The Witches

by Roald Dahl

This Roald Dahl classic tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven-year-old boy who has a run-in with some real-life witches! "In fairy tales witches always wear silly black hats and black cloaks and they ride on broomsticks. But this is not a fairy tale. This is about REAL WITCHES. REAL WITCHES dress in ordinary clothes and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses and they work in ordinary jobs. That is why they are so hard to catch." Witches, as our hero learns, hate children. With the help of a friend and his somewhat-magical grandmother, our hero tries to expose the witches before they dispose of him. Ages 7-12.

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Classics, Plays, Witches, Drama

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Roald Dahl was a beloved British author, poet, screenwriter, and wartime fighter pilot, best known for his enchanting and often darkly humorous children's books that have captivated generations of readers around the world. Born in Llandaff, Wales, to Norwegian parents, Dahl led a life marked by adventure, tragedy, creativity, and enduring literary success. His vivid imagination and distinctive storytelling style have made him one of the most celebrated children's authors in modern literature.
Before becoming a writer, Dahl lived a life filled with excitement and hardship. He served as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, surviving a near-fatal crash in the Libyan desert. His wartime experiences and travels deeply influenced his storytelling, often infusing his works with a sense of danger, resilience, and the triumph of the underdog. After the war, he began writing for both adults and children, showing a rare versatility that spanned genres and age groups.
Dahl's children's books are known for their playful use of language, unforgettable characters, and a deep sense of justice, often pitting clever children against cruel or foolish adults. Some of his most iconic titles include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox, and The Witches. These works are filled with fantastical elements and moral undertones, empowering young readers to challenge authority, think independently, and believe in the impossible.
Equally acclaimed for his work for adults, Dahl wrote numerous short stories characterized by their macabre twists and dark humor. His stories were frequently published in magazines such as The New Yorker and later compiled into bestselling collections like Someone Like You and Kiss Kiss. He also wrote screenplays, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice and the adaptation of Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Despite his literary success, Dahl was a complex and sometimes controversial figure, known for his strong opinions and difficult personality. Nonetheless, his books continue to be treasured for their wit, originality, and the sense of wonder they inspire. Many of his stories have been adapted into successful films, stage plays, and television specials, further cementing his legacy.
Dahl's impact on children's literature is immeasurable. His ability to connect with young readers through a mix of irreverence, heart, and imagination has made his stories timeless. Even after his death, his books remain in print and continue to be read by millions of children worldwide. His writing not only entertains but also encourages curiosity, courage, and compassion.
Roald Dahl's work lives on as a testament to the power of storytelling and the magic of a truly original voice. He remains a towering figure in literature whose creations continue to spark joy, mischief, and inspiration across generations.

Reviews

[Medford Children's Library]

When an orphaned boy and his gradmother take a vacation they stumble upon the Annual Witches convention. When he accidentally sits in on a meeting, he learns about Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker which will turn all the children of the world into mice. Unfortunately, he must experience this firsthand as the witches smell him in the room. With no toes and rotten worm eating faces, the descriptions and illustrations are both comical and scary. The boy and his grandmother must come up with a way to turn him back into a human and stop the witches before it is too late. Great read for grades 3 and up. Roald Dahl has MANY books about fantasy and magic for younger readers. I recommend the BFG as well.

Food for thought: If you were a mouse, what is one thing you would do?

[Frances]

This book is about the "real" witches. It makes you believe that witches do exist and can look like anyone, unless you look for certain signs. I recommend you read the book before you see the movie. It is so much better than the movie. This would have been nice to read a sequel to this book.

[jane]

One of my favorite Roald Dahl books. Right there under BFG.

I think I read it last year...still enjoyable. haha.

[Billiejean1029]

Very good :)

[Webyr]

Cette histoire m'a traumatisée quand j'étais enfant mais même en ayant eu peur j'ai adoré l'histoire ! Le nombre de fois où je vérifiais si les femmes de mon entourages n'étaient pas des sorcières x)

[Gamer Dz]

تحدثنا الرواية عن الجدة وحفيدها ومغامرتهما في عالم مليئ بالسحرة قتلة البشر
يغلب على الرواية طابع المغامرة والاثارة والحركة خصوصا ..ومااجده جديد في الرواية هو جدية الكاتب على غير العادة .وهو ما اعطى الرواية نمط و صنف الرعب ولو كان بشكل يناسب الاطفال
البطل وهو الطفل ليس جديد الفكر والشخصية بل هو نفسه الطفل جورج او جامس او اي بطل من رواية رولد فهو الفتى الطيب والشجاع والجاهل بجهل القارئ فيتلقى معه البداية وهي شحنة المعرفة التي يحتاجها ويستحقها لفهم عالم الرواية واهم شخصياته ومايجب ان نحبه وما يجب ان نمقته
تميزت رواية الساحرات عن غيرها من روايات رولد بكثر الحماس والمشاهد المثيرة التي تجعل القارئ يشد انفاسه ويعود هذا للعدو الكبير في الرواية وهي الساحرة المرعبة بحق
من شخصيات الرواية الجدة وهي الجدة التي نعرفها كلنا بحنانها وعطفها ولكن جدتنا هاته تميزت بالرشاقة والفكاهة والمعرفة بامر الساحرات .وهنا نتطرق لشخصية الساحرة العظمى وهي القوية الكريهة والكارهة للاطفال وكل ما يتعلق بهم .تتميز بلكنتها الاجنبية وتراسها عالم السحرة
جمال الرواية يكمن في تفاصيلها الدقيقة ومن بينها مواضع اختلاف البشر عن السحرة من اضافر وشعر وانف وكذا جمال الحب الاموي الذي تقدمه الجدة وقولها 'It doesn't matter who you are or what you look
like so long as somebody loves you'
نهاية الرواية اعطت لوهلة طابع الحزن والسعادة معا ببقاء الفتى على هيئة الفار ومستقبل موته والجدة .الا انها انحرفت وغيرت تلك النهاية بنهاية مفتوحة بعنوان محو السحرة من العالم وهو ماكان اكثر ملاءمة للاطفال

[Dyson Lan]

This is a fun story about a child and some witches.In the beginning the child knew witches from his granny, they are cruel people that likes to kill or eat kids. He thinks the witches is not real, until they go to a new place to live, he saw witches talking about killing children. At last he has been turned into a mouse, but he also turn the group of witches into mouse too. I think this is a funny and interesting story because the magic of the witches(for example disguise and turning people into mouse) are very cool and fun.

[Oliwia]

"The Witches" by Roald Dahl is a captivating blend of humor and suspense that kept my entire class thoroughly entertained. The book masterfully weaves together elements of comedy and fear, creating a unique and engaging reading experience.

Dahl's witty writing style and imaginative storytelling effortlessly drew us into the world of the Grand High Witch and her diabolical plans. The characters, particularly the brave protagonist and his eccentric grandmother, were endearing and relatable, adding depth to the narrative.

[Jennifer Conrad]

This was an amusing little book. My son had some good laughs with it, but it felt like it was meant for a younger age than 11. The whole story is just ridiculous, which was fun. We haven't seen either of the movies, but wanted to read it before we saw any of these. I think I'd recommend this more for 7-9 year-olds.

[Juan Fernando Acosta]

Si tuviera que describir el terror infantil con un solo libro, de seguro pondría este. De igual manera con sus adaptaciones cinematográficas. No soy el mayor fan de la misoginia implícita, pero por fuera de eso, la historia es sencillamente excelente.
La forma en la que barre temas serios de una manera tan simple y accesible para infancias, me parece excelente.

[Parker]

The Vitches is a amazing book! Ha Ha You'll know what I mean later.
Ronald Dahl ( the one who originally wrote the book) is one of my favorite authors, he wrote Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Matilda,and The BFG etc. So if you read one of his books I bet you'll want to read this book.

[Spike]

L

[Jessica]

Loved it

[Kals♡]

One of the best books I read in my School days rather I still read it sometimes. A worth read....

[Florentine]

Yeah it’s cool😺👍 kinda gross that they have flaky scalps🤢🤮. Did they eat the rat?

[Mariah]

Never read the witches, but this is pretty good though. Simple. But the ending sucked.

[Carol Chiriboga]

I simple love this book

[Marijke]

I readed this book when I was a child. Readed this book again and still love it so much😍

[Aamina]

i think its good and scary if we read at night

[holly]

I have wached this movie before
😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼😼

[Chloe Nguyen]

1 trong những quyển truyện siêu thích hồi bé ❤️ cực kì nên đọc

[Ronnie Cobb]

read

[Jessica Formosa]

The movie acted out was better of course then reading the script.... still thumbs up to the author!

[Jade Smales]

Awsome

[Stella]

very good book

[Lu]

It’s nice. It is full of mystery and action but it’s not too overwhelming for kids.

[Fateme kamali]

My students and I read it in the story telling class when I was working at school.
They enjoyed it.

[Andrew Judd]

The Witches is Ronald Dahl at his absolute best. The story is hilarious, inventive, dark, scary, and heartwarming. This is children’s storytelling perfection!

[Max Mcc]

Rec: , Format : Paperback, From:

[Bookish kingdom]

A really fun read!