Written by Laurie Calkhoven
Illustrated by
Age Range: 8 and up
Hardcover: 96 pages
ISBN: 978-1-338-32297-2
Publisher: Scholastic (May 28, 2019)
What to expect: Harry Potter, feminist themes, magic
Move over boys – it’s time for the witches of the Wizarding World to shine!
This exciting compendium of the best and brightest (and also the powerfully dark) witches brought to life by J.K. Rowling is a fascinating read for any true fan of the Harry Potter series. We begin with our heroine Hermione Granger; without her, Harry Potter wouldn’t have made it past his first year at Hogwarts and certainly wouldn’t have been able to defeat Lord Voldemort. A detailed description of Hermione’s greatest attributes, a list of eight of the best times Hermione “came to the rescue,” and exciting illustrations and pictures from the movies make Hermione come alive all over again. Young readers will enjoy recounting and rehashing the lists, debating whether or not Hermione’s best scenes were included and re-reading the trials and successes of everyone’s favorite creator of Dumbledore’s Army.
Next is kind Luna Lovegood, followed by gutsy Ginny Weasley. The book covers professors, ghosts, and evil witches, too. One cannot discount the power of Bellatrix Lestrange, or the love Narcissa Malfoy had for her son, Draco. What was the most exciting about this witch-centered book were the references to having one another’s back in times of need. Such as when Dolores Umbridge fired Professor Trelawney, and Professor McGonagall came to her aid even though they were not friends in the past. The book does an excellent job of highlighting every witches power and commitment to what they believed in – whether they were in Dumbledore’s Army or a Death Eater. The section titled “Girls Who Proved Their Ideals on the Battlefield” was a fantastic insight into high-stakes battles throughout the series.
Witches from Fantastic Beasts are also included, making this an excellent gift for the person who loves the entire franchise, or is just getting to know the newer Fantastic Beasts films. With unique original illustrations and interesting takes on the Harry Potter canon with an exciting female-focus, this is the perfect book for any wizarding fan. Highly recommended.
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About the Author
Laurie Calkhoven is a children’s writer and editor living in New York City. She has written many historical children’s books, including George Washington: An American Life and Harriet Tubman: Leading the Way to Freedom. You can visit her at lauriecalkhoven.com.
Calling All Witches! The Girls Who Left Their Mark on the Wizarding World was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Calling All Witches! The Girls Who Left Their Mark on the Wizarding World by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Books About Witches, Girl Empowerment, Girl Protagonists, Harry Potter, and Wizard Books.