ISBN13
9781405295543
Review published
02/03/2021
By Reviewer
Kelly
Star Rating
By Author / Illustrator
Sarah Driver
Age range(s)
9+
Review
I was spellbound by Once We Were Witches from the opening line: "All girls ooze sin". Sarah Driver's Once We Were Witches is a self-declared book about finding your voice and learning that you matter, what you care about, and how to fight for it, reminiscent of Cressida Cowell's Wizards of Once series. Sisters Megan (Egg) and Spel Wrythe are 'wicked': discipline, obedience, and atonement are the only attributes that can earn them their soul and set them free from Mouldheels' School for Wicked Girls. Having been told their mother was a murderer, Spel abides by the rules and works hard to earn her ceremony and soul. Egg, her rebellious and overzealous sister, has other ideas and tries her best to escape, inside a pig, much to the dismay of Mouldheels' mistresses but amusement to her friends. Illustrations by Fabi Santiago lift this sparkling book to life; chapters encircled in a thorny ring add to the dark tension that seeps from the pages as Egg and Spel find themselves locked away in the basement as a result of Egg's antics, making it a captivating read. When dawn breaks and the sisters escape their confinements, a strange occurrence greets them; a letter shoots out of the chimney addressed to Egg telling her to run immediately. The sisters find themselves suddenly alone in Moudlheels's School for Wicket Girls, hunted by a foreboding creature. Having only ever known the school, the sisters venture outside with a mix of trepidation and excitement at their new-found freedom. When Egg's formidable curiosity leads her into peril, it is up to Spel to uncover her truth, put aside her fears and draw upon her hidden strength to overcome evil and save her sister. Vivid descriptions, intricate and evocative illustrations and fierce female-protagonists make this an immersive read, throwing the reader into the heart of the spellbinding adventure. A great story with themes of finding yourself in the world, overcoming evil and drawing on hidden strength, where the seemingly shy, anxious, overshadowed character takes the driving seat in this fast-paced magical adventure. This be-witching class reader would be perfect for KS2 and would have children gripping the edge of their seats, screaming for more. 352 pages / Ages 9+ / Reviewed by Kelly Buxton, teacher
