This book starts with a great opening sentence: ‘“Even the birds have arguments sometimes,” said a voice.’
This story is about a young girl, Miranda, who is being bullied at her new school. Pip, an elf who Miranda encounters, offers to help by transporting her to his own homea Magic Kingdomonly to find, when they arrive, that it has been horribly destroyed and burnt to the ground by evil witches.
All Pip’s friends have disappeared, the Kingdom is in the grip of winter, and it is a tragic situation.
The quest to save The Magic Kingdom from the witches begins.
The plot moves fast with the two brave characters, Miranda and Pip, travelling on a difficult journey towards the Witches’ Castle. Many obstacles stand in their way. Often it is a scary animal, mythical creature or person who turns out to be a long, lost friend or someone who can become a friend.
New characters come and go or briefly help Pip and Miranda. It might have been nice to have got to know some of them a little better. The witches are constantly appearing (and chasing) so that the jeopardy builds as the journey continues. The finale is a short confrontation with the witches in their dark and scary castle.
The story skips quickly from scene to scene. The final part of the tale does seem a little rushed. What had promised to be a major confrontation with the witches is over in one short chapter!
That said, some young readers, looking for an exciting but safe story will really enjoy this book. Too much fear and intensity can be worrying for more sensitive children. They will enjoy meeting the
animals and the mythical people and creatures who we get to know along the way.
It may have been a more satisfying end for the reader to be sure that Miranda has finally conquered her fear of bullies. It is implied but the story does end rather quickly, and some readers may be left wanting more.
The illustrations throughout by Matti Walker are very effective. They are mostly silhouettes and this works well. The witches are portrayed as shadowy and dark.
I award this book 3.5 stars.
