Customer Reviews

Curse in Reverse

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book, by author Tom Coppinger, is a pure delight! I'm an old softy for stories that hint of old Celtic folk tales, and especially ones like this that build to an unexpected but delightful ending! Derek Zimmer's illustrations give the perfect flavoring to the tale. His touch is evident from the cover, where the tower rising in front of a wood-cutty block of the title shows attention to detail. I like the understated small illustration of the witch on the cover -- it invites you, rather than having the character get in your face -- showing the confidence that the illustrator has in the material he is working with.

But it's the story that is the star here, and the story is what earns it a permanent spot on my own bookshelf. Agnezza the witch is a character I would like to see again, and I hope the author continues to develop a stable of characters like this to populate the worlds he creates! Buy this book -- top recommendation.

Tom Coppinger's Curse in Reverse has taken its rightful place on my bookshelf along with all my favorite children's classics. It's a delightful tale with illustrations that capture the wonder and magic of a child's world. And like all classic stories, it offers an enduring lesson about the power of kindness over fear and indifference. Hats off to the author and illustrator, and I look forward to reading Mr. Coppinger's next work.

Curse in Reverse is the story of a witch who could find "no room at the inn". Everywhere she went, she was turned away by people who did not "like her kind". She placed a curse on the owners of each of the places that sent her away. Finally a couple who could not have children of their own took her into their home. They gave up their bed and did everything within their means to make her comfortable. To return their kindness, the witch put a "reverse curse" upon the couple. For years, the couple did not understand the reverse curse and lived in fear of what might happen to them when the curse was complete. There is a twist at the end of this story which young children will find intriguing.

DeeDee Fox, author and illustrator, The Ruby Red Slippers