The Witches of Worm (1972)

"The Witches of Worm" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder was a very interesting book. A girl named Jessica lived with her mom in an apartment. Jessica finds a kitten and decides to keep it. While the kitten grows up, Jessica realizes thats it is not an ordinary cat. Along the way, the cat gets her into some trouble. This is a book i would definitely recommend to others. I enjoyed reading this very much. ( )

I image this 1973 Newbery honor book would give youngsters the heebie jeebies and it might take a more mature YA to sift through the overtones of paranormal to the fact that the author is making a strong statement about those who seem to blame others or outside forces for their own character defects.

Jessica is more than a latch key child, she emotionally neglected by a selfish, immature and young mother. Astute in knowing she is not wanted, Jessica suffers dramatically and acts out viciously.

When she discovers an abandoned, weak, feeble, scrawny kitten, she reluctantly nurses him to life. Calling him worm, as he grows, she projects her inner turmoil to the cat and blames worm for her evil, nasty, spiteful deeds.

Believing both young and old are against her, and refusing to accept responsibility for her actions, she grows more and more out of control.

I cannot recommend this book. While the author is a three-time Newbery honor winner, this one doesn't seem to be one of her best. ( )

This book was absolutely amazing! Lots of imagination and I wasn't able to put the book down. Page after page, I hungered for more. I recommend this book to anyone, espescially those in the 8-13 age range. A definite good read worth your time. ^.^ ( )

Well written by disturbing story about a lonely, angry girl who believes her cat is a witch cat that tells her to do bad things. ( )

Jessica really starts to scare me as she spirals out of control. She really seems to become "evil". But she remains sympathetic, because you really feel bad for her, as she is lonely and neglected. And in the end, she redeems herself. ( )