The technique of visiting another time or magical world is frequently used in fantasy fiction. Often characters find a talisman or magical doorway that leads them to another world. Here, however, while the dream pillow is magical enough to show the children how to find the center of the maze, the children journey to that place themselves. As Holly realizes, it is not simply which side of the pillow one sleeps on, but "how you felt your ownself" that leads either to Tamar or to Hagar.

In some stories that feature journeys back through time, the characters find a treasure in the past that will help resolve a conflict in the present. In Lavender-Green Magic the process is more internalized. The characters have adventures and make choices that help them to deal with their problems and to develop as individuals.

Norton uses setting both to establish...