What is a witch? After my last book, all about the Salem Witch Trials, I have a pretty good idea about what the Puritans thought. However, it would serve me well to allow Roald Dahl to present an answer to that for his childhood readers. According to Dahl, a witch has claw-like fingers (always gloved), remains bald (but wears a wig), and has squared feet (no toes and a horror when shopping for shoes!). But, the most important piece of knowledge about witches is that they DESPISE children more than anything. From there, in a sort of faux memoir about his youth, Dahl recounts losing his parents in an automobile crash and living with a Norwegian grandmother. She, of course, knows much more about witches and counsels him about them, since Norway has had witches for centuries. While on holiday, young Dahl and his grandmother are in a hotel and stumble across a gathering of all English witches, who are meeting under the guise of a fairly popular and heart-warming organisation. What happens next will test young Dahl's ability to remember all the traits and actions witches undertake, as well as a conspiracy that the Grand High Witch of the World has for all the children. A delightful book to pique the curiosity of the young reader without any trials, tortures, or tribulations. Salem or the quaint English seaside, witches are all over and Dahl finally helps us identify them. Do YOU know a witch in your daily life?

Dahl's magical way of presenting things to children is highly entertaining and allows me, a full-fledged adult reader, to tackle an enjoyable and short piece. Intentionally bordering on the silly, Dahl offers his readers some background before setting sail on a reading voyage that will both educate and entertain. His personalising the story pulls the reader in a little more and, even faced with adversity, Dahl does not push things to the edge of despair. I have always liked Dahl stories in my youth and see now just how uplifting I feel. I hope that in a few years, when my son is ready for something a little more dense, we might explore the world of witches and all they have to offer.

Kudos, Mr. Dahl for another winner. Children have a goldmine of reading when they discover all that you had in your mind and put to paper.

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Gorgeous, cute book and the illustrations of Quentin Blake are just too cute as well. I've seen the movie of course several times and hey, the movie has a different ending, that is a surprise! Roald Dahl, a great, entertaining writer...! I really need to start reading the 'grown-up' books soon :-)

The Witches is a surprising book. The story is deceptively simple but many great ideas are buried in between the lines that tell it, make it a rich read leading to many buried treasures that shine in the light of the new understanding they bring.

It all start when a seven year old boy whose name we never learn (isn't it that clever?) loses his parents in an car accident, and goes to live with his grandmother in Norway. Grandma is a master storyteller, who tells the boy about witches with claws instead of finger nails, bald heads, large nose holes, square feet, and blue spit. She also tells him that this aren't stories to scare him but to warn him, because witches are real and they loathe children.

When Grandma gets sick, to improve her health, the two of them travel to a hotel on the English coast. Random mishaps (or is it destiny mixed with fate?) put the boy in a locked room with two hundred witches. He hides, hoping the witches won't find him by his smell, and overhears the witches’ wicked plan to turn children into mice by putting Delayed Action Mouse-Maker in chocolate bars in candy shops all around England.

The boy's fear betrays him. The witches find him and turn him into a mouse but he manages to escape their clutches. On his escape, he finds Bruno, the very first boy turned to mouse by the wicked potion, and they both go on a quest to find the boy’s grandmother. The rest, as you may imagine, is just a delightful series of clever escapes and near misses until the witches are defeated.

In this book Dahl uses a lot of rhyming, which makes reading it aloud all the more fun, and as with all books by Roald Dahl, the story contains a lot of humorous elements and lots of irony at times well disguised by presenting them as the beliefs of the times like when Grandma tells the boy “I don’t care what age you are… You’ll never catch a cold if you smoke cigars.”

Dahl takes onsubjects that all children are curious about but often fear to know much or ask more, and he does it in a light way, so even the possibility of dying is turned into a funny simile: “If a tiger were able to make himself look like a large dog with a waggy tail, you would probably go up and pat him on the head. And that would be the end of you”

One of the most significant messages of the book, one of those buried treasures I talked about, is that beauty is deceiving, for all of the witches seem pretty and nice on the outside, but on the inside it is a different story. So we, as the boy, are cautioned about judging others by their appearances.

I definitively like and recommend this book. Iit reads quickly, smoothly, and if you’re looking for a spooky read to share with your children though you want them to be able to sleep with the lights off, this eerie, funny, and witty kid’s classic will hit the spot.

Roald Dahl is in my top 3 of favorite children's authors. I had read a few of his books as a child, but most of my exposure occurred as a young adult and while in college.

The Witches was actually a book I read after the movie with Anjelica Huston was produced. I am a huge fan of her work, and when she appeared in this movie, I was fascinated with the story. I'd definitely recommend reading the book first as the movie takes the story so much further.

For one thing, the book has an unnamed narrator and grandmother, whereas the movie is very detailed on the history of the characters, the various types of relationships, etc. But both were still very good.

It combines so many wonderful things for kids to love -- and to be scared of. Witches who can turn little boys into... well, I won't ruin the surprise. Suffice it to say, this can be a bit of a scary theme.



Dahl's style is so embracing and captivating. His characters are intense. The creativity and imagination from the works he's produced over the years is quite astonishing.

The Grand High Witch runs the show here, and she won't let you forget it. But it's the grandmother and the boy who may hold all the power. A classic battle of good and evil with some fun thrown in between.



A definite read for kids. And adults. When I was taking a course in college on "Reading in the Elementary School," I had to read 150 children's books and produce a portfolio showing a lesson plan for each book. Dahl featured in many of the lessons and books I had chosen, as I tried to incorporate some Newbery and Caldecott winners, but not all. What a joy to re-read these classics as a 21 year old thinking about becoming a teacher. Though I didn't stay in the teaching field (and possibly regret it to some degree), I will always go back to these books and this time period as one of the favorite parts of life.

n  n    About Men  n
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This has always been one of my favourite Roald Dahl books.

This story tells the tale of a Grandma and her grandson who travel to England to continue the boys education after the passing of his parents.

During this time the Grandma tells him stories of witches worldwide, with the story continuing with the discovery of English witches and an adventure ensues. As always I loved it!

بالاخره تموم شد.
داستان خیلی کم اتفاق و خیلی طولانی بود. خیلی راحت حجمش می‌تونست نصف بشه. به نظر اونقدرها هم برای بچه‌ها جذابیت نداشت که بخواد اینقدر طولانی باشه.
دیدم دو تا فیلم از روش ساختن اما هر دو تا ترسناک بودن و نگرفتمشون.

This week I've had great fun terrifying my six year old niece, Daisy by reading The Witches to her. She has gasped in horror, hidden behind a cushion, checked my fingernails, toes, eyes, nostrils and tried to pull my hair out. Although, she's reasonably confident I'm not a witch because we're family so I would have told her if I was, apparently. According to Daisy I do a great voice for The Grand High Witch (good to know, lol). I couldn't keep a straight face when she asked me to check on the internet if witches are actually real. Naughty Auntie Buttons scaring Baby Daisy, but oh what fun it has been. Yet another great read by Roald Dahl.

I grew up watching the 1990 version of Witches, and despite its scariness, (When Angelica Houston removed her mask, my little jaw dropped!) I always loved the film. It wasn't until I heard about the 2020 remake (Also a great movie!), that I developed a curiosity about the original book. Much like Roald Dahl's other works, it is an easy read, has great characters, and there is just an expected dash of magic in each of his works that makes them all so special. This was no exception and even my seven year-old had a blast while I read it to her. The one line of the Grand High Witch, where she states that someone was 'frizzled as a fritter,' had me laughing for days. I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys something a little creepy, entertaining and family friendly.

I absolutely loved The Witches growing up, the way that Dahl lays out the various clues to spot a witch during the first half of the book is wickedly delightful.

It’s only as an adult that I’ve picked up on how clever setting some of the story in Norway actually is, as Vardø had their own witch trails during the 17th century.

All the seeds set during the first half of the book all come together as the young boy and he’s grandma stumble across the yearly conference of English Witches whilst holidaying in Bournemouth.

From the various tales told by the Grandma to the Witches schemes in the second half of the book, it’s one creepy thrill ride..
With each re-read this takes me back to
also being that eight year old boy who’d discovering Witches for the first time.

A fun light hearted read about a kid and his grandmama. The grandma tells the kid stories about witches before bed and then he himself gets to experience the same. What I liked was the relationship between the two and how his whole world revolved around his grandma as the parents die. How his grandma promises him safety and protection and would do anything for it. I wish I had a grandma like that.

The aspects I wasnt a huge fan of was the stereotyping of real witches, lol so if any real witch decides to pick this book, be warned that you are gonna get offended lol. Secondly, it was so exaggerated that I hoped this was all the kid's dream which is gonna be revealed at the end but well, that didn't happen.

“She might even be your lovely school-teacher who is reading these words to you at this very moment. Look carefully at that teacher. Perhaps she is smiling at the absurdity of such a suggestion. Don't let that put you off. It could be part of cleverness.

I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But—here comes the big "but"—not impossible.”

I remember reading this book with my friend back in school. There was a teacher in our school who perfectly fitted the description of a witch given in the prolouge. We spent hours evolving theories and plots together. Lol!
Roald Dahl was certainly my childhood author who provoked my imagination and took me on extraordinary adventures.
Recommended for light reading.

n  I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But--here comes the big "but"--not impossible.n

After the tragic loss of his parents, a young boy goes to live with his much beloved grandmother. He soon learns of the impossible - witches exist.

And they're sole joy in life is to find ways to make children disappear. Preferably in nasty and mysterious ways.

We soon discovers how to recognize a witch - they have clawed hands which they hide under gloves, they disguise their toe-less feet in pointy shoes and their spit has a faint blueish sheen. They excel at hiding in plain sight.  

n  REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ORDINARY JOBS. n

His fiercely protective grandmother does her absolute best to protect her grandson - arming him with enough knowledge to recognize and evade capture of one terrifyingly normal-looking neighborhood witch. During one summer vacation, things becomes significantly more...hairy...than expected.

An absolute delight to read. Dahl truly outdoes himself - combining the right amount of sweet and scary. The grandmother-grandson relation was absolutely splendid. Highly, highly recommended.

n  It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you.n

Audiobook Comments
Like the other Dahl books - this is a full-production presentation of the novel. Plenty of side-effects and the characterizations were wonderful though the Grand Witch was a bit difficult to understand. I felt like such an oldie by having to rewind it to hear what she said.

The Finer Books Club- 2018 Reading Challenge - A banned book

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