The Witches
Roald Dahl (Juvenile Fiction)
“In fairy-tales, witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks, and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy-tale. This is about REAL WITCHES.”
Our story is told through the eyes of a seven-year old boy. He’s quite ordinary really, but we soon find out that this rather ordinary boy is about to do some particularly extraordinary things. Before he is eight years old, he tells us that he has had not one, but TWO encounters with witches…and he has lived to tell about it through this book. I implore you to read this book so that you too will know how to spot a witch, for witches look just like ordinary women. Miss the signs and alas poor reader, you might as well count yourself squelched!
Told in true Roald-Dahl fashion, the author gives us yet another whimsical, comical, and delightful story. Dahl treats us to a young hero who shows courage, cleverness, and cunning in the most dangerous and dire of circumstances. Even when he is at his lowest (and I mean that quite literally), our protagonist always seems to find the bright spot and never resorts to self-pity or defeatism. His “can do” attitude and spunk will cast a wickedly delightful spell on your heart and is sure to entrance readers of all ages. A few gory details of the supreme witch’s appearance may leave younger readers a tad squeamish, but it’s all told in good fun.
Dahl presents us with two very different groups of people whose appearance hide who they truly are. When the narrator’s grandmother poses a question to him about identity and appearance, he responds, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you.” And that, friends, is about as bewitching and magical a message as you can hope for.
Rating: 4/5
* Book cover image attributed to http://www.amazon.com
The Dusty Jacket 