The Whitby Witches (Whitby, Book 1) [Hardcover]

Robin Jarvis (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

At first glance, the small seaside town of Whitby seems quiet and charming, but eight year-old Ben and his older sister Jennet soon learn that things are not always as they seem. Moved about from foster home to foster home, Ben and Jennet hope to make a fresh start in Whitby. But Ben sees thingsand peopleothers cannot. There's something unusual about Alice Boston, their new guardian. And what is that horrible howling Jennet hears late at night? Something wicked's brewing in Whitby. Can Ben and Jennet put it to rest?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8–Ben, 8, and Jennet, 12, have been bouncing in and out of various foster homes for the past two years because of Ben's unique ability–he sees ghosts. They are now being sent to an old friend of their deceased parents and are determined to make this home permanent. As part of that goal, Ben is supposed to hide his gift and not do anything weird. Then they meet their foster parent, 92-year-old Alice Boston. She is eccentric and loving, and accepts Ben's power without a blink–until an evil force appears, and her friends begin dying one by one. It is then up to Alice and the children to save the town and themselves. Witches is a dark but delightful read that involves ghosts, evil magicians (and good ones), and an ancient curse. There is just the right amount of suspense to make the book creepy, but not enough to make it truly scary for younger readers. The characters are believable and likable, and Jarvis has easily straddled the line between (mild) horror and fantasy. Give this to lovers of R. L. Stine for an equally satisfying but more challenging read.–Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

This English fishing village where Ben lives may be small, but it is never dull: Ben (who sees things that others can't) becomes involved in helping a group of fisher folk looking for moonkelp; Aunt Alice holds seances with her ladies' circle; and a mysterious newcomer, Rowena Cooper, seems connected to the recent deaths of three of Aunt Alice's closest friends. Aunt Alice is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Jane Marple, and, although the story's villain is never really in question, the hows and whys of Rowena's activities are compelling. Readers will enjoy the climactic battle between good and evil that sets up the premise for book two of the Whitby Witches Trilogy. Petersen's soft pencil illustrations decorate every chapter, giving form to the story's unusual characters and settings. Equal parts mystery and fantasy, this novel will be best appreciated by readers able to tolerate a little gore. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811854132
• ISBN-13: 978-0811854139
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,742,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great,but..., February 1, 2009

By 

zingara "book addict" (virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Whitby Witches (Whitby, Book 1) (Hardcover)

I read this book a couple of years ago and loved it! I was really looking forward to the sequel but that's where the "but" comes in! It looks like this series came out in the UK in full, but by the time we got it: it was on its way out! Now the only way to get the next book is to pay a lot of money for it used. This first book stands well enough on its own, but just don't get too excited about reading the second in the series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First of the Whitby witches, June 22, 2007

By 

Ann Jordan (Oregon coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Whitby Witches (Whitby, Book 1) (Hardcover)

Two young orphan siblings are sent to live with an elderly lady at the English seaside. Eight-year-old Ben's disability with other families turns into an advantage there as he discovers that his "sight" finds him new friends and can help save--or destroy--the world. This charming story of magic stands alone, but it was a relief to find that the trilogy has already been written. I'm anxious to know the fate of the mythical "fisherfolk" that little Ben and Aunt Alice can see, but which practical Jennet cannot. This story could work as a read-aloud to an elementary-age audience (though a bit long for a class), and should appeal to those who like Harry Potter.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Written and Great Fun!! A Must Read!!, January 25, 2007

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Whitby Witches (Whitby, Book 1) (Hardcover)

As we join the story, we find Jennet (12) and her brother, Ben (8) on the train to meet their new guardian, Alice Boston (92). It seems that Jennet and Ben are orphans who have been moving from foster home to foster home (four so far) because Ben is different...he can see ghosts, this has cost them four new homes and Jennet is determined that he won't mess things up for them in Whitby with Alice. Upon arriving in Whitby by train, they meet Alice Boston their new caretaker, and are surprised to find that she's an eccentric old lady...kind of the town busybody. It's not long before they fall into a casual friendship with Alice and things start to get a little weird around town.

The Whitby Witches turns out to be something of a junior paranormal thriller with a dark side...but not too dark. The cast of characters include Ben, Jennet, Alice, the ladies circle (friends of Alice who meet once a month and includes Prudence, Matilda, Dora, and Edith), Rowena Cooper (our resident bad guy), and the local Aufwader's - the strange fisher people who live in caves by the sea (Nelda, Hesper, Tarr, and Silas). It all seems to start shortly after the arrival of Rowena Cooper...Alice's friends start dying, all labeled accidents by the police, but Alice believes differently (as does Ben who has met Nelda the young Aufwader girl whose father and uncle are missing). We really are given two parallel plot lines, the deaths of the ladies circle and the Aufwader mystery (including the search for the mysteries, mythical moonkelp). Everything in the story is linked to the moonkelp, the ruins of the abbey, and the mysteries Sister Bridget. Will Nelda and Ben find the moon kelp and save her people from extinction? Will Alice find out what Rowena is up to and will they all come out of it alive? You'll have to read to find out...and I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Overall, this is one of the best children's books I've read in the last couple of years...it's got mystery, intrigue, the paranormal, danger (and lots of it), bad guys that might just get away with it (and those are the best kind)...but it's also got heart and characters that you can really get to know and like! I could hardly put it down and my daughter ate it up! I give The Whitby Witches five stars and hope that they reprint the rest of the series soon, we're anxious to get our hands on the second book! Highly recommended!!