The Witch of Clatteringshaws

More or less concluding what is termed the Wolves Chronicles, this story, written just before the author's death, is mostly worth reading because it reveals how she wrote stories. Dido Twite, redoubtable heroine of nine of the 'series' of 11 books, goes on a mission to find the heir to the throne of England in an alternative universe where the Stewart dynasty never lost the throne. After plotting her stories Aiken wrote the chapter endings first, then filled in the action leading up to them. Finally she 'polished' the narrative, tying up stray plotlines, improving characterization, and correcting any other narrative errors. In this case she appears to have died prior to the final step, leaving a somewhat raw narrative full of imagination but with an awkward structure full of plot holes. A useful accompaniment to Aiken's book "The Way to Write for Children".

On its own, The Witches of Clatteringshaws is a fun, fast-moving, but not overly memorable book. But it's almost impossible to rate the book on its own--indeed, if this is a reader's introduction to the Wolves Chronicles, the book may seem close to nonsensical. But as the closing episode of the Wolves Chronicles, it's poignant primarily because it is the last in the series. Like its predecessor, Midwinter Nightingale, it reads more like a hurried outline than like a full-fledged, fully satisfying novel--the characters are sketched in shorthand, and places are given only the most cursory descriptions. It's almost as if Aiken knew she had one final deadline to beat. Personally, though, I wish the ending had been more conclusive--heck, I'd just like to know exactly how old Dido and Simon are by this point! Nonetheless, having started the series when I was a child, I look forward to introducing my daughter to Dido, Simon, Pa, Dutiful Penitance (remember her?), and the rest in a few years. Thank you, Joan Aiken...

As much as I loved this book, it was a sad experiance to read the final page and know that there was no more to The Wolves Chronichles; that there could not be since Joan Aiken died last winter. Dido Twite is back and better than ever (her grammar is even improving) in this latest installment. She is only one of many highlights. Rodney Firebrace, the not so funny court jester is one and Malise the titular witch who lives in a former Ladies' vespasion is another. I would reccomend this book to people of all ages because only Aiken can tell a story that would keep adults hooked and not talk down to children.

With a mix of high adventure, gothic settings, mysterious monsters, and the now-familiar villians who plot to put an imposter on the throne of England, Aiken's Wolves Chronicles come to a whirlwind conclusion. Clearly conceived in tandem with the most recent book in the series, _Midwinter Nightingale_, _The Witch of Clatteringshaws_ features several characters and plot twists that span both books. The indomitable Dido Twite, one of the most spunky, resourceful, and well-traveled heroines of children's literature, sets off to Scotland to find a lost heir to the throne so that her friend Simon can gratefully abdicate. She and her friend Piers Ivanhoe le Guichet Crackenthorpe, also known as Woodlouse, encounter a socially responsible witch who rides a golf club, flesh-eating Hobyahs, and the abusive owners of a retirement home who also dabble in plastic surgery. Meanwhile, Simon piles the English army into two trains, gives a charmingly inept rendition of Henry V's St. Crispin's Day speech, and attempts to prevent a Wendish invasion. Action-packed though this story is, a thread of melancholy runs through it, as the characters dwell on the dying words of Saint Arling and whether anyone heard them. Especially poignant in light of Aiken's death last January, this story demonstrates how, like Dido's Pa's songs, art can cheer us along the way, defeat prehistoric fears, and help us understand the nature of life and death.