Parents' Guide to

The Witches of Worm

By Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Newbery Honor-ed tale not for scaredy cats.

Book Zilpha Keatley Snyder Mystery 1986
The Witches of Worm Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

Jessica Porter, often left alone by her mom and recently on the outs with her best friend, takes up with a strange cat named Worm. When Jessica found him she didn't even like cats, but she started taking care of him anyway. Now she feels like she's somehow under his spell. Is he really talking to her, telling her to do bad things, or is she just imagining it?

Is It Any Good?

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

Zilpha Keatley Snyder's Newbery Honor-ed tale is fun, spooky, and ideal for anyone who has found themselves joking, "the devil made me do it." A great thing about Snyder's style is she finds a way to weave great detail and information into a story without overloading it or making the reader feel like they are being lectured. There is a moral to the story, but Snyder presents it with subtlety. Kids who love a good mystery will eat this one up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about taking responsibility for one's actions. When Jessica got out of trouble by lying, how did it make her feel? Have you ever done something wrong and gotten away with it? How did you feel afterward? Did you come clean?

Book Details

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