Poor Little Witch Girl [Hardcover]

Marie Desplechin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

At age eleven, Verbena hasn't shown a single sign of talent for witchcraft. And worse than that--she wants to be normal. In fact, she even dreams of settling down someday and getting married! But with a mother who tells you that a) you're a witch and b) a husband won't be much use to you--how can anything feel normal? But there is hope in the form of a loving grandmother--also a witch--who takes Verbena under her wing and shows her that casting spells and causing supernatural things to take place--is not so bad after all. Told in alternating points of view, Poor Little Witch Girl is the funny, tender story of a mom who knows exactly what she wants her daughter to be, and a daughter who just wants to be herself. In the end, maybe the two aren't so different after all?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6–Verbena's mother is disturbed that her daughter hasn't shown any sign of manifesting her witch powers, so she is pleased when Grandma offers the 11-year-old weekly magic lessons. Grandma disapproves of Mom's parenting techniques and is sure that she can help her granddaughter reach her potential. Verbena, for her part, just wants a normal, everyday life. Then Soufi, the cutest boy in school, winds up in the middle of one of Grandma's spells, and Verbena is afraid that her social life is doomed. A different character narrates each section of the book. Mom focuses on the hassles of single witch-parenting; Grandma emphasizes family tradition; Verbena sees events through her desire for independence; and Soufi gives an outsider's perspective. The changing viewpoint gives insight into the characters, but often makes the action difficult to follow. Young readers may also be troubled by Mom's unflattering references to Verbena as dumb and a batty birdbrain. Diane Duane's Young Wizards series (Harcourt) is a more cohesive, better-written chronicle of fledgling magic-users and their trials.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Besides typical preteen friction with her single mother, 11-year-old Verbena must come to terms with the fact that as the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter of a witch, she is a witch herself. "I wanted to be like normal families," she laments, but once she slams out of the kitchen and hears the clatter of dishes hurling themselves across the room in sympathy, she knows there's no turning back. A spell lesson with Grandma leads to unexpected consequences and even a longed-for piece of the normalcy she desires. Though this French writer's work for adults has been published in the U.S., this is her first children's novel to be translated and made available here. The unconventional telling shifts from one first-person narrator to another, beginning and ending with Verbena's mother. Sometimes the same scene is shown from different characters' points of view. With an eye-catching jacket, this short, offbeat story will introduce Desplechin's writing to a new audience. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books; 1st edition (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582348987
• ISBN-13: 978-1582348988
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,980,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, October 27, 2006

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poor Little Witch Girl (Hardcover)

Verbena is a witch. Her mother has always told her so. It is passed down to the oldest daughter. As the only child of a witch, that makes Verbena one. Not that anything has happened to prove it yet, but it will. At least her mother hopes so. Ursula dreams of training her daughter, of how powerful they will be together. Unfortunately, Verbena has no interest in becoming a witch. Verbena wants to be normal, she wants to date boys, and get married, and not scare people away with spells and creepy things in cupboards. The more Ursula insists, the less interested Verbena is.

Anastabotte, Verbena's grandmother, is enlisted to change Verbena's mind. She takes Verbena to her house once a week for an entire day. Ursula thinks it's for training, Verbena thinks it's an escape from her mother, and Anastabotte wants the best for everyone. Until they meet up with Soufi, the boy Verbena has a crush on. Add in the first spell Verbena works, locating the father she's never met, and you've got a big magical mess.

The story is told in the first person, by each of the characters. They each get a few chapters to tell their side of the story, except Ursula who both opens and closes the book. Naturally the story overlaps a little, since everyone has their own take on the events that they were a part of. Quirky people in odd situations makes this book a good, quick read.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman