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Cover of THE WITCH’S APPRENTICE AND OTHER STORIES
★★★★★
4.08

Based on 24 Goodreads ratings

THE WITCH’S APPRENTICE AND OTHER STORIES

by the “answer” in the form of a unique narrative. The opening query, for example, concerns The Wizard of Oz: “When the tornado took Dorothy’s house to Oz, it landed on the Wicked Witch of the East and killed the witch instantly. What was the witch doing in the road in the first place?” The answer, it turns out, involves an argument with her apprentice. Garg explores a handful of tales, including the motivations behind duping the naked emperor (in “The Honor of Emperors and Thieves”) and the reason why Jack (of Jack and Jill fame) was carrying that pail of water in the first place (in “To Fetch a Pail of Water”). Each story varies in length\u003B the haunting “Denying Hamelin” is only three pages, and the longest, “The Beauty Before She Sleeps,” is 33. While none of the stories can be called happy, some are particularly grim in nature—parents left bereft at the disappearance of their children, death, betrayal, etc. Each story gets its own question and answer except for “Sleeping Beauty”and “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” whose questions and answers combine in what feels like a fever dream involving shapeshifting witches and magic portals. While some stories veer toward the predictable (the real identity of Sleeping Beauty’s new lady in waiting, for example, will likely prove glaringly obvious to readers), these tales aren’t necessarily about changing the narrative of the established story from which they come. Instead, Garg adds depth and background to these familiar characters, making them delightfully all her own."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9798891327

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

Born at the end of the 1930s depression, New Zealander John Broomfield began a lifetime of travels as an infant that took him to every corner of his rugged homeland and ultimately around the world. Readers of his first memoir, Carried on Great Winds, admire his capacity to combine radical political action and adventurous travel with an outstanding career in research, teaching and academic administration. In his second memoir, Rounding Tawero Point, we meet John's ambitious family and the excepti

Our Review

A globetrotting New Zealander who began his journeys in infancy shares a lifetime of tales that blend radical political action, adventurous travel, and a distinguished academic career. Readers who followed his earlier memoirs will recognize the author's unique voice as he recounts formative experiences from his youth, navigating the rugged corners of his homeland and the complex dynamics of an ambitious family. This collection continues his tradition of weaving personal history with larger social and political contexts, creating a rich tapestry of a life lived with purpose and curiosity. The stories capture the spirit of a bygone era while exploring universal themes of family, ambition, and the search for one's place in the world.

What distinguishes this collection is its seamless integration of personal narrative with historical insight, offering young adults a compelling model of how individual lives intersect with broader societal currents. The author's recollections of his exceptional family and the pivotal moments that shaped his worldview provide both entertainment and substance for readers contemplating their own paths. Teens with an interest in history, travel, and coming-of-age stories will find much to appreciate in these thoughtfully rendered memories. The book ultimately serves as an inspiring testament to a life of adventure, intellect, and principled action.

Themes

Ecologists

Subjects

Ecologists
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