Earwig and the Witch is a children's novel written by British author Diana Wynne Jones. It was published posthumously in 2011 and is a departure from her usual style of fantasy novels. The book tells the story of Earwig, a young girl who is adopted by a witch and brought to live with her in a strange and magical house. Despite her young age, Earwig is clever and resourceful, and she uses her wits to navigate the strange world of magic and outwit the witch. The book is filled with Jones' trademark humor and wit, as well as her unique take on magic and fantastical creatures. Earwig and the Witch is a delightful and charming story that is sure to captivate readers of all ages.
Earwig and the Witch is a delightful and charming story that is sure to captivate readers of all ages..
Earwig and the witch fiction
Did you watch the movie, Howl's Moving Castle ? It was based, of course, on a book by British fantasy writer extraordinaire, Diana Wynne Jones (see my overview of her work in this post from 2009). To the sorrow of many reader fans, Ms. Jones passed away last year after losing her fight with cancer. Earwig and the Witch , published January 31, 2012 in the U.S., is, as far as I know, her last book.
Earwig and the Witch is for younger middle grade readers and is a very slim read, but it packs a lot in a few short pages. In fact, I'm pretty sure you will find yourself wishing for a sequel once you hit the last page. In her signature style, Jones pops magic into a rather ordinary contemporary world. Meet Earwig, a girl who was left at the orphanage as a baby with the following note:
Got the other twelve witches all chasing me. I'll be back for her when I've shook them off. It may take years. Her name is Earwig.
The Matron promptly changed the baby's name to Erica, but it turned back to Earwig easily enough.
Earwig's best friend is a timid boy named Custard. Earwig does not want to be adopted, considering she has the whole orphanage running just how she likes it. So she is not pleased when she is adopted—by a towering man with horns only she can see and a woman with a "raggety, ribby look to her face."
Sure enough, the man is really a Mandrake and the woman is a witch looking for cheap labor. When Earwig figures out that Bella Yaga has no intention of teaching her any magic, she sets out to rearrange things. Then readers will start to understand that Earwig didn't control the orphanage with boring old magic, but by being a very clever child. Of course, it helps that she has a magic cat to help her in her new abode. (A close read will reveal glimpses of the Baba Yaga story in the bones of this one.) Here's Earwig's first supper with the Mandrake:
To Earwig's surprise, the kitchen was an ordinary kitchen, quite warm and cozy. Earwig looked at the Mandrake. He was looming in a chair at the end of the table, reading a large leather book. He looked like an ordinary man in a bad temper. Even so, he did not look like a man who would have gotten supper ready.
"And what have the demons brought us today?" Bella Yaga asked in the bright, wheedling voice she always seemed to use to the Mandrake.
"Pie and chips from Stoke-on-Trent station buffet," the Mandrake growled, without looking up.
"I hate station pie," said Bella Yaga.
The Mandrake looked up . His eyes were like dark pits. A spark of red fire glowed, deep down in each pit. "It's my favorite food," he said. The sparks in his eyes flickered and grew.
Earwig quite understood then why she was not to disturb the Mandrake.
The book has pen-and-ink illustrations by Caldecott winner Paul O. Zelinsky. They are a bit twisty and often show Earwig scowling, but then, she is a witch girl. (Her face does soften when she's petting Thomas the cat.) My favorite piece is an entire spread showing a sort of time-lapse look at Earwig rushing around the witch's workroom working on a spell—we see 11 versions of Earwig by my count.
Earwig and the Witch could have been longer, it could happily have been three books about Earwig instead of just one, but it's not. Still, Earwig and the Witch is something very nice indeed: the treasure of one last satisfying read from the marvelous Ms. Jones.
Note: I have included both the British and U.S. covers for your reference (above left and above right, respectively). Which do you like best?
Note: I have included both the British and U.S. covers for your reference (above left and above right, respectively). Which do you like best?
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Reviews for "Exploring the Themes of Power and Control in 'Earwig and the Witch"
1. Jessica - 2/5 stars - I found "Earwig and the Witch" to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The whole concept of a young girl being adopted by a witch could have been intriguing, but it fell flat for me. The dialogue felt forced and the plot was predictable. Overall, I didn't find much enjoyment in reading this book.
2. Gary - 1/5 stars - "Earwig and the Witch" was a complete waste of my time. The writing style was choppy and confusing, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The characters were unlikeable and I couldn't connect with any of them. The ending was also unsatisfying and left me with more questions than answers. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Samantha - 2/5 stars - As a fan of other works by the author, I had high hopes for "Earwig and the Witch," but unfortunately, it fell short. The pacing was extremely slow and the story didn't captivate me. The characters were forgettable and didn't leave a lasting impression. It pains me to say this, but this book just wasn't up to par with the author's previous works. I was left feeling disappointed and underwhelmed.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I struggled to get through "Earwig and the Witch." The plot was uninteresting and lacked originality. The main character, Earwig, was portrayed as cunning and clever, but I found her to be annoying and bratty. The interactions between the characters didn't feel genuine and the whole story just didn't resonate with me. I wouldn't recommend this book to others, as there are much better options out there.