torso and arms, which is a big step towards full visibility. The journey is going well, and Hush's excitement grows with each part of herself that reappears. Grandma Poss is relieved that her plan is working.
Brisbane for Lamingtons
Their adventure takes them north to Brisbane. Here, they look for another famous Australian treat. They find and eat lamingtons, the sponge cakes with chocolate and coconut. After Hush enjoys the lamingtons, her ears become visible! She can now see her cute, furry ears, bringing her even closer to being completely seen. The pattern of specific foods restoring specific body parts is now clear, and their determination to finish the quest is strong.
Darwin for Pumpkin Scones
From Brisbane, they journey to the tropical north, to Darwin. Here, they discover and eat pumpkin scones. After Hush eats the warm scones, her eyes become visible! This is a happy moment, as she can now see the world through her own visible eyes, even though she still can't see her face. The possums celebrate this step, knowing they are very close to reaching their goal of full visibility for Hush.
Perth for Minties
Their journey continues west to Perth. In Perth, they look for another special treat: Minties. Hush eats the chewy Minties, and after she does, her nose becomes visible! She can now see her small, twitching nose, and her face is almost complete. The possums are excited, knowing that only one main part of her face remains invisible. The long journey across Australia is nearing its successful end.
Hobart for Chocolate Cake
Finally, their journey leads them to Hobart, in Tasmania. Here, they find the last magical food: a piece of chocolate cake. As Hush eats the rich chocolate cake, her whole face becomes visible! She is completely visible once more, from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. Hush is happy to see herself again, and Grandma Poss is proud and relieved. The two possums celebrate their success, surrounded by Australia's beauty.
Home Again, Visible and Happy
With Hush fully visible again, the two possums return home to the Australian bush. Hush is very happy to be able to see herself and for others to see her. She no longer fears being invisible, nor does she fear snakes as much, now knowing she can be seen and protected. Grandma Poss is happy that her granddaughter is well again. They live happily ever after, with Hush enjoying her visibility and Grandma Poss valuing her granddaughter, and perhaps being a little more careful with her magic.
Principal Figures
Hush
The Protagonist
Transforms from an unseen, sad possum to a visible, happy, and confident one, having found her identity.
Grandma Poss
The Supporting
Learns that even well-intentioned magic can have unexpected consequences and that patience and specific knowledge are sometimes more powerful than general spells.
Snakes
The Mentioned
None, they are a static plot device.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Self-Perception
The main theme is Hush's struggle with her identity once she cannot see herself. Invisibility first seems like protection, but it quickly leads to a loss of self. The journey to become visible again is a quest for self-discovery, showing that seeing oneself, and being seen, is important for identity and well-being. Hush's sadness shows the effect of being unseen, making her full visibility a strong symbol of regaining her sense of self.
“But Hush was not happy. She couldn't see herself. She longed to know what she looked like.”
The Power and Limits of Magic
Grandma Poss's 'bush magic' is first shown as powerful and good, able to grant invisibility for protection. However, the story soon reveals its limits and unexpected results. Making Hush invisible was easy, but undoing the spell is much harder, needing a different, more specific kind of 'magic' – human food and a difficult journey. This theme explores the idea that not all problems can be solved with a simple spell, and sometimes a more practical approach is needed, showing the difference between simple enchantment and a deeper understanding of solutions.
“Grandma Poss tried this spell and she tried that spell, but Hush remained invisible.”
Love and Nurturing
The strong love between Grandma Poss and Hush drives the story. Grandma Poss's first act of making Hush invisible comes from wanting to protect her granddaughter, and her later efforts to make Hush visible again are from her deep love and concern for Hush's happiness. This theme shows the caring bond in families and the sacrifices made for loved ones, emphasizing compassion and responsibility.
“Grandma Poss was sad. She wanted Hush to be happy.”
Cultural Identity and Australian Landscape
The book is full of Australian culture and geography. The journey across Australia, with stops in different cities and the eating of Australian foods (Vegemite, pavlova, Anzac biscuits, lamingtons, pumpkin scones, Minties, chocolate cake), is not just a plot point but also a celebration of the country's unique identity. The land and its food traditions become part of Hush's change, linking her regaining of self to the rich culture of Australia.
“So, Grandma Poss and Hush set off to find the human food. First they went to Adelaide.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Quest/Journey
A physical journey across Australia to achieve a specific goal.
The entire narrative is structured as a quest. Hush and Grandma Poss embark on a physical journey across the diverse landscapes and cities of Australia, from Adelaide to Hobart. This journey is not just travel, but a series of challenges and discoveries, with each stop bringing them closer to their ultimate goal of making Hush visible. The quest structure provides a clear progression of the plot and allows for the introduction of various Australian cultural elements.
Symbolism of Australian Food
Specific foods act as magical catalysts for visibility.
Each iconic Australian food (Vegemite, pavlova, Anzac biscuits, lamingtons, pumpkin scones, Minties, chocolate cake) is not merely a snack but a magical catalyst. Consuming these foods is the only way to reverse the invisibility spell, with each food restoring a different part of Hush. This device cleverly weaves Australian culture into the magical solution, making the foods symbolic of identity and the power of shared cultural experiences to restore wholeness.
Repetition and Pattern
Recurring phrases and a predictable sequence of events.
The story employs repetition, particularly in the sequence of travel, food consumption, and the reappearance of Hush's body parts. For example, 'Her tail became visible!', 'Her legs became visible!' This predictable pattern makes the story engaging and easy for young readers to follow, building anticipation with each new food and visible body part. The recurring structure reinforces the idea of gradual progress and eventual success.
Bush Magic
A magical system unique to the Australian setting.
'Bush magic' is the specific magical system used by Grandma Poss, distinct from generic fairy tale magic. It grounds the fantasy elements firmly in the Australian context. While initially powerful enough to cause invisibility, its limitations in reversing the spell highlight a more nuanced understanding of magic, suggesting that some problems require unique, non-traditional solutions derived from specific knowledge, rather than just general spells.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Grandma Poss was a magician. She could make rain fall and gum trees blossom. She could make wombats wiggle and kangaroos hop.”
— Describing Grandma Poss's magical abilities.
“But her best magic of all was the magic that made Hush invisible.”
— Highlighting Grandma Poss's most impressive and unique magic related to Hush.
“Hush was invisible. She could sneak up on her mother and eat all the green leaves… and her mother wouldn't even know.”
— Hush using her invisibility to play pranks and eat.
“One day, a snake came slithering, close to where Hush was eating.”
— An early moment of danger that Hush avoids due to her invisibility.
“But Hush didn't want to be invisible forever. She wanted to know what she looked like.”
— Hush expresses her desire to become visible.
“So Grandma Poss made Hush visible. And Hush was so excited, she ran to the mirror and looked at herself.”
— Grandma Poss's first attempt to make Hush visible, which is successful.
“They ate Lamingtons in Sydney, Pavlova in Perth, and Vegemite sandwiches in Brisbane.”
— Hush and Grandma Poss travel across Australia, eating iconic Australian foods.
“They ate Lamingtons, Anzac biscuits, and even Vegemite sandwiches. But still Hush stayed invisible.”
— Despite eating many Australian foods, Hush remains invisible, creating suspense.
“Grandma Poss sighed. 'It's the magic, Hush. It's the magic of Australian food that will make you visible again.'”
— Grandma Poss explains the true nature of the cure to Hush.
“They ate a whole plate of pumpkin scones in Adelaide. And one of Hush's ears appeared!”
— The first sign of Hush becoming visible after eating a specific food.
“They ate a huge plate of meringues in Melbourne. And Hush's legs appeared!”
— Another food item leads to more of Hush becoming visible.
“After a week, Hush was completely visible. She could see her own beautiful possum tail.”
— Hush is fully visible and happy with her appearance.
“And from that day on, Hush was never invisible again.”
— The concluding statement about Hush's permanent visibility.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
Possum Magic tells the story of Hush, a young possum made invisible by her Grandma Poss's magic to protect her from hungry predators. When Hush grows tired of not being able to see herself, she and Grandma Poss embark on a journey across Australia to find the special human food that will reverse the spell and make Hush visible again.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
