The Witches [Paperback]

Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 16, 2007 | Age Range: 7 and up

This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches.

Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There's nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma's stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with The Grand High Witch herself!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches." So begins one of Roald Dahl's best books ever, and, ironically, it is such a great story because the premise is perfectly plausible from the outset. When the narrator's parents die in a car crash on page two (contrast this terribly real demise with that of James's parents who are devoured by an escaped rhinoceros in James and the Giant Peach), he is taken in by his cigar-smoking Norwegian grandmother, who has learned a storyteller's respect for witches and is wise to their ways.

The bond between the boy and his grandmother becomes the centerpiece of the tale--a partnership of love and understanding that survives even the boy's unfortunate transformation into a mouse. And once the two have teamed up to outwitch the witches, the boy's declaration that he's glad he's a mouse because he will now live only as long as his grandmother is far more poignant than eerie.

Of course, there's adventure here along with Dahl's trademark cleverness and sense of the grotesque. Dahl also communicates some essential truths to children: if they smoke cigars, they'll never catch cold, and, most importantly, they should never bathe, because a clean child is far, far easier for a witch to smell than a dirty one. (Ages 7 to 10, or read aloud to younger children) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Roald Dahl at his best" School Librarian 20040901 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Unabridged edition (August 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014241011X
• ISBN-13: 978-0142410110
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (312 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Riot! March 10, 2002

By C. A. Matha

Format:Hardcover

I purchased this book for the purpose of reading it allowed to my daughter who is 5. Boy did we BOTH enjoy it. I found myself laughing out loud to many parts in this book, what a fun sense of humor! It read very quickly. It is interesting he (the author) uses his heritage of Norwegian parents and living in Wales. The book takes place between Norway and England. Even though I am not completely for making witches the vile things as he presented, his sense of humor made it a very worth while read. We really really enjoyed this book and will be looking for his other works.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A 10-year-old from Canada says: April 9, 2001

By Katie T.

Format:Paperback

This is the third Roald Dahl book I have read. The first was called Matilda, and I think it is his most famous. I have also read George's Marvelous Medicine. The Witches is a funny book and has wonderful drawings.

The witches in this book wore wigs and pointed shoes to hide their bald heads and square feet with no toes! The witches in this book had eyes that changed colours, and were mean and mischivious. The witches in this book where cruel to children and turned them into mice. They live in a castle in Norway. The other characters in this story are a grandmother, her 7-year-old grandson, and the grandson's friend, Bruno. The witches were having a meeting in the hotel where the others where staying. The witches turned the children into mice, but in the end the children get even.

I really enjoyed this book. Roald Dahl is a wonderful children's writer. I would recommend all his books!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Witches February 17, 2007

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

The Witches is a fantasy story by Roald Dahl where this average boy gets turned into a mouse at the annual witch meeting being held at a hotel in England. After the boy's parents died, he travels from Norway to England with his grandmother. The boy meets up with a gang of witches that aren't scary, but they do have a big secret and a very special formula to turn children into mice. The repugnant witches' plan is to buy a candy store to entice children. Children are not the witches' favorite type of people.

The boy and his grandmother want revenge on these witches. This involves some drastic measures that include the hotel kitchen, a humongous pot of soup and some formula. The metamorphosis of the witches will make you want to cheer for the boy and his magnificently brave plan.

I would recommend this book to many other people because it is a great adventure and you won't want to stop reading it. This is a wonderful book to read.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun but Slightly Creepy October 26, 2010

By April Knapp

Format:Paperback

A young boy and his spunky grandmother go on vacation and discover that all the witches in England are attending a convention at their hotel. Craziness ensues when the boy comes face to face with the real-life witches.

It's hard not to love Roald Dahl. He was one of my favorite authors growing up. He is witty and tells a fun story. The Witches is no exception. Dahl has a clever imagination and children love him because he is endears children and elderly people, who are often looked over members of society. The Witches is an amusing and fun read. It also contains a sweet story of love between grandson and his grandmother.

Roald Dahl may be pro-children and elderly, but he is somewhat anti-adult. Other than the grandmother, adults in The Witches are portrayed as evil, fat and stupid, ridiculous or dead. There are also some pretty graphic ideas presented- e.g. witches killing children by turning them into creatures and smashing them. I don't remember this greatly affecting me as a child, but I found it a little disturbing now.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loads of Fun! November 15, 2000

By rzaster

Format:Paperback

The Witches by Roald Dahl was a true treat for me. One day while bored I came across this book and voila, I read it. It has a truly funny story that any child or adult alike would love. The book is about "a boy,"(the boy is not named) and his grandmother who encounter The Witches. The boy accidentaly gets into a top secret meeting of the witches and learns their new plan. He must stop them immediatly. With the help from his grandmother and food loving bruno(who was turned into a mouse by the witches with the secret formula) fight all the witches and bring the highest witch down. They finally succeed and the witches get a taste of their own medicine. This book is a really funny book that all people will enjoy!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Thought of Witches Like This April 24, 2006

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

While I was reading this book I was so amazed about all the info that the book gave about witches. It actualy seemed real. As if they were right in front of me. I love this book. I think this book i not just for people 9-12. I think this book is for all ages. I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is one of my FAVORITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic !!!! Highly Recommned Must Read September 3, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book is awesome and a brillant sourse of witchcraft. It is a ingeniuos idea to make witches have blue spit and no toes and no hair ect. The storyline has such imagantion and creativtity you must read this book it gives you a diffrent point of view on the horrible and dangerous creaters know as witches some think witches themselfs to bewitch and others say that they are themselfves to distroy one or more people as they have vowed to. Other belive that they only pratice the black art of Vodoo witchcraft. But really Acorrding to Roald Dahl a witches job is to distroy children. A fanasnating idea . This story is very funny and full of child like soures a must must read. A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++