Reading level 4.9

I love this book! I really like how it talks about being lonely, and how having a friend really helps, even if you don't see them every day, it makes you feel better. Some people may be offended by the girls dabbling with witchcraft, but I think it's perfectly harmless (who doesn't play make believe) I love how it explores what we might do to make a friend, especially when we don't have many (or any in this case). I can totally relate to this book, so maybe that's why I liked it so much.

Love it!

Some books are timeless-- this one, even with Koningsburg's charming style, is oddly locked in time.

And although it's a light story with a non-plot, from four decades away some things that were benign are a little troubling.

In an attempt at post racial colorblindness (hah!) the author mentions only once that Jennifer is black. But the awareness pervades the book with its non-acknowledgment. The narrator never critiques her own race and her friend's race... And although it seems well-meant, it's the kind of intentional ignoring of race that has sealed America's racial issues in amber. White people ignore race because of discomfort, which often means ignoring "racial" people (since whiteness is invisible and therefore not a thing, right?). Does the narrator ignore Jennifer as school because they are being witchy and mysterious or because openly being friends with a black girl would have marked her as well?

Anyway, as a story this is kind of a weird little book. As a mirror reflecting the narrator/author's unwillingness to acknowledge race, it's an interesting artifact.

I'd love to see it rewritten from Jennifer's point of view. She's clearly a much more interesting person. Why are we trapped in the dull friend's POV? I'd rather hear what it's like to be a brilliant black girl in the 1960s, obsessed with history, living on an elegant estate where your dad is the gardener or caretaker? Why does she play this long strange game with the main character? What does the think about the fact their friendship was secret at school? Whose idea was that really? Why did she make her friend give her food and eat weird stuff?

Nothing worse than being trapped in a dull character's mind...

As for recommending to my students.... Sure. Easy to read. But not very relatable...{

One of my favorites as a kid. A nice re read. The story of these 2 girls, not the popular group, make their own fun and learn about each other in an unusual way. I loved it as a kid and it hasn't lost it's "magic" on me now.

I loved this book just like I loved all the other e. l. konisberg books I've read
(From the mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and The View from Saturday).

When I was half way into the book, I realized that I had actually read this book in elementary school
in Korean (I didn't regognize the title because the title of the translated version was 'my friend is
a witch'). I remember I was also reading a book called 'little witch' (in the translated version) by a German writer. 'Little witch' was a really cute book about a witch who tries to become a 'good' witch by doing nice things or people so she can attend this very important meeting of the witches.
I had went into Jennifer, Hecate (or 'my friend is a witch') expecting the same kind of cute stuff
and I remember being surprised at how 'dark' this book seemed to me at the time.
Especially when Jennifer and Elizabeth prick their fingers and make their blood drop on a key
as part of the iniation ritual for becoming an apprentice witch - I really didn't enjoy that part
at the time! wierd I know.

Anyway, when I borrowed this book from the library this time, my boyfriend had read the first
page while I was checking out other books, and he told me it was about this girl who doesn't have
any friends, but one day meets this other girl (jennifer) in the woods. As soon as I heard that
description I knew I would love this book. I always find myself sympathizing with characters who
are lonly, and I love to see them make a very special friend by the end of the book, which
is exactly what happened in this book. Plus, not only do you get to feel happy for
Elizabeth, but also Jennifer as well. It's very admirable and sad at the same time to think
of Jennifer having pretended to be a witch and be so strong all the time, when she
was really just this little girl (though undoubtedly charismatic) who wanted to make a friend.
I'm so glad that Jennifer and Elizabeth found each other.
Oh, and I also loved the minor characters like Elizabeth's dad with his theory about 'normal'
body temperature (what's 'normal' is different for everyone), and Hilary Ezra, the toad who gets loved so much but is just sortof cool about it, Great-Uncle Frank and Great-Aunt Drusilla,
and probably even the two-faced Cynthia.