Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1407444 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-03
• Released on: 2005-08-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Young listeners will be thrilled to know that not everything is as it seems in this nimble recording of Dale's debut novel about a boy who stumbles upon a magical, witch-filled world. When he boards the train from London to Canterbury to spend the Christmas holidays with his mother and stepfather, 12-year-old Joe Binks expects an uneventful trip. But what he finds is far from ordinary. Joe gets off the train at the wrong stop and soon finds himself befriended by a young witch named Twiggy and the members of her slightly misfit coven. Though he eventually makes it to his mother's house, circumstances pull him (and younger half-sister Esme) back to Twiggy and an intriguing competition among covens to find the missing page of an ancient spell book. Curless offers an upbeat reading sustained with notes of suspense and mystery befitting Dale's effervescent fantasy. Kids will be eager to follow the inviting Curless along for all the twists and turns here. Ages 8-12. (Nov. 2004)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-7 - When his father is called to Scotland on business, Joe's expectation of a boring Christmas holiday with his mum, step dad, and half-sister takes a turn toward the fantastical when he unintentionally becomes involved in a quest to recover the world's most dangerous magic spell--a page stolen from the ancient and infamous Mabel's Book. With the help of Twiggy, a young member of the disreputable Dead Nettle coven, Joe battles the loathsome Dritch sisters and their evil associates. John Curless's skillful, fully-voiced narration of the book by Anna Dale (Bloomsbury, 2004) is pure auditory delight as he brings to life the many eccentric characters and whimsical touches that make this bewitching tale perfect family listening. - Cindy Lombardo, Tuscarawas County Public Library, New Philadelphia, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. On his way to Canterbury to spend the Christmas holidays with his mother and stepfather, Joe Binks becomes entangled with Twiggy, a novice member of the Dead-nettle coven of witches, and learns that the original copy of Mabel's Book (of potions and spells) has been stolen from the National Museum of Witchcraft. Their task is to recover it before a witch named Logan Dritch manages to cast a diabolical spell. Joe is not a witch, but Twiggy's spells help defeat Logan and her evil twin, Lydia, a frumpy, sensibly dressed librarian. Dale's first novel, set in an English countryside where magic coexists with reality, brims with local color and Briticisms. For the most part, characters ring true, although the knife-wielding librarian turns out to be creepier than any of the witches. Tightly plotted and with enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes, this will satisfy Harry Potter fans in need of a fantasy fix. Kay Weisman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

What A Delightful Read for The Young at Heart!
I can still not get over how much I enjoyed this magical mystery that was packed full of delightful characters, witches, magic, and a very well-plotted story. The cover caught my attention and I wasn't expecting much from it, but from the very first page, I was hooked on Joe Bink's adventure. I won't give away much on the plot (that's what the book synopsis is for!) but I'll tell you what I enjoyed the most;
The setting was perfect for the story; christmastime in a small english village, just right for a story about magical witches. The author plants her clues and the story was very well constructed. Also, the author doesn't insult older readers by using childish language. I got through it quite easily without being disappointed by lack of a mature writing style. I look forward to reading Anna Dale's next book and I hope that it is the sequel to Whispering to Witches. Overall, I give this book a 10/10! If you're a fan of Harry Potter (or a fan of good stories in general), I highly reccomend this book for it is just as magical and yet so very different and origional!

Totally Awesome from a 9-year-old's point of view
My daughter loved this book! Here is what she said about it: "It was a lot like Harry Potter, which is good because lots of kids like Harry Potter. I wish I could give it 10 stars, because it definitely deserves it! Anna Dale is a great author and one of the reasons she is so good is because when one thing happens, you can't at all tell that it is really important until you get to the part of the story where it is important."

Funny, heart-warming story.
The story takes a little too long to take root (which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5) and the eccentricity of the witches is a little annoying in places. But, in the end, the book is a joy to read. Lots of funny moments. Plenty of quirky characters. A main character we care about, and several lovable secondary characters. And enough danger and action to drive the story along. What more could you want?

Buy this book if you like magic mixed with humor (a la Eva Ibbotson, Diana Wynne Jones or Edward Eager).