The Magic Circle
Jun 1995 · Sold by Penguin
5.0star
2 reviews
Ebook
128
Pages
family_home
Eligible
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About this ebook
If she keeps far enough away from humans, perhaps she won’t be forced to hurt them.
Deep in the woods lives the old witch called Ugly One. All she wants is to forget—the she was once a loving mother and a healer, blessed and powerful within her magic circle, and not a witch, claimed by the devils. Then one day she hears the footsteps she dreads. Then real voices—children’s voices. The Ugly One longs to take care of sturdy, sensible Gretel and her young brother Hansel. They are such good children, such delicious, beautiful children. But demons’ voices scream in her head: “Eat them!” How can she? . . . How can she not?
“A brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed novel.”—School Library Journal, starred review
“A work of great strength and powerful emotion, written with immediacy and intensity, filled with beauty and terror and pervading sense of compassion that must touch young and old.”—Lloyd Alexander
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Deep in the woods lives the old witch called Ugly One. All she wants is to forget—the she was once a loving mother and a healer, blessed and powerful within her magic circle, and not a witch, claimed by the devils. Then one day she hears the footsteps she dreads. Then real voices—children’s voices. The Ugly One longs to take care of sturdy, sensible Gretel and her young brother Hansel. They are such good children, such delicious, beautiful children. But demons’ voices scream in her head: “Eat them!” How can she? . . . How can she not?
“A brilliantly conceived and beautifully executed novel.”—School Library Journal, starred review
“A work of great strength and powerful emotion, written with immediacy and intensity, filled with beauty and terror and pervading sense of compassion that must touch young and old.”—Lloyd Alexander
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Ratings and reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Emma Lin (PelicanFanatic30nNerdy)
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March 2, 2023
I love this compelling and captivating retelling of Hansel and Gretel through the eyes of the witch that is put into a more sympathetic light, but still manages to retain the original storyline and conclusion of the fates of the main characters. I enjoy the vivid descriptions as Donna Jo Napoli immerses you into the magical and fantastical forest where Ugly One eventually resides in her Gingerbread Candy House..
About the author
Donna Jo Napoli is the author of many books for children and young adults including, The Prince of the Pond, Zel, and Stones in Water. She has won numerous awards, including the Golden Kite Award and the Sydney Taylor Award for Stones in Water.
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