Review: Witch Catcher by Mary Downing Hahn

Witch Catcher by Mary Downing Hahn.

Sandpiper
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780547577142

Review: With swirling colors that seem to merge into each other, the Witch Catcher caught the sunlight and sparkled with an additional influence on anyone who witnesses it and decides to obtain it. Twelve year-old Jen lead a perfectly normal life, that is, before her dad inherited an old mansion from her great-uncle. In Witch Catcher, written by Mary Downing Hahn, Jen must uncover more of this interesting, yet terrifying mystery, before she and her dad are harmed. One would stop to inquire themselves, "What is this Witch Catcher, and can it really influence her family by so much?"

Imagine uncovering a special something, but then this odd and puzzling woman comes and demands it from you. Well, that's exactly what happens to Jen. Strange things begin to happen as Jen discovers a colorful glass sphere. An old named Moura steals her father's heart, and has him wrapped around her pinkie finger, and if that isn't mystifying enough, she demands that the globe be given to her. If Jen doesn't oblige her, then she, and her father's lives will be at risk. What's the big deal with the Witch Catcher? Well, Jen has become close to it, and she enjoys the inspiration of having something that Moura desires. But will Jen's life really be at stake if she doesn't hand over the Witch Catcher? What does the Witch Catcher really mean to Moura? Is she not telling the whole truth?

Mary Downing Hahn is such a splendid and glorious novelist. My friends told me that she's one of their favorite authors when I described this book to them, and honestly, she's one of mine too. Behind every page is another page of terrific suspense, and within the suspense, is an original and intriguing adventure. Once you start the book, there's no turning away, not until you finish. I rate Witch Catcher, five stars. My favorite scene was when Jen carefully describes her mother, and the best she could commit to memory. Certainly, my favorite character is Jen, and I felt so bad for her, having to witness her mother's death, but to move and have her father fall in love with a dignified woman named Moura, who, in this case, is too dignified. PS. You will ask your parents to take you to the bookstore in five minutes to buy this book. Then you will sit/lay down and peacefully read Witch Catcher. If you don't, I still trust you to read the book sooner or later, because you're just going to surrender to my persuasion and to the effects of the Witch Catcher!

Review written by Tam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Witch Catcher for this review.

Have you read Witch Catcher? How would you rate it?