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Which Witch?
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Plot Summary of Which Witch?
"Arriman the Awful, the handsome, single Wizard of the North is tired. He has absolutely exhausted himself blighting and smiting, blasting and wuthering, and doing everything he could to keep darkness and sorcery in the land. When a gypsy informs him that the new Wizard of the North cometh soon, Arriman is overjoyed at the prospect of retiring to a vacation villa in the south. However, the new Wizard doesn't cometh.

In desperation, Arriman decides to marry so that he can train his son as his heir. He cannot marry just any witch, of course, the witch that he weds must be wildly wicked so that their son will be thoroughly black. A contest is devised: whoever performs the darkest piece of magic will become his bride. Belladonna, the smallest, youngest witch of the coven, wants desperately to win, as she has fallen in love with Arriman. But she has one problem - she is a good witch and cannot perform black magic no matter how hard she tries. Just when she is about to despair, her salvation arrives in the form of a dirty little orphan and his magicial earthworm. What follows will make readers laugh aloud as they follow Belladonna's desperate efforts to become a bad girl!

"

Debbie, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Which Witch?
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - general romance
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Parody Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14)

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can cast many different spells
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling

Setting
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Which Witch?
A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears by Jules Feiffer
Goose Chase by Patrice Kindl
The Tin Woodman of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches II by Robert Stanek
The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye


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Eva Ibbotson Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Debbie  

SCHOLARS:


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