Call number
JF STE
Collection
Genres
Publication
Hodder Childrens Books (2018)
Description
It is Tib the black cat who leads Mary to the strange flower in the woods. When she discovers a little broomstick shortly afterwards, she is astonished to feel it jump in to action. Before she can gather her wits, it is whisking her over the treetops, above the clouds, and in to the grounds of Endor College, where: 'All Examinations Coached for by A Competent Staff of Fully-Qualified Witches.' Here she discovers evidence of a terrible experiment in transformation - deformed and mutant animals imprisoned in cages. In the moment after her broomstick takes off, she realises that Tib has been captured. Returning to the College the following day, she manages to free the animals, but not before the Head of the college, Miss Mumblechook, and her colleague, Doctor Dee, have seen her. Mary manages to flee... but the evil pair are in hot pursuit… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Cute and funny. The way the magic sneaked into her life, and the way she accepted it, were good (though Peter was a tad more confusing - why did he accept the magic? Though being trapped in the garden may have gotten him past the hurdle). I didn't like the way the author made it all blur away for
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them (or her, anyway - again, Peter is not explicitly memory-erased the way Mary is). But a nice little children's story (with a reasonably strong threat, overcome in the standard fairy-tale style of 'having helped others, you get help'). Not particularly memorable - I had in fact read it before but even as I was reading I couldn't remember what happened next. Decent. Show Less
LibraryThing member Eurekas
Mary is sent to her Great Aunt Charlotte's while her parents are away. There are no children, only her aunt, her companion and the gardener. Mary is lonely, she tries to be helpful but eventually wanders off on her own and finds a small black cat who leads her to a rare purple flower. With the
One of these transformed animals is the brother of the black cat. When Mary sees the plight of these animals she steals the book of Master spells, only to find the head mistress has stolen her small black cat. How does it all work out? Read and see. Excellent book.
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juice of this flower she animates a broomstick which takes her to a school for witches and wizards. This school is not Hogwarts, the headmistress is evil and transforms animals into other animals, then puts them in cages.One of these transformed animals is the brother of the black cat. When Mary sees the plight of these animals she steals the book of Master spells, only to find the head mistress has stolen her small black cat. How does it all work out? Read and see. Excellent book.
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LibraryThing member JenneB
Janet recommended this--I read it in the middle of the night last night when I couldn't sleep, which seemed appropriate.
It definitely has that mid-century British children's fantasy thing going on, with kids being left to stay in elderly houses with elderly relatives and finding their way into
The other thing that struck me about this, in a post-Harry Potter world, was that the witches are bad! The little girl has a chance to go to a school of witchcraft, but it is evil and creepy and they do things like blighting turnips.
It definitely has that mid-century British children's fantasy thing going on, with kids being left to stay in elderly houses with elderly relatives and finding their way into
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fantastical situations. But the writing is really unusual, very sensual and poetic in the descriptions, and not in an annoying way.The other thing that struck me about this, in a post-Harry Potter world, was that the witches are bad! The little girl has a chance to go to a school of witchcraft, but it is evil and creepy and they do things like blighting turnips.
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LibraryThing member geniemagik
I love the way she writes and her subject matter. This book should be reprinted.
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Not as 'cute' as the title implies, rather more adventurous. The girl has to use courage and intelligence to deal with the witches, who are bad, who use black magic. I enjoyed the illustrations, and the language, the writing style, is beautiful.
LibraryThing member libgirl69
I love this story. A bored child, Mary Smith, becomes pals with a black cat called Tibs. Mary finds adventure with Tibs, discovering brooksticks and witches, spells and Endor College - a school for witches. Something terrible is happening to the animals in the college, and Mary needs to save the
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day! Show Less
LibraryThing member CassieWinters
Wonderful children's book. It is unique from the film that was adapted from it. There are enough key differences to enjoy both on their own unique merits. I definitely recommend reading it. My rating isn't based on how good or bad it js, just where it rates in terms of my favorite books. It was an
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average read, but still enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member rakerman
It's ok. A fairly simple tale of adventure.
Bit of a weak ending.
Bit of a weak ending.
ISBN
1444940198 / 9781444940190