Well Witched

Frances Hardinge's language is nothing short of brilliant. Her turns of phrase can give something so dull and mundane as a shopping cart life and personality, even an ominous presence. She does it with everyday words, casually and apparently without effort. Her characters are as distinct and well-drawn as your dearest friends, so very real and human. The tale itself draws you in, wondering where it will take you next. I do not re-read many works of fiction. This one I have, and loved it as much on the repeat. Originally I didn't think I'd enjoy it, as it was described to me as a children's book. Don't let that fool you!! Tweens and up who enjoy a well-crafted tale, especially one of the supernatural, will beg for more Hardinge after this.

If you like your creepy books with a dose of reality, then this book is for you! Ryan, Josh and Chelle are hanging out in town one summer day, when they realize that they don't have enough money to catch the bus home. Josh, the unspoken leader of the group, comes up with the idea of taking the money from a nearby wishing well. Big mistake. Over the next few days, strange changes happen to them - electrical devices go haywire around Josh, Chelle starts spouting out thoughts and words that aren't her own, and Ryan develops warts on his hands that have...eyelashes. Soon they discover why these changes are happening, and how it's connected to the money they stole from the well and the spirit that lives there. This is an original paranormal story that pulls you in right from the start. What I like best about Well Witched are the characters, and their growth throughout the book. The author really understands what it's like among three kids that are friends - how Ryan and Chelle always feel a little odd together when Josh isn't around, and how the person with more confidence than the others is the unspoken leader. But the dynamics of the kids' relationship takes a twisty and unexpected turn by the end of the story. The book also addresses family conflict, abuse of power, and if we really want what we wish for.

If you were short on money for the bus, and it was nearing the time to catch the last one before you were stuck in dark, dreary Magwhite for the night, what would you do? Ryan, Josh and Chelle decide to pull some coins out of an old well so that they can have enough change for bus fare. No one will ever know, and their parents will be furious if they're not home soon. But as early as the next day, things start getting weird. Ryan notices a wart on his hand that soon becomes two, and three, and more than he can count. He has a strange recurring dream in which his warts open up and become eyeballs. Chelle just can't keep her mouth shut --- except that instead of speaking her own mind, she seems to be telling her friends what everyone around her is thinking. Ryan, Josh and Chelle eventually realize what has happened to them. They've stolen coins not from any old well, but from a wishing well! Now they are channeling the wishers' thoughts. With a little research, they figure out that the well spirit wants them to grant the wishes belonging to the coins they stole. As if it's not hard enough to grant wishes for people they can't locate, Ryan and Chelle also find conflict with Josh, who doesn't understand why he isn't entrusted with a new skill like his two friends have. What follows is a delightful and cleverly woven adventure with just the right mix of fantasy and reality. In the vein of the Harry Potter series, WELL WITCHED lets the children guide the story, and they are definitely resourceful and smart enough to do it. This book will appeal to a variety of readers, from mystery and adventure lovers to fantasy fanatics. The plot is surprisingly dark, which keeps the reader even more intrigued and invested in the story and its characters. A side storyline involving Josh, who was adopted as a baby, was a little strange in what it seemed to promote, though it was tied up logically. I thought it was slightly offensive to use adoption as motivation for the malicious character he becomes, but it did resolve the story because of that. All things considered, WELL WITCHED is the best children's fantasy I've read in the post-Harry Potter world. I look forward to more books by the talented Frances Hardinge. --- Reviewed by Sarah Hannah Gómez

This appears to be originally published as "Verdigris Deep" (a more suitable title than "Well Witched"). It's a great twist on an old theme. I haven't read her first novel (yet), so I didn't come into this book with any expectations. It's a delightfully twisted tale of three adolescents caught up in a chain of events leading them down a dark path. In addition to being a great adventure tale, this book deals well with issues of family and parental conflict.

...that tarnishes ageing and forgotten copper coins, altering them entirely...." Throwing coins in a wishing well And making a wish It seems so simple But have you ever spared a thought For the coins? Lying for eternity under the water Among the slime and leaves Forgotten by all but the verdigris And of course the Well Witch `Cos she's real Three children find out the hard way Short on bus fare They dare to disturb the rusty rest Of the coins, and naturally The Well Witch A price must be paid for their crime He who takes the coin Must grant the wish Like verdigris, they become Altered entirely But, the tricky thing about wishes Is that you can't just Take them at face value Because people don't always wish for what They REALLY want This book works at many levels The characters So cleverly developed The plot so fiendishly crafted I have goosebumps Before introducing your child To Stephen King Lead them to The murky waters and rotting wishes Of the well (Recommended for kids from 12 yrs to 99 yrs) See also: Fly by Night by the same author Amanda Richards, June 4, 2008