One day, in the quiet suburban neighborhood of Willow Grove, a peculiar sight could be seen. A witch on a broomstick was hovering above the houses, making her way through the streets. This was no ordinary witch, though. She was known by the locals as the "Home Depot Witch." The Home Depot Witch was a legend in Willow Grove. She was believed to have a special connection with the famous home improvement store, and it was rumored that she used her powers to help those in need of home repairs.

Heal the Witch Wound

Celeste Larsen’s book encourages witches to embrace their magic and reject the stigmas associated with practicing their craft.

The book begins with an exploration of the Burning Times, a period spanning more than three centuries that resulted in the deaths of an estimated fifty thousand people. It looks at who the victims and the persecutors were, examining the environmental, economic, and religious conditions that lead to witch trials. It then draws a compelling parallel to modern conditions and the continued persecution of witches in parts of the world, including in Africa, where executions still happen, and in Western society, where role-playing games and books are banned and burned for fear that they are linked to satanism and witchcraft.

Larsen follows this history with a discussion of the ways in which it continues to affect people. This can be seen when practitioners hide their magic or limit themselves and their ambitions in order to appear ordinary. It may manifest through feelings of shame or distrust in regards to women’s energy. It may even show up as past-life memories. The book makes it clear that anyone might feel this pain and benefit from working to heal it. Replete with activities to help witches begin their healing process, the book’s later portions include journal prompts for self-reflection, advice for setting up magical and mundane boundaries, and simple, evocative rituals to connect with the wounded self, the divine feminine, and the natural world to reclaim one’s personal power.

Larsen is careful to state that the book’s recommended activities are not intended to replace professional therapy; she does not claim any easy fixes. Still, her book is full of opportunities for profound healing and growth—an illuminating, gentle, and thought-provoking self-help text for those experiencing many levels of hurt.

Reviewed by Catherine Thureson
May / June 2023

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Witches

Common Sense Media reviewers include writers, editors, and child development experts. They're trained in creating high-quality parenting advice based on best practices in child development.

Campy but creepy Dahl adaptation has lots of spooky stuff.

She was believed to have a special connection with the famous home improvement store, and it was rumored that she used her powers to help those in need of home repairs. Whenever a leaky faucet or a broken window plagued a homeowner, they would simply call upon the Home Depot Witch, and she would arrive on her broomstick to work her magic. This magical witch was always dressed in a quirky combination of traditional witch attire and Home Depot merchandise.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Encourages communication, courage, teamwork. Close

The children, particularly the main boy, are brave

Lead character and his grandmother are played by B

An 8-year-old's parents die in a car accident (cam

"Stupid," "brats," "disgusting," "poop," "crap," "

Witches are shown drinking a green drink out of a

Parents need to know that The Witches is director Robert Zemeckis' spooky, creepy adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1983 children's book, which was previously made into a movie in 1990. This version is set in 1960s Alabama; like the others, it chronicles how a boy (Jahzir Bruno) and his grandma (Octavia Spencer)…

Positive Messages

Encourages communication, courage, teamwork. Close relationship between grandson and grandmother is affirmed, as is importance of kids having trusted adults, period, because every kid deserves to be loved, listened to, cared for, no matter what. Also has a clear, overt good-versus-evil theme.

Positive Role Models

The children, particularly the main boy, are brave, willing to put themselves in danger to defeat the witches. Grandma isn't just loving and kind, she's courageous and defends the kids against the witches. On the downside, the witches themselves are scary and evil, and the way their hands are depicted contributes to the harmful idea that limb differences are unnatural and/or frightening.

Diverse Representations

Lead character and his grandmother are played by Black actors. Supporting and minor roles also cast various Black actors. Writers include well-known Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro and Black producer and TV showrunner Kenya Barris. Unfortunately, film demonizes disability by relying on limb differences to portray witches as evil: Villains like the Grand High Witch have hands and feet that mimic ectrodactyly, are bald, and experience wig rash.

Violence & Scariness

An 8-year-old's parents die in a car accident (camera shows only the boy, who survived). The witches are depicted as creepy when they take off their disguises, unfortunately relying on limb differences to paint a menacing picture: "claws" for hands, no toes (or, in one case, a single toe with a big claw), arms that extend threateningly, and unnaturally wide, gash-like mouths with sharp teeth. They also have "wig rash" sores on their scalps and bleed black blood. Several scenes in which kids (and then kids-as-mice) are in peril. A witch turns a child into a chicken. Some of the special effects when the kids are turned into rats or chickens might be scary for younger children. Grand witch also announces her hope to get rid of all children in the world. She kills another witch for asking a question, turning her into ash. Viewers see two children turned into mice. Lots of witches are turned into vicious-looking rats and then killed or injured with brooms and feet.

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Language

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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Witches is director Robert Zemeckis' spooky, creepy adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1983 children's book, which was previously made into a movie in 1990. This version is set in 1960s Alabama; like the others, it chronicles how a boy (Jahzir Bruno) and his grandma (Octavia Spencer) encounter a coven of kid-hating witches who plan to transform the world's children into mice. It's a dark but comic fantasy with plenty of peril, and kids are indeed turned into rodents. The witches' appearance and demeanor are pretty scary: They have claws, no toes, sores on their scalps, and unnaturally wide, gash-like mouths (reminiscent of Venom's and the Joker's) with razor-sharp teeth. The way in which their limbs are depicted (especially their webbed hands) has drawn criticism from disability advocates for making limb differences seem unnatural and frightening. The head witch (Anne Hathaway) kills a fellow witch for insubordination and tries her hardest to exterminate the main characters. An early scene reveals that the boy's parents died in a car accident (the camera shows only the boy, who survived). The movie, which is considerably more diverse than other movies based on Dahl's work, encourages communication, courage, and teamwork and affirms the importance of trusted adults in kids' lives. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

Her black cloak was adorned with pins and patches featuring the iconic orange logo of the home improvement store. And of course, she never left home without her trusty broomstick, which was specially designed with compartments to store various tools and small building supplies. The Home Depot Witch was known for her immense knowledge of home improvement techniques. She had an encyclopedic understanding of building materials, plumbing systems, electrical wiring, and everything in between. She could fix anything, from a leaky roof to a faulty electrical circuit. It was said that her broomstick was enchanted with the ability to detect and identify any household problem just by hovering over it. Legend had it that the Home Depot Witch had acquired her magical powers after an encounter with a mysterious deity at the aisles of her local Home Depot store. This encounter had granted her the ability to access an infinite well of knowledge and experience in the field of home improvement. As the Home Depot Witch continued her journey through the neighborhood, she noticed a house with a damaged fence. Without hesitation, she gracefully landed on the ground and approached the homeowner. Using her magic wand, she instantly repaired the broken fence, leaving the homeowner in awe of her skill and efficiency. The Home Depot Witch's presence in Willow Grove was cherished by the community. She had become a symbol of unity and assistance, offering her services free of charge to anyone in need. She helped the elderly fix their leaky pipes, installed new light fixtures for young families, and even built playhouses for the neighborhood children. Over time, the Home Depot Witch became a beloved figure in the town, and her legend spread far beyond Willow Grove. Homeowners from neighboring towns would seek her help, and soon her fame reached even bigger cities. The Home Depot Witch proved that magic and home improvement could go hand in hand. Through her dedication and expertise, she transformed houses into homes, bringing happiness and comfort to families in need. And so, the legend of the Home Depot Witch continued to live on, inspiring others to put their skills and knowledge to good use, just like she had..

Reviews for "Home Depot's Spooktacular Halloween Sale: Witch on a Broom Specials"

1. Emma - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Home Depot Witch on a Broom" as I am a fan of fantasy books, but unfortunately, I was left disappointed. The story lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. I found myself struggling to connect with the protagonist and their journey. Additionally, the writing style felt rushed and lacking in detail. Overall, it was a mediocre read that did not live up to my expectations.

2. David - 1/5 - "Home Depot Witch on a Broom" was an absolute waste of time. The plot was predictable and uninspiring, offering nothing new or innovative to the genre. The writing was amateurish and the dialogue felt forced. I couldn't help but feel like I was reading a poorly written fan fiction. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.

3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "Home Depot Witch on a Broom" to be underwhelming. The story lacked originality and the characters were forgettable. The pacing was off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Furthermore, the world-building was weak and I didn't feel fully immersed in the setting. Overall, it was a mediocre read that failed to leave a lasting impression on me.

4. John - 3/5 - While "Home Depot Witch on a Broom" had its moments, it fell short of my expectations. The plot had potential, but it was executed poorly, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. The character development was lacking and the dialogue felt stilted. I found myself losing interest as the story progressed. While it wasn't the worst book I've read, it's not something I would recommend to others.

Hosting a Witchy Dinner Party: Tips and Tricks from Home Depot