The Witch Trade [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Michael Molloy (Author), Bill Wallis (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2004 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

In a strange world where good is threatened by evil night witches, a thrilling adventure is about to begin. Meet Abby, Spike, Captain Starlight, and Benbow, the Captain's faithful albatross. Spurred on by Sir Chadwick, the flamboyant leader of the Light Witches, they set off on a journey across shark-boat infested seas to discover the hidden source of all Black Witch power.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 - Abby and Spike are the only children living in the small English village of Speller when they encounter a mysterious sea captain. Captain Starlight tells them fantastic stories about sea witches and magical boats and ice dust - the source of all magical power. So begins the first book in a fantasy series by British author Michael Molloy. "First we're going to tell your Uncle Ben and Aunt Lucy that we're off on a trip. Then we're going to London to steal the map. Then we're going to Antarctica to rescue your parents" the Captain says. The trio first journey to London where they receive help from the light witches. Then it's on to Antarctica where they hope to free Abby's parents, rescue the lost children of Speller, and liberate the magical ice dust from the evil night witches. The story is beautifully narrated by Bill Wallis, who moves easily between British and American accents and nicely distinguishes between the children and adult characters. Unfortunately, Abby and Spike are given little to do in this very busy novel except ask questions and meet an endless succession of adults who solve their problems for them. Only die-hard fantasy lovers will muddle through the complicated plot to reach its satisfying conclusion. - Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK
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From AudioFile

Incomparable narrator Bill Wallis plus Michael Molloy's delightful adventure-fantasy about White Witches, Black Witches, Sea Witches, and some very smart, brave children equals an audiobook that one wishes would last forever. It's also a children's audio that adults will want to borrow for their own pleasure. This is a story about how Abby Clover and her friend Spike, who live in an unusual seaside village, meet Captain Starlight (a.k.a. The Ancient Mariner) and a giant albatross named Benbow, and how they all set out to save the Light Witches' ice dust and rescue the Sea Witches' children from the truly awful (and smelly) Black Witches. Wallis masters every voice, from that of the American Ancient Mariner to the dramatically British Master of the Light Witches. He also manages to make the children sound authentic and fully realized without being squeaky. In between, his warm, well-paced narration ushers us through the cliff-hanging adventure with nary a moment of panic. A book to treasure. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Chivers North America (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754099563
• ISBN-13: 978-0754099567
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,217,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Children's Book, October 23, 2002

By 

snappyguynj (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Witch Trade (Paperback)

I read this book over the course of a few weeks to my six year old son and he enjoyed it immensely. It is wonderfully well written for a children's book and I enjoyed it very much. It's a shame this book hasn't gotten more attention in the U.S. A great find.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed it, November 28, 2001

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Witch Trade (Hardcover)

Books from Chicken House are growing increasingly appealing to me, starting with Katherine Roberts' exquisite Spellfall and reaching to this one (and Roberts' upcoming "Crystal Mask"). This is not the best fantasy I've read, but a nice read anyway.

Abby Clover and the curious Spike are washed ashore after a storm. They soon find that they are in strange new surroundings that include witches, shark-infested seas, captives and missing people, and Ice Dust, which is the cause of magic.

They team up with Captain Starlight (huh?) and his albatross Benbow; also Chadwick Street, who is the leader of the Light Witches (why not wizards? I don't know). But as they travel over the shark-y water to the Night Witch fortress, they will have only their wits and a few insufficient talents to defeat a terrible enemy, without the help of the Ice Dust...

I liked this book. My breath wasn't sucked away like the best works of fiction do, and while I found it a pleasant pasttime, I wasn't hungering for more once it was finished.

Perhaps it was the rather lightweight feel of some aspects of it, such as the names: Starlight, Abby Clover, Chadwick Street -- and Spike only brought to mind the blond vampire. Slightly more exotic or indistinguishable names might be better -- these feel rather cutesy. Also the concept of Light and Night witches (wizards?) is far from new. The Ice Dust brings a feeling rather reminiscent of Philip Pullman's Dust as well (though I far prefer Molloy's book to Pullman's!)

The writing is pretty good, fairly descriptive. The characters of Abby and Spike are pretty well-done, as is Benbow the Albatross. I didn't really connect with Starlight, though, and Chadwick Street just annoyed me. I can't say why; perhaps he seemed a little too showy and two-dimensional.

Overall, this is a pleasant read, especially for those who prefer British fantasy to American fantasy. It's not deep, but is a pleasant book nevertheless. Simply do not expect something that will take your breath away.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books, April 14, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Witch Trade (Paperback)

Abby Clover lived a normal life but that doesn't last forever. One day she and her friend, Spike, meet Capitain Starlight, who tells her about her parents, who disappeared years ago. Soon, she, Spike, and the Capitain have joined forces with the light witches (good witches), who are fighting the night witches (the bad witches). Abby joins the light witches and realizes she will need all her courage to fight the night witch's terrible leader, Wolfbane. I loved the book because it really gives you a picture in your head so you can see what is happening. I feel like I know the characters. I think it is very well written and the author really worked hard on this book.