Parents' Guide to

Not Just a Witch

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Magic and humor mix with dark details for strange brew.

Book Eva Ibbotson Fantasy 2003
Not Just a Witch Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

A Tuson
A Tuson Parent of 4-year-old
May 9, 2010
age 7+

Not just a Good Read, a Good Think too!

Excellent messages: kindness, think for yourself and always think lovingly. Children, animals and those who are marginalized are always her themes; Ibbottson should be required reading for children and their loving guardians/parents/teachers.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Angela Tuson
Angela Tuson Parent of 4-year-old
May 9, 2010
age 7+

Not Just a Good Read, but a Good Think too!

This is one of the two very best of Eva Ibbottson's excellent books. It would be a pity for any adult who cares about children, animals and respect toward the vulnerable and marginalized to miss out on one of her books. Referring to violence as being a bad choice is one of the things responsible adults DO do for children. Although the book IS lighthearted, the message is clear; kindness, tolerance, and thinking before acting are all preferable actions. Kindness to those who may not be like yourself, or who may not fit the general description of pretty or powerful is even better. Above all, think for yourself, and think lovingly are the messages of this book (and all her books). She should be required reading for all children (and their loving adult guardians/parents/care-givers/teachers).

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Heckie has just graduated from Good Witch school with the power to turn humans into animals (using her Knuckle of Power and Toe of Transformation), and she is determined to Do Good. Unfortunately she and her best friend, Dora Mayberry, have a terrible quarrel at graduation, so she is on her own. Moving to a small town to make the world a better place, Heckie gathers a group of children and other witches to help her find bad people who deserve to be turned into animals. But when an unscrupulous furrier discovers her power, he charms and deceives her into a scheme to turn prisoners into snow leopards for fur coats.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Eva Ibbotson is loved by her many fans for her lighthearted fantasies filled with amusingly eccentric characters, usually adults, and this one fits the form. And there are some creative turns -- and hilarious moments (such as when the Heckie's half-dragon/ half-worm tells her how much he hated his aquatic life, before he was transformed, "Being a duck was the most boring thing that ever happened to me.") But young readers drawn in by the witchy-premise might be confused by the mix of magic with all-too-real crimes, such as abuse of old people and animals.

Ibbotson's bizarre sense of humor has been compared, with justification, to Roald Dahl's, which sometimes bothered adults even as it delighted children. But there is a big difference between the ridiculous unreality of James' parents being killed by an escaped rhino, and the all-too-real scene in this book when one of the children is found after having been beaten into bloody unconsciousness by the adult villain.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Heckie's plan to make the world a better place. What do you think of her approach to justice? What did she ultimately learn about the best ways to use her power?

  • This book is about witches and magic -- which younger kids might like. But the violence in here is pretty intense. The publisher said this book is for eight to 12 year olds -- do you agree? What age would you say this book is for?

Book Details

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