Once a Witch
Common Sense says
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Did this review miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Want to help us help them? Suggest a diversity update
Suggest an update Once a Witch
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know this book is a fairly conventional portrayal of witches -- they fled Europe because of persecution, they observe Samhain and practice ancient rituals under the moon. The teen smoking and drinking is gratuitous, and the romance is gentle. This is a slight fantasy with strong female characters.
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Fun read for tweens, watch for bad examples
Perfect Book!
12+ if mature. great read for fun
What's the story?
Tamsin is a 17-year-old witch who has grown up in the shadow of her talented older sister. She believes she has no magical talents at all until a handsome young professor convinces her to try harder to develop her powers. But her attempts put her and her family in danger. With the help of time travel Tamsin's family works together to rescue each other and Tamsin discovers just how powerful a witch she really is.
Is it any good?
Despite gratuitous drinking and smoking, this is an amusing coming-of-age story with some traditional witchcraft thrown in. Stock characters are made more agreeable by the humorous banter between Tamsin and her childhood friend and love interest Gabriel. Tamsin's self-doubts will ring true with teens, especially those with older siblings.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about whether witches exist (ed) and why they were persecuted?
Should Tamsin's family have hidden the truth from Tamsin?
Why did Tamsin pretend to be her older sister?
Book details
- Author: Carolyn MacCullough
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Clarion Books
- Publication date: September 14, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 304
- Last updated: September 16, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love fantasy reads
Top advice and articles
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.