The Headless Cupid / Zilpha Keatley Snyder / 1971
The Stanley kids are adjusting after the death of their mother a year ago. They've moved to the country, and their father has remarried. Along with a step-mother, they also get a step-sister. Amanda is 12 and a little angry at the world. She's a self-styled witch, complete with a pet crow, a snake, and a horny toad as pets. She dresses oddly and has very little use for the Stanley children: David, 11; Janie, 6; and the twins Blair and Esther, aged 4. The kids are beguiled by Amanda and think her interest in the occult is neat and they want to join in. My inner 12 year old was all in with this story!

Reading this as an adult, I can appreciate the way the author has captured the personalities of the children. The plot foreshadowing is pretty good, and the supernatural portions of the story are subtle and fun. The story arc expertly weaves together all the nuances of divorce, death, and "poltergeists." Its fun to note that the story takes place in a time when kids had more freedom in the summer. The Stanleys and Amanda are basically on their own to entertain themselves. No play dates or overscheduling like today's kids, just a few chores and endless hours of fun! The children are also portrayed as mature and resourceful. Their father has to go away for three weeks, leaving his new wife Molly and the 5 kids on their own. Molly is an artist, working on a series of paintings and pretty much lets the older kids look after the younger kids and as long as they're behaving she doesn't interfere with their pursuits. The ending provides some closure to the supernatural happenings in the way of a double plot twist and a wide open set up for the next book!

Many Goodreads reviews waxed nostalgic. Adults are rereading the story and sharing with their own kids/grands. One reviewer, however, droned on endlessly about "glorifying the occult" and some blah blah blah about the devil. Shade was thrown at the Newberry award, and there was even a lengthy scripture thrown in for good measure. There's always one wet blanket in the crowd. Originally I thought a 3 star rating was enough but after ruminating all day I've upgraded to 4/5 stars. And it's the first in a series.

I both listened and read this Newbery Honor book. It is the story of a mixed family Dad/4 kids and a Mom/daughter. The daughter is into "supernatural" types of things and is trying to influence the 4 kids. It was an ok read. It does have references to ghosts, divorce, misbehaving children, etc. I don't believe this book would even get Newbery consideration today.

I really enjoyed this book, the witchcraft and occult was very strange but interesting. I've read the last book in the series (without realizing it) and was glad to get the first book. I love Janie-she is so funny! Amanda was pretty weird, but cool, and Blair was kinda strange, but I liked him and the other characters well. I also enjoyed the twist at the end-definitely was not seeing it coming. I think this is a good '70s elementary school book and I liked it, not my favorite but it's still good and I'd recommend others checking it out.

This is a book for fourth through sixth grade readers. I didn't like the book, and I think that if you're a student considering reading it, then you should try Sammy Keyes mysteries, The Graveyard Book, or Skeleton Creek before reading this one.


This book was a Newbery Honor book in 1971. At the time, there wasn't much out there for adolescents. Although probably good adolescent literature for its time, there are much stronger pieces of literature out there today. The plot seems too contrived and the fact that five kids are left alone most of the time seems unbelievable. Also, the family relationships aren't described, and the parents are flat characters without much depth. This is a book controversial for its depictions of witchcraft, but I am more concerned with the poor plot and character development!

This book was a hoot. Amanda, the stepsister who is obsessed with the supernatural and is sullen and manipulative, is pretty unlikable, but you can't help but root for her. I wish we had seen more hijinks starring her pet crow, as that's a missed opportunity for hilarious scenes, but overall this book is a riot.

David and his three younger siblings move into an old and mysterious house with their dad, new stepmom and her peculiar daughter, Amanda, who is twelve to David's eleven. Amanda is interested-slash-borderline-obsessed with everything occult, to the point that she moves in along with a crow, a toad and a snake despite the fact that the crow treats her viciously and she's afraid of reptiles. She quickly establishes herself as the leader and pulls David and the little ones into an elaborate series of initiation rites. David begins to sense that her strange behavior is less about witchcraft and more to do with all the recent changes in her life. When they learn that there may have been a poltergeist in the old house long ago, however, things start happening and David works to solve all sorts of mysteries.
An interesting story and a fun read that pulls you in and keeps you page-turning. David's character is immediately likable, and Amanda and the rest of the kiddos are completely believable and easy to root for.

Not my favorite. I didn't enjoy reading about a bratty girl and I didn't enjoy the quickness of the ending. Why do books have to spend so much time on the problem and the build up and yet spend little time after the situation is resolved? I think readers deserve to know what happens next, especially to make it seem more realistic. And this ending wasn't satisfactory at all.

I read this a bazillion years ago and the story ran away from my memory but I've always remembered that it was my very favorite book! Well, needing to cleanse my reading palette, I decided to listen and OMG....I don't feel bad saying that I need this level of book from now on. LOL. No fluff or drawn out descriptions, just a very fun and spooky story. I love the book even more after all these years!!

It had me thinking very hard and got me confused but overall its a great book.

This book is more toward mystery than horror, since the end (SPOILER) ends with the main character's brother, states that he hears ghosts, and sees the cupid's head, placed in an awkward way.

A return to my past. I remember this book as being creepy...and an author I enjoyed. It took me some work to track down the book--- it isn't for sale at the bookstores around here, my local libraries (I have access to a city one and a university one) didn't carry it--- I ended up ordering it through ILL and getting a 1971 edition.
The book holds up to 2018. It does NOT hold up to my memories. I remember being slightly creeped out as a kid, but this wasn't truly a ghost story. This is more two families blending to become one and the things that happen when a young teen manipulates the family to get what she wants--- but the story was interesting and I enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the last chapter where some spook showed up. David and his three younger siblings move into a large house with their father and new stepmom. Shortly after their new stepsister appears and starts teaching her younger siblings about the occult. Spooky things start to happen, but sadly, nothing that can't be explained.
Read if you are 11 and like scary stuff.

2019 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge: Read a ghost story.

A blended family and childhood, in general, is messy. David is a wonderfully articulated and complex protagonist for this story. The Headless Cupid is a terrific read-along mystery for my son and me. I'm embarrassed to admit that the hair on my arms and legs stood up when the cupid's head rolled down the stairs. Whoops.