A Little W.I.T.C.H. in All of Us

A Mother-Daughter Review

By Cecily Israel
May 1, 2007

This month Christina, my nine year old daughter, and I read volume two of the W.I.T.C.H. graphic novels. To recap a little for those of you who didn't read last month's review: my daughter is in fourth grade and having serious problems with her reading. The school is doing amazing amounts of work with her, but I needed something to be able to do at home with her. Now while I want to help her at home, I don't want it to be more school. What I came up with is reading the graphic novel that one of her favorite shows is based on. What I have discovered so far is — she loves it. I don't know if it's helping her reading skills, but I do know it's helping her desire to read.

In this volume, the guardians — Hay Lin, Will, Cornelia, Taranee, and Irma — see their missing friend, Elyon, again. They also learn one of their teachers, Mrs. Rudolph, is a creature from Meridian. In Mrs. Rudolph's home, a portal is opened and they go through to Meridian. This is the first time the girls have been there, and it is quite the shock for them, especially as they are hunted down to be captured and thrown in prison. Only one of them, Taranee, is successfully captured, forcing Will to make the hardest decision she ever has had to make in her short life — to leave her dear friend behind. Back in Heatherfield, Will uses her powers of the Heart of Candracar to create a copy of Taranee, and so ends chapter 3.

In chapter 4, we're back to the girls dealing with their emotions, school, and the gaping void that is created by the fact Taranee is in prison in Meridian. They formulate a plan to go back and rescue her. And so Will makes "astral drops" of all of them, since they don't know how long they will be gone, and they go into Shell Cave to find a portal. Which they do, along with a little more than they bargained for. But to find out the rest, I suggest you read it yourself.

So let's start with what we liked.

Mom: I find the writing to be coherent and relatable. The content hits on teenage issues: boys, school, parents, and friends, but I don't find it preachy. I think some good things are being taught "between the lines", which as many parents know is sometimes the best way to teach.

Daughter: I really like the pictures. I liked how they found out that their teacher was a monster. I liked the ending part when Will's mother postpones a date to have a quiet dinner just with her daughter.

Now onto the dislikes.

Mom: The book is split into two chapters. For reading with children I find each chapter to be a little too long. Also, the panel layout seems a little confusing at times. That's about it. I’m really enjoying the books so far.

Daughter: There is nothing I didn't like.

As I said before, what I believe speaks loudest for these graphic novels is the fact that my daughter can't get enough of them. She wants to read.