A review by mariebrunelm
A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

In November, I’ve been hit by a wave of nostalgia for a book series I’ve sworn off since 2020. You probably know the one and I won’t elaborate. But then I listened to a podcast about magical school fantasy, and one participant mentioned the Worst Witch series by Jill Murphy, which is celebrating its 50th publication anniversary this year, and I couldn’t believe I’d never heard about it. Of course I rushed to the library because it thankfully had the first two volumes in French, and I ended up reading the first 5 in English. It had many items I was desperate for: a witchcraft school setting, a tight-knit friends group, magical mayhem, broomstick-flying lessons, teachers with very questionable work ethics, and cats. Sounds familiar? I highly recommend this series for some light-hearted, heart-healing magic.