I'm a fan of Zilpha Keatley Snyder--was as a child; was as a parent of four; am now as a lifelong library worker. The children who are her protagonists and secondary characters all ring true, even when there is a mist of exciting magic or supernatural about their adventures.

Friends and I are reading our way through the Newbery Award books (and many of the Honour titles), and it is a pleasure to find a Snyder book among them now and then.

A cat on the cover, of course I'm going to read it. Witches of Worm is a Newberry Honor Book, that follows a 12 year old girl named Jessica. Jessica lives with her mum but is usually left alone as her mum must work or goes on dates. Recently she has been ostracised from her closest friends, as they have developed new friendships. One evening she finds an abandoned newborn kitten. She doesn't like cats, but feels a certain obligation to help it. After a while, she starts becoming paranoid of the cat, mostly because of all the books on witchcraft she has been reading. She then hears a voice and is coerced into doing things such as lying and breaking things. For a children's book, Witches of Worm takes a very mature approach to responsibility. The book remains ambiguous as to how much is supernatural and how much is psychological. Like the Salem witch trials themselves, Jessica may very well be making up these voices to excuse her actions. The book manages to create suspense and mystery where there isn't any, by sucking us in to Jessica's paranoia. Snyder is a great writer, and she brings to life a very simple tale by using a wide variety of vocabulary. She doesn't underestimate her target audiences intelligence, nor does she overwhelm the story with cryptic references to past events. The relationships are easy to understand and Jessica is never too likeable nor a villain. A wonderful short book, that I think could be considered an important read for any youngster.

re-read June 2009. Still creepy.

I was reading this to my boys. It was kind of interesting, but we read sporadically for awhile. About half-way through the book it was due back at the library. When I asked the boys if they wanted to finish it they weren't. I guess I'd have to give it 2 stars since it didn't hold our interest, but maybe another time it would. It was a very make-believe book about a cat who was a witch. Kind of weird.