Rhymes With Witches [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Lauren Myracle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Now available in paperback, a dark look at popularity by a New York Times best-selling author

From the author of ttyl, comes this smart, savage story of a high school where popularity can be stolen.

Jane dreams of being chosen as the freshman member a dominant school clique made up of one girl from each class. When her wish is granted, and she is offered a place in their group, Jane discovers the terrible price of their particular kind of popularity. There is a sinister secret to their power, one that will change Jane forever. Darkly humorous and dead on, this book will leave readers shivering in recognition.

Praise for Rhymes with Witches

"Spins the Mean Girls theme...the dark humor, wry wit, and timely subject will catapult it to cult status..." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"...teens will gobble the story up." - School Library Journal

"Darkly comic, well realized." - Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What if the ruling teen queens at your school really were, well, witches? And not the Glinda the Good kind, either. Lauren Myracle assumes this sinister premise in the darkly humorous Rhymes with Witches. High school freshman Jane is more than plain -- she’s practically invisible. And she longs for nothing more than to join the ranks of the Bitches, the top female echelon at school. But the Bitches are selective, and only one girl from each class is chosen to rule supreme. So Jane is puzzled but ecstatic when the Bitches name her their freshman successor. Soon she is being worshipped by all kinds of beautiful people who didn’t even know her name last week. But as Jane soon realizes, it isn’t easy being a Bitch. She is informed by her new "sisters" that there are certain sacrifices to be made -- sacrifices that could wreck high school havoc and ruin lives. Is Jane willing to do anything to stay on the top of the popularity heap? Or will she risk it all to save innocent others from the clutching claws of the Bitches? Part I Know What You Did Last Summer and part Heathers, Rhymes with Witches builds slowly, but the incredibly creepy climax will leave many female readers glancing nervously over their shoulders at the so-called popular set. Meow! (Ages 12 and up) --Jennifer Hubert --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–When plain Jane is asked to be one of her high school's ultra-elite clique, "the Bitches," she can't believe it. She's never been remotely popular. The freshman goes through a secret initiation, and all she needs to do is steal something each week from a classmate and leave the object in the office of Lurlene Lear, the early religion teacher who, unbeknownst to Jane, is the controlling force behind the group. During the week in question, the person to whom the object belonged wanes in popularity, while adoration for the Bitch grows. At first, Jane's conscience bothers her, but finding ways to justify her actions becomes much easier as she becomes unbelievably popular. Later, when the Bitches gang up on an innocent girl, Camilla, and threaten to harm her, Jane's conscience revives. She is outraged and calls a halt to their behavior. She expects temporary displeasure from the other Bitches, but doesn't expect them to turn on her. When no one likes Jane, she becomes truly aware of the price she paid for her short-lived popularity. In the end, her best boy friend comes around and she can, at least, count on his loyal friendship. There are magical elements in this novel, and plenty of creepy touches. Both take away from the book's realism, but add deliciously to its suspense. The language and situations are provocative, but teens will gobble the story up.–Catherine Ensley, Latah County Free Library District, Moscow, ID
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Amulet Books (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810992159
• ASIN: B001992KXG
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,028,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lauren Myracle is the author of many popular books for teens and tweens, including New York Times bestsellers ttyl and ttfn (Abrams). She lives with her family in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Rhymes with scrap, July 24, 2006

By 

Paige Turner - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhymes with Witches (Paperback)

This book is extremely predictable...
At first, you are introduced to a teen queen wannabe-Jane. All she's ever wanted was to be popular, and can't help but admire the "Bitches" a group of girls-one from each grade. Then, all of a sudden the "Bitches" want Jane to be one of THEM! As Jane starts to become one of them, she learns their secrets and rituals.
At some point in the book, they talk about "Sandy" who happens to be a school teacher. A little confusing? Yes. Myracle, doesn't even bother to go in depth about her role in the story, and only briefly touches on the subject.
My advice to you? Don't read this book. Although the story may seem intriguing at the beginning, it is anything but. It's extremely predictable and much like the mean girls story, except harsher, and a little creepier. Afterall, it does deal with witchcraft.
Hope this helped!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where's the rest of the book?, July 1, 2009

By 

znatic (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhymes with Witches (Paperback)

It's like this book got published before the author finished the ending. She's an entertaining writer, but the plot drops you off with no explanations. What's the deal with the cats? Why did Jane bring all of her dad's things with her? What's with Camille's about-face in the end?

I'm thinking there's a sequel on its way? Even so, the book should have been wrapped up in some coherent way.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Attempt, May 13, 2006

By 

K.C. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhymes with Witches (Hardcover)

Rhymes with Witches is about a social outcast, Jane, who gets invited into the school royalty group called The Bitches. I found this book to be exactly like the rest of Lauren's books. Even though her books have a very shallow plot, you can't seem to put them down. And then once you get done with it you feel very dissatisfied and wondor why on earth you gave that book the time of day. One of the reasons I hate this book so much is because of the characters. The only character you're really supposed to like is Jane, and I found her very annoying and tiresome. I hated the ending as well. When Jane finally tries to do the right thing, she winds up having nothing but Phil, the only semi-enjoyable character in the whole book. I personally think this book sends the wrong message to readers, and I discourage anyone from buying it.