The Witch's Tears (Roaring Good Reads) [Paperback]

Jenny Nimmo (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up | Series: Roaring Good Reads

In a whirl of rainy weather, a strange woman appears on Theo and Dodie's doorstep making Theo very uneasy. His mother and little sister do not seem at all alarmed by her. Dodie loves Mrs Scarum's stories and her wild dancing. But Theo suspects there might be trouble afoot, not helped by the fact that his father, usually so reliable, has failed to return home. And when Theo is told that you can tell a witch because, if she cries, her tears will turn to crystal, he knows that Mrs Scarum is a witch. Or perhaps this time, tears will make things better?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jenny Nimmo has been an actor, researcher, floor-manager and script editor for children's television. Her first book The Bronze Trumpeter was published in 1975. The Snow Spider won the Tir na N'Og award and the Smarties Grand Prix. Her most recent book , for older readers, is Milo's Wolves. Jenny Nimmo was born in Windsor, Berkshire and now lives in Wales with her artist husband and three bi-lingual children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007141629
• ISBN-13: 978-0007141623
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,038,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Touch of Fear Added to Otherwise Charming Story, November 24, 2010

By 

Nicola Manning (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witch's Tears (First Modern Classics) (Paperback)

Reason for Reading: Specifically I am collecting this publisher's list under the title of "First Modern Classics" aimed at younger readers originating from the UK house. The titles on this list, which started in 2009, all by British authors, are a unique selection for North American readers, though a few international classics are included. I knew nothing of this author or title.

This book is certainly aimed at the younger ages, though it may prove frightening or tense for some as the father is the one in peril from a real life situation, being lost on the roads on the way home in a snow storm. We never experience this from the father's point of view though and otherwise the story is light-hearted with the family being visited by a good witch, though they don't know it. A cute story, short and easy to read with lots of fantasy elements and a heart warming ending. I wonder at the inclusion of this title in this publisher's series though as the other books I've read have been much more outstanding. Still worth the read, especially for the younger set and those looking for a "good witch" story.

Finally, an aspect of the "First Modern Classics" series I really like is first at the beginning there is a short paragraph by a famous author called "Why You'll Love this Book" which Lynne Reid Banks provides in this instance. Then at the back there is "More Than a Story" section with its own Table of Contents. This one includes lots of riddles and several recipes relevant to the title. Also included is a list of signs to look for in a witch from the old puritanical days, a portion of Shakespeare's Macbeth's witches' scene "double, double, toil and trouble..." and a witches from history section that includes, among others, both Baba Yaga and Anne Boleyn (remember that 6th finger!). A quick, cute read.