jessicaesque 's review for:

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

2.0

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I have anticipated this book for many years. As a young girl I watched the Canadian/British television show, The Worst Witch, and cherished it as my all time favourite kid's show. Boarding school stories, though not a popular genre for film or books by the time I hit the scene, were probably my favourite backdrop for a story. The show focused on friendship, on persevering against unsupportive teachers, and the complex relationships between young girls. The show, though it is meant for children, is one that I still watch today. The book, also meant for children, does not hold the same nostalgic connection. The illustrations were sweet, and the storylines familiar from the episodes I have in a box set. But the writing emphasized telling, rather than showing. After all the support and love I had had for Jill Murphy's characters and school, I had expected to love this a lot more than I did. This is the first in a series (which was recently updated, just in 2013 a seventh book was published!) and I will definitely read them all. Meanwhile, I will keep watching my DVDs.