APPRENTICE WITCH

Despite the title which implies a cast of thousands, this story revolves around the intense relationship betweent two fifth-grade girls, both seeking to be Needed. Black Jennifer is a loner of a character, while white Elizabeth is new to the neighborhood. The author refers to Hecate, the head witch in MACBETH, which may stimulate some discussion of Shakespeare's plays.

On Halloween day Elizabeth is walking through a park, when she spies an old-fashoined shoe dangling from a tree--a shoe on the foot of a self-proclaimed junior witch. Jennifer never smiles or laughts; in fact this curious girl walks with her head skyward--never at the ground. Her abrupt manner lacks social skills, but immediately fascinates the impressionable Elizabeth. Unique and possessive, Jennifer decies to make the girl her Apprentice--without even asking if she'd like this honor! Suddenly Elizabeth must eat certain foods and refrain from eathing others, while leaving food "offerings" for her mentor. Is this a clever scam or a serious attempt to achieve supernatural power; they both start collecting odd ingredients to compound a Flying Ointment. How far will this Witch Game be taken?

Totally dominated by Jennifer's will Elizabeth starts acting strangely both at home and in school. Alas, she learns more than witchcraft when she is promoted to Journeyman witch, but must she sacrifice everything that normal girls enjoy, just to win Jennifer's occult favor? Is it friendship or something more sinister which she seeks? What is the attraction of Power over others? She actually discovers that she enjoys being Different from other girls; that it is exhilarating to behave in a difficult manner, which puzzles concerned adutls. What kind of underground game has their social symbiosis become, if she has to sneak, lie, dissemble and deny her own personality? Elizabeth is convinced that Jennifer's esteem is worth it all. It takes a special toad (as in TUCK EVERLASTING) to teach her an important life lesson: that no joy comes from wishing ill on others. Elementary girls will enjoy this cute BOO read.

(May 23, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

A tiny gem of a book, readable in an afternoon. Things I love about Jennifer et al.: the careful depiction of a friendship with someone who is not inherently likable, the descriptions of bored gray days, and the bookish kid literary references.

I don't know how I missed this book in childhood given that I loved others by E.L. Konigsburg (chief among them, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler). But no matter, I'm just glad to have discovered it now thanks to the recommendation of a friend (thanks Amy!). It's a marvelous book about not fitting in and friendship which I have no doubt speaks to the young readers for whom it was written, but it also has many layers for the adult reader to savor. Jennifer, the self-professed young witch under whose spell narrator Elizabeth falls while friendless and new to town, is a wholly original character. And so too is Elizabeth, although in less obvious ways. My questions about the two of them and their respective motivations were probably very different than those that I would have pondered had I read it as a child. Either way though, this slim novel offers much to think about and much to appreciate. I was particularly struck by how well Konigsburg conveys the independent universe that kids manage to carve out for themselves apart from their parents, even when they have the benefit of caring and present parents. Like so much else about the book, this rang very true for me. Highly recommended.

This was a re-reading for my Vintage Book Circle children's literature discussion group. It made me appreciate how closely Jennifer and Elizabeth are related to the quirky characters in so many if Konigsburg's later works.

While I don't have children yet, I'm compiling a shelf of books for my "someday kids." I want them (the kids) to be interesting and full of imagination, who experience more than canned cartoons on the television.

This book is one for the shelf. It's a delightful read, telling the story of interesting children who have wonderful imaginations, and perfectly captures the ups and downs of adolescent female relationships.

It, alongside Harriet the Spy, changed my third grade world. And the grades after that. Best EL Konigsberg book. Period.

Fun reread of an old favorite of my childhood.

This is perhaps my favorite book of all time. I still have the original copy that I bought when I was 10 years old, and I have read it dozens of times over the years. What could be better than a friendship between witches, with a climax that involves a riddle inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth?

I honestly have no idea what the reader is supposed to get out of this book. I don’t know what the message is.

I know I laughed for a disproportionately long time SEVERAL times at how good some of the dialogue is, though, so that’s worth something~

It was a pretty good book. My mom finally got me to read it and I am sort of glad she did.

not really sure about this

I enjoyed sharing the magic of this Konigsburg classic with Lexi and Grandmere. Witchcraft may be a personal affair, but the enchantment of middle school friendship still registers across the decades. Raw egg, raw onion, raw oatmeal, uncooked spaghetti create the perfect appetizer for one of the best cons in children's literature. Long live Hilary Ezra!