The Witches

Author: Roald DahlPublisher: Puffin Books This book is like a guide to recognize witches among ordinary women. The main character is a little boy and his grandmother can tell if a woman is a witch. The little boy somehow experiments what his granny tells by meeting these witches. On one occasion, he is caught by some witches and turned into a mouse. He tries all sorts of tricks to escape and the witches are celebrating for catching a child. Fortunately, the little boy uses his wit and turns the witches into mice, which are finally killed by a cook.

This book is well written in a sense that there is a deep meaning underneath the vivid descriptions. It is not only nostalgic but also exhilarating. You get to know a lot about witches and you might think you would become an expert in witch-hunting after reading the book. Any woman or girl sitting near you could be a witch. There are signs and characteristics to look for on a witch’s body. Isn’t it exciting and yet dangerous?

As the book says,” Real witches dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ordinary jobs.” so you will have chicken bums after reading these lines. Any woman around you could be a witch. Since “witches have red-hot sizzling hatred that is more sizzling and red-hot than any hatred you could possibly imagine,” and “ a real witch spends all her time plotting to get rid of the children in her particular territory,” young readers have a very touching connection with this book and they want to read more to know more about witches. The witches could turn a child into a slug, a flea or a pheasant. Adults may step on a slug and squish it. That’s the end of a child’s life ! Children are turned into pheasants and get shot in the woods by grown-ups. They could also turn children into hot dogs and they get eaten by their parents.

The plot is exciting. The details are nerve-breaking. The author succeeds in using suspense to arouse readers’ attention. The more you read, the quicker you want to know what’s going to happen next to the poor little boy. I have read it for several times and it gives me lots of excitement and new discovery every time. Take it home and read. I’ m sure you won’t be disappointed!

Recommended by Mr. Law Siu Wong