Earwig and the Witch
By Sally Engelfried,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Comical tale of a spunky girl adopted by a witch and devil.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
Earwig loves the orphanage in which she was born and raised, where she can always get everyone to do what she wants and appreciates the people who take care of her. But after an odd-looking woman and a 9-foot tall man take her home to live with them, for the first time in her life, Earwig has to do something she doesn't want to. Rather than get discouraged when the unpleasant woman tells Earwig she must help her prepare witch spells, the girl sees it as her biggest challenge. With Thomas the talking cat serving as her familiar and friend, Earwig patiently waits for opportunities to turn the tide her way.
Is It Any Good?
Though it's delightful to have one last book from Jones after her death, and it starts out promising with all the trademarks of her writing, it feels unfinished and not quite fully developed. For example, a note left on Earwig when she was a baby implies that Earwig herself is a witch, but it is never followed up on, and the last, very brief chapter of the book begins, "A year went by," and has an ending that seems tacked on. Still, Earwig is likable and readers will enjoy her comical adventures as she tries to outsmart the witch. Early readers will especially appreciate Paul O. Zelinsky's cartoony drawings, which break up the text with spot illustrations and occasional full-page spreads.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Earwig is used to getting everyone to do what she wants. For Earwig, is that a good quality, or a bad one?
What do you think the note that was pinned to Earwig's shawl when she was left on the doorstep of the orphanage meant?
What spells from the witch's book would you find useful?
Book Details
- Author: Diana Wynne Jones
- Illustrator: Paul O. Zelinsky
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Greenwillow Books
- Publication date: January 31, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 128
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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