Shelley Duvall

Gloria, a little witch who liked to smile, was always in disgrace at Miss Pestilence's Academy for Young Goblins and Witches. Forever muddling her spells, or coming last in her class, she wasn't much of a witch at all! But then one night, overhearing a stranger (looking suspiciously like an angel) telling a groups of elves the story of a wonderful holiday called Christmas, she decided that she too wanted a part in this season of magic and miracles - she wanted to be a Christmas Witch! Dispatched by the angel to a far planet (yes, you read that right), where two peoples - the Pepperwills and the Valdoons - were locked in a ceaseless war, Gloria is told that she must find a way to heal their wounds, and bring peace to their world.

Although the illustrations here were quite engaging - full of fun, with many little amusing details - I can't say that I was all that impressed by the plot of The Christmas Witch, which struck me as an odd mixture of Star Trek and Harry Potter, with a sentimental, "Precious Moments" style angel thrown in, for good measure. It's as if Kellogg couldn't decide whether he wanted to write a Halloween story or a Christmas tale! The result felt scattered and unsatisfying. Definitely not one I would recommend for holiday reading!… (more)