The Memory Thief: Thirteen Witches, Book 1
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Memory Thief is the first book in a planned Thirteen Witches trilogy by Jodi Lynne Anderson. Its 11-year-old narrator, Rosie, is strong-willed, determined, a gifted storyteller, and a survivor -- her mom goes through life in a fog, leaving Rosie to write herself encouraging notes and be her own emotional support. As it turns out, her mom is that way because her memory has been wiped by a witch in revenge for her success as the latest in a long line of witch hunters. Because, as it turns out, underlying the world we know, and about to destroy it, is a cosmic conflict pitting the benign Moon Goddess against 13 witches determined to destroy everything good, loving, and positive in the world. Most of the characters along the way are ghosts who, for one reason or another, remain in the seaside Maine town where the story takes place. Some are creepy looking, some have horrific back stories, some are evil, while others are kind, helpful, and on Rosie's side. As these dramatic revelations unfold, and Rosie resolves to kill the witch who cursed her mom to restore her memory, she's also dealing with a more everyday, relatable problem: Her best friend since kindergarten seems to be leaving her behind.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Rosie Oaks, now 11, has been pretty much fending for herself, emotionally at least, since she was born, as her mom is mentally elsewhere whlie keeping up the bare minimum of earning a living. What Rosie doesn't know, but soon finds out, is that this is the work of THE MEMORY THIEF, a witch who stole her mom's lifetime of memories as revenge --because before Rosie was born, her mom was a successful hunter of witches. Also, as Rosie soon discovers, there are a lot of ghosts in her house, some scarier than others. The terrifying discoveries keep on coming, including a fact the readers already know -- that teh only reason Rosie's alive is because the witches who meant to snatch and kill her at birth were tricked into taking a different baby. Perhaps most scary of all, her lifelong best friend Germ (real name Gemma) is showing an alarming interest in boys, eyeliner, and other things that threaten to leave Rosie and their friendship out in the cold.
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot going on in the first installment of Jodi Lynn Anderson's trilogy of cosmic conflict, hidden worlds, evil witches,dark forces, brave souls like its 11-year-old narrator -- and ghosts. Lots and lots of ghosts, some scary, some kind. And amid all this, relatable middle-grade anguish as best friends grow and change, and family pain as Rosie's mom is emotionally zombie-like. Sometimes it all comes together uneasily in The Memory Thief, a bit of a cosmological pile-on with details (like that witches can't be killed) often revealed just in time to advance or complicate the plot. But amid all that are a lot of heart, depth, and moments of brilliant writing that embody the life-changing miracle of storytelling.
"On the first day of kindergarten, Germ laid herself at the foot of our classroom door, screaming for her mom. All the other kids steered clear of her -- I guess because of the banshee-like wailing. I knew what it was like to miss someone, even though for me it was someone right there. So I sat beside the wild-eyed, wild-haired stranger and awkwardly patted her back and told her a story I made up on the spot about a bat who ate ugly old mosquitoes and burped out stars instead. By the end of the story, Germ had stopped crying and I'd won a friend for life."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of memories in The Memory Thief. Why do they matter, and how do they make you who you are? What are some memories that are really important to you? Why are they important to you?
Would you find it easier to deal with difficult people if you pretended they're under a curse?
In The Memory Thief, witches are portrayed as purely evil. In other stories, they're seen as kindly and helpful, and in still others as silly and humorous. Which version do you prefer?
Book Details
- Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Aladdin
- Publication date: March 2, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 13
- Number of pages: 336
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 2, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
-
A Wrinkle in Time
Classic sci-fi story still inspires and gets kids thinking.
-
The Space Between Lost and Found
Heartfelt story of a girl losing her mom to Alzheimer's.
-
The Girl and the Ghost
Spellbinding story of ghosts, strong girls, and friendship.
For kids who love ghost stories and fantasy adventure
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.
See how we rate