The Witches
1983
- fiction
- witches
- grandmothers
- juvenile fiction
- ficción juvenil
- brujas
- readers
- abuelas
- spanish language
- juvenile literature
The story
A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice.
What it’s like
Brisk, conversational storytelling in a voice that talks straight to the reader, full of wry asides, grotesque comic detail and sly confidences about how the world really works. The sensory world is mostly domestic and slightly off-kilter: a bleak seaside hotel with stale air and tired staff, a grandmother's cosy Norwegian kitchen smelling of baking and cocoa, and the hushed, rule-bound menace of a witches' gathering where wigs come off and scalps itch. Think of it as a cosy-spooky read with a mischievous grin, the kind of book that feels like a warm lamp in a dim room. Its pace is quick and chapter-driven, with short bursts of dread, frequent jokes and a steady sense that a clever child can outwit a grown-up world. Intensity is low to moderate: frightening transformations and a cruel, cackling villainess, with some creepy, grotesque imagery and mild peril, but no real gore or sexual content. The emotional register is warm, playful and reassuring, following a small, bold boy and his fierce, affectionate grandmother as they grow in courage together. Good for young readers, families reading aloud, and adults who want a gently sinister bedtime favourite that still delights.
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