The Active-Enzyme, Lemon-Freshened Junior High School Witch

I borrowed this book from my sister one summer vacation and never gave it back. I have to say it's right up there with Watership Down, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Wrinkle in Time and The Great Brain (another underappreciated book) for pure enjoyment for kids and adults alike. I didn't become a witch but truly related to Allison's quest to assuage her summer confinement and her passion for ceremony and mystery. The author's style is wittier and more sophisticated than most preteen stories and I appreciate the humor to this day. I hope people can get past the "witch" and enjoy this story for what it is, a charming, hilarious account of the mishaps and "miracles" of this imaginative and exasperating girl.

Like another reviewer, I, too, first stumbled upon this book in a library. I didn't "forget to return" it, but I did borrow it probably 100 times or more. As an adult, it took me years to remember enough of the name to find it again. But you know, I think I even enjoyed and appreciated the story's combination of subtleties and slapstick more as a 29-year-old that I had as a 9-year-old! The book is a wonderful example of a pre-teen who knows it all, and knows that she knows it all. Allison's trials and secret triumphs in a world ruled by uncomprehending adults is one of the truest stories I've seen. It made a lasting impression on me, as I think it must on any young girl, because I could identify so closely with Allison's self-confidence, her cutting sense of humor, and her unbending belief that she, and only she, really understood the way the world worked. Regardless of one's religious preferences, this is a fantastic book for any kid. It encourages exploration and imagination, and the only permanent damage it did to me is that I can no longer look at a tube of toothpaste and a comb without laughing so hard that I cry (read the book, you'll get it).

I thought I imagined the title of this book but kept searching for it each time I was in a new library as an adult and finally found it once to re-read. Sadly, I have not seen it in years and wish I could own a copy, but it probably was not a best seller, so I doubt if any reprints will be out soon. I relate to others who felt it inspired them to explore Wicca; the imagination of a child is such a wonderful thing we sometimes lose touch with when we grow up. I was so impressed as a child with the rituals, the Name she gave herself ("Ariadne Atropos Arachne" if I rememeber correctly) and the old tower. Brings back fond memories. Who knows, I may run across a copy one of these days in a used book store...

Simultaneously hilarious and spooky, The Active Enzyme, Lemon Freshened Junior High School Witch is about a bedridden girl who stumbles upon a dusty old book on how to become adept at witchcraft. With the help of pesky little sister Jeannie and best friend Emmaline, Allison forms a coven and attempts (with various levels of success) to raise the Devil, bring back the dead, and peer into the future. This book captures the marvelous way children can invent their own fantasy worlds that are far more fascinating and empowering than their everyday lives. I loved reading about Allison gathering and consecrating her witchcraft tools and how she improvised when unable to get her hands on "the real thing". The spooky atmosphere of the tower room where she performs her spells made you understand why witchcraft was more than just a game to Allison; it was a way of creating her own world where she alone was Mistress of her Fate. If you're a person who likes to escape into their own fantasy world, this is an excellent book for you. To be sure, there is plenty of realism injected into the plot; you'd never mistake this book for a fairy tale. But there's more than enough magic and mystery to sustain your interest, especially if you've ever considered dabbling into witchcraft!