Marie Desplechin

At age eleven, Verbena hasn't shown a single sign of talent for witchcraft. And worse than that--she wants to be normal . In fact, she even dreams of settling down someday and getting married! But with a mother who tells you that a) you're a witch and b) a husband won't be much use to you--how can anything feel normal? But there is hope in the form of a loving grandmother―also a witch―who takes Verbena under her wing and shows her that casting spells and causing supernatural things to show more take place―is not so bad after all. Told in alternating points of view, Poor Little Witch Girl is the funny, tender story of a mom who knows exactly what she wants her daughter to be, and a daughter who just wants to be herself. In the end, maybe the two aren't so different after all? show less

Poetic account of a woman’s struggle with a terminal diagnosis of brain cancer. Beautifully written

Verbena is an eleven year old girl, seemingly normal, but will soon learn that she is from a long line of witches. Every woman in her family is destined to become one, and Verbena refuses to have her destiny mapped out, without any choice on her part. Her mother, Ursula, expects great things from her, as her mother, Anastabotte, did of her. Under the wing of her grandmother, Verbena learns she cannot change her destiny, but can learn to control it. Choosing not her heritage, but the people show more she choose to trust with that knowledge. show less

Translated from a French novel, this lighthearted funny book takes a humorous look at what it means to have a mother (Ursula) who want one thing for you (namely to be a witch) when you (verbena) want to be somehting else (normal). With a little help from her Grandmother and new friend, maybe Verbena has a chance at getting what she wants after all.