The Headless Cupid [Paperback]

Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Author), Alton Raible (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2009 | Age Level: 8 and up

When the four Stanley children meet Amanda, their new stepsister, they're amazed to learn that she studies witchcraft. They're stunned to see her dressed in a strange costume, carrying a pet crow and surrounded by a pile of books about the supernatural. It's not long before Amanda promises to give witchcraft lessons to David, Jamie and the twins. But that's when strange things start happening in their old house. David suspects Amanda of causing mischief, until they learn that the house really was haunted long ago.

Legend has it that a ghost cut the head off of a wooden cupid on the stairway. Has the ghost returned to strike again?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Snyder has won three Newbery Honors and other awards for her novels, including those starring the Stanley children. Here they are embroiled in the occult when they meet their new stepsister, Amanda, an aspiring witch. PW praised this book as "exuberant and original," and a new generation of readers are sure to agree. This is the first of seven Snyder titles to be released periodically in paperback editions.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

When the four Stanley children meet Amanda, their new stepsister, they're amazed to learn that she studied witchcraft. They're stunned to see her dressed in a strange costume, carrying a pet crow, and surrounded by a pile of books about the supernatural.

It's not long before Amanda promises to give witchcraft lessons to David, Janie, and the twins. But that's when strange things start happening in their old house. David suspects Amanda of causing mischief, until they learn that the house really was haunted a long time ago.

Legend has it that a ghost cut the head off a wooden cupid on the stairway. Has the ghost returned to strike again? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Original edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416990526
• ISBN-13: 978-1416990529
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #340,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Storytelling, Haunting Characters, April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Headless Cupid (Paperback)

Zilpha Keatley Snyder is one of the unsung great childrens' writers of the 20th c. Her delicate blend of magic and realism should have earned her widespread recognition years ago. This said, discovering her books for yourself is one of those great reading pleasures.

In The Headless Cupid, Amanda, the new stepsister, arrives in the Stanley household with a chip on her shoulder and a box of cool occult paraphenelia. The four Stanley children are fascinated and a little overwhelmed--but much to Amanda's surprise, they have a little magic to offer her in return.

Mysterious, lovely, understated.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The AWESOME book: "The Headless Cupid", June 5, 2001

By 

"lil_drama_queen_14" (Millinocket, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Headless Cupid (Paperback)

Hi, my name is Kate and I'm 13 years old. I just got done reading "The Headless Cupid" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, and I think it is an AWESOME book! I liked how Mrs. Snyder kept the book going with Blair's premonitions, Amanda's hobby, and Janie's know-it-all attitude. This was my first book by Mrs. Snyder, and it won't be the last! Right now I'm working on "The Velvet Room." (which is really good too) "The Headless Cupid" is a good book to start out on because once you find out all of the author's twists in the story, it'll leave you wanting more to read by her!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Opinion for The Headless Cupiud, January 28, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Headless Cupid (Paperback)

The book I just got finished reading is The Headless Cupiud.It was a great book if you thriller books.
One of the bad points in the book is that it starts off kinda slow, and someties was confusing in the middle and near the end.
The good points of the book are when a a lot of wierd stuff start happing and Molly (the stepmom) starts getting really scared and she wants to move out of the house. Another good part of the book is when Amanda starts to actally talk to her mom and offers to teach the kids about the supernatural.