Not Just A Witch

Eva Ibbotsen (author)

Macmillan, UK: 1989, 2001; 150pp

ISBN: 0330414712

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Issues: friendship, values

Heckie, short for Hecate, is a good witch with a talent for animal magic, who wants to make the world a better place. The way she sees it, there are plenty of truly evil people out there who would do much less harm to others if they were simply transformed into animals and donated to the local zoo.

Following her training she settles in the small town of Wellbridge, where she finds some positively awful things are happening. Aided by several helpful children and the limited powers of the other witches and wizards of the town, Heckie sets about putting things right. She uses her Knuckle of Power and her Toe of Transformation to turn some very nasty people into rather nice animals. She even manages to create a wonderful familiar for herself, one who comes out in spots when in the presence of true evil. All goes reasonably well - with a few misadventures - until the arrival of the charming Lionel Knapsack. It seems that Heckie is the only one who can't see him for the oily, dangerous and manipulative person he is. So what are her friends to do? How can they save Heckie from her own good intentions?

Eva Ibbotsen's writing is packed with magic, mayhem and a little madness. Her characters are always slightly quirky and therefore all the more loveable. Readers will appreciate the kinds of things that Ibbotsen - through Heckie - considers evil, as they include cruelty to the elderly, battery chicken farms, and racism.

Highly recommended, especially for readers who enjoy the Harry Potter books.