chapman's review against another edition
4.0
This was my idea of magic school, long before Harry Potter. I still love these books.
marchbug's review against another edition
4.0
it surely is a fast read. i would have liked it a bit more drawn out, but it is a childrens book at last.
shahrun's review against another edition
4.0
I just had a very pleasant revisit of my childhood with this gorgeous little book. I love the authors illustrations throughout (why can't grown up books have a few pictures?) and the simple storyline. Nice way unwind for a wee while.
ximajs's review against another edition
3.0
Had to give this book a go as I heard a lot about it re JKR/HP.
A lot more episodic than HP, and probably intended for a younger audience, so it didn't grab me, a 30-something-year-old.
Still, it was interesting to read a possible HP inspiration.
A lot more episodic than HP, and probably intended for a younger audience, so it didn't grab me, a 30-something-year-old.
Still, it was interesting to read a possible HP inspiration.
zabacitanovine's review against another edition
5.0
It is cute but I'm 20 years too late, so I'm grading is as a 5-year-old me would.
It does seem like only an outline, but for the taget audience, it is just enough :)
It does seem like only an outline, but for the taget audience, it is just enough :)
scots81's review against another edition
5.0
Review to come later when I've finished the whole series...
lucyblack's review against another edition
3.0
read this with Kit (6)
We enjoyed this. All the normal witch story and school story tropes but pretty well done. I liked that there wasn't too much fat shaming or going on about who is pretty and who isnt. I don't particularly like the segregation of sexes and the only time a guy comes into it he is there to judge them. Hopefully that rectifies in later books.
We enjoyed this. All the normal witch story and school story tropes but pretty well done. I liked that there wasn't too much fat shaming or going on about who is pretty and who isnt. I don't particularly like the segregation of sexes and the only time a guy comes into it he is there to judge them. Hopefully that rectifies in later books.
mamaorgana80's review against another edition
3.0
Read this as a nighttime book with the girls. Perfect series for that age (5&4).
glanecia's review against another edition
4.0
After watching the movie from the 80’s, and the recent TV show based on this series, I knew I had to read the books. (The movie was silly, but the show is awesome!) This first book in the series is truly charming. The writing is simple, and obviously written for a middle grade audience, or younger. With that in mind, I can’t criticize the simplicity of the story. Even though there is nothing deep or meaningful in this story, I am still delighted by the tabby cat, Mildred’s clumsiness, the bats, the castle, the school environment, the villains, and how the worst witch became a hero.
This book did not get five stars, because there was nothing deep or meaningful. You can have simple language and still write about important issues.
I was also intrigued by the similarity to Harry Potter, because this book came out before HP. The houses, the strict Snape like teacher, the way to get your broom to fly, etc.
This book did not get five stars, because there was nothing deep or meaningful. You can have simple language and still write about important issues.
I was also intrigued by the similarity to Harry Potter, because this book came out before HP. The houses, the strict Snape like teacher, the way to get your broom to fly, etc.