Customer Reviews

Not Just a Witch

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Eva Ibbotson's delightful humor combined with Prunella Scales's flawless reading makes this audio book a winner. Two witches, lifelong friends, have a falling out when they appear at a party wearing identical (live) snake hats. They move away from one another and both are courted by an evil man who plans to use their powers to become rich. The plot is fast moving and funny, but it is the many humorous touches that make this story a hit with adult listeners as well as children. Who can resist a balloon inflated by politicians' hot air -- education ministers claiming that more testing will improve education, and an atomic energy minister claiming that nuclear waste is good for fish! Scales reads as if she believes every word so listeners soon forget there is a narrator between them and enter fully into the story. Great listening for ages eight and up.

This author never ceases to amaze me. She knows how to tickle any childs funny bone with her outrageous characters and the adventures that the children in her stories find. When you read an Ibbotson book, you feel as if she is writing it just for you. Very enjoyable for adults too.

This story is about some kids in a small town who meet a good witch named Heckie with rather unusual powers, she can turn people into animals. You see Hecki and her best friend that is also a witch recently moved to town, and they both like kids. But after a disagreement, they stop being friends. Heckie begins to turn really bad wicked people in their village into animals. And as animals they become nice, and the wickedness goes away. But one day Heckie falls in love with the a scheming con man, who plans to use her powers for his own gain. The kids and her old friend must rescue her from herself. Very enjoyalbe reading!

Not Just a Witch is a book by Eva Ibbotson. One reason why I like this book is because she knows how to tickle anyone's funny bone with the strange characters and outrageous adventures. Ibbottson's descriptions of everything are so detailed you feel like you are actually part of the story. I love how this can be read by a wide range of ages.

Hecate Tenbury-Smith or Heckie, as she likes to be called, is an animal witch. Her parents enrolled her in a school for good witches and she is now a recent graduate. Now she's a witch that wants to make the world a better place by turning people into nice, sweet animals. Heckie meets a boy named Daniel and they form an instant bond. They also form a private club called The Wellbridge Wickedness Hunters. Heckie creates a half dragon, half worm from a miserable duck. She then finds out it gets sick every time someone evil is in their midst. Then a scheming furrier named Lionel Knacksap makes Heckie fall in love with him. Not even the drag worm can show her he is evil. Can they figure out how to stop him before he kills innocent animals?

Not Just a Witch, by Eva Ibbotson, is a story about an animal witch named Heckie and a boy named Daniel.

Daniel first meets the witch when he and his friend Sumi babysit a rich family's child named Basil who the witch turns into a pug. Also Daniel has his doubts about the witch because of that incident.

What I like about the book is its twists and turns. It always kept me wanting for more. The book was awesome. Eva Ibbotson is a great author.

The author's message was believe in yourself and you can get out of depression. Also you can change what you have done.

It was a good book, but the usual happy stuff. It made me laugh time to time, even though i checked it out for a project. It is funny; you should read it if you like fantasy!!!!!!!!

I must admit, the reason why I found myself being attracted to this book was the illustration on the front cover. Who wouldn't be curious about somebody carrying a dressed pig?

The story is about two witches, Dora and Heckie, who happened to be bestfriends since they attended the school of magic, only to fall out over a pair of identical hats, (which are made from real live snakes). Nevertheless, both of these witches continue trying to go good in the world by punishing bad people. The plots are fast moving but leaning more to the adventures of Heckie, who has this wonderful dragworm as a familiar and young children as friends, one particularly she loved dearly as he was her very own son.

As much as the characters grabbed you in their fast moving plots, I rather find it pretty short. The last plot was kind of catchy and full of suspense, since it involved a man named Lionel Knacksap, who exploited Heckie into doing whatever he wanted her to do, you would pretty much would like to read the ending for this particular plot. However, I pretty much enjoy the book as something to past the time with.

Good book by Eva Ibbotson. She does have an interesting way with words. She is a good writer - one never gets confused or mixed up in her books.

Not Just a Witch written by Eva Ibbotson, is a story about two witches who have a huge fight. Dora, and Heckie the witches, had a huge fight in college so they weren't friends for a long time. When Heckie moved to Wellbridge, she met a boy named Daniel. His parents don't pay attention to him. What I liked about the book is how Heckie can turn people into animals with her toe and knuckle. Also Dora can turn people into stone. I also liked how Mr. Knaksap was so evil and very smart. The Author's message is don't trust everyone you meet. You may think you know who they are but turn out to surprise you!

Not Just a Witch by Eva Ibbotson, is an exciting book that enchants young reader's minds. Heckie, an animal witch, quarrels with her closest friend Dora. They left each other for what feels like forever. They end up finding themselves close and in need of each other. Will their lives collide again? What I liked about Not Just A Witch was that the author puts immense detail in everything including the pictures. I couldn't believe how gifted the author is. The author's message was that, if you are really friendly with someone no quarreling can break that!

I read this to my kids after they liked Which Witch. Unfortunately it was no where near as good.

The characters weren't as interesting (I didn't find myself caring what happened to them), now was the story.

Instead of this book, try Which Witch by the same author.

My kids also liked the Bill Brittain series that included devils Donkey and Wish Giver.

I get the impresssion the author is a supporter of PETA and is more interested in political statements than telling a good story (which this is not).

The "bad guys" were people who abuse animals. They are bad, but there are plenty worse in this world.