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Hex Factor #1
The Hex Factor
Xanthe Fox can't wait to turn thirteen, but as the big day arrives her world starts to fall apart. Set-up at school for something she didn't do, it seems her age-old enemy, Kelly, is making trouble for her...and as things escalate, even her best friend Saul starts to doubt her innocence. With the school threatening to expel her, and mysterious glowing Xs appearing in front of her eyes, Xanthe turns to Grandma Alice for help. But what the old lady tells her will change Xanthe's life for ever...
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
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30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 28, 2017
Very short, but entertaining story! Good for in between really serious books. Also good for ages 8 and up to read.
February 9, 2022
this book make my childhood feel loved, thank you
June 21, 2023
2.5/5⭐️
October 16, 2012
The hex factor is an imaginative, fun book for younger readers. I really liked the story, it was simple yet a different idea to some other witchy books I've read in the past.
Its only downfall for me was the characters lacked much personality, the dialogue was all similar and short, everybody talked the same and there was no real use of slang or much conversation beyond what needed to be said to move the story along, so I didn't really feel I got to know the characters as much as I could have.
That being said, I did enjoy the book, okay, I guessed the twist pretty early on but then this book is aimed at an audience much younger than myself and I know they likely wouldn't as it was well done.
I liked what the author has come up with in her take on witches and think this will be a great, quick, halloween read for anyone that prefers something a little spooky over horror books. It has a well thought out mythology, a great plot, good pacing and a well rounded story.
Favourite quotes
'She held up the battered little oval of silver by its chain and cast her eyes over it. On the back she could just make out the faded shape of a letter E engraved into the casing, something she'd not seen when it hung round her great-grandmother's neck. "What d'you think that stands for?" she asked, holding the locket out to her mother.'
'"I am Xanthe Fox," she repeated to herself. "I am a True Witch."'
Its only downfall for me was the characters lacked much personality, the dialogue was all similar and short, everybody talked the same and there was no real use of slang or much conversation beyond what needed to be said to move the story along, so I didn't really feel I got to know the characters as much as I could have.
That being said, I did enjoy the book, okay, I guessed the twist pretty early on but then this book is aimed at an audience much younger than myself and I know they likely wouldn't as it was well done.
I liked what the author has come up with in her take on witches and think this will be a great, quick, halloween read for anyone that prefers something a little spooky over horror books. It has a well thought out mythology, a great plot, good pacing and a well rounded story.
Favourite quotes
'She held up the battered little oval of silver by its chain and cast her eyes over it. On the back she could just make out the faded shape of a letter E engraved into the casing, something she'd not seen when it hung round her great-grandmother's neck. "What d'you think that stands for?" she asked, holding the locket out to her mother.'
'"I am Xanthe Fox," she repeated to herself. "I am a True Witch."'
October 7, 2012
Xanthe Fox is having one terrible week. It’s the first day of the new term and as Xanthe counts down to her thirteenth birthday, terrible things begin to happen. Usually a good student, she finds herself in trouble with her teachers, friends and headmaster. Xanthe’s sure the pranks are being caused by her arch nemesis Kelly Snier.
As if getting into trouble at school was bad enough, Xanthe also starts seeing glowing Xs behind her eyes. Her best friends thinks she should get her eyes checked, her parents are disappointed by her behaviour and even her crush doesn’t stand by her side. With only her great-grandmother left to trust, Xanthe learns that her family’s got secrets of own that will change her life forever.
Writing for this age group can be a difficult task, but Goodwin is talented at creating characters with voices that are true and relatable. Xanthe Fox is a wonderful role model and the book is an excellent depiction of academic life in the UK (which is extremely fun as an American to read). The language is brilliant, creating a story that fits in well with its audience. The secrets are cleverly hidden creating tension throughout, making it an easy page-turner. A coming of age story with a supernatural twist, The Hex Factor is the perfect book to read this October.
As if getting into trouble at school was bad enough, Xanthe also starts seeing glowing Xs behind her eyes. Her best friends thinks she should get her eyes checked, her parents are disappointed by her behaviour and even her crush doesn’t stand by her side. With only her great-grandmother left to trust, Xanthe learns that her family’s got secrets of own that will change her life forever.
Writing for this age group can be a difficult task, but Goodwin is talented at creating characters with voices that are true and relatable. Xanthe Fox is a wonderful role model and the book is an excellent depiction of academic life in the UK (which is extremely fun as an American to read). The language is brilliant, creating a story that fits in well with its audience. The secrets are cleverly hidden creating tension throughout, making it an easy page-turner. A coming of age story with a supernatural twist, The Hex Factor is the perfect book to read this October.
August 28, 2017
I enjoyed the read of this book, I throught it had a good story line a good mid-grade for youngsters, the story of xanthe is where she is an honour student and top of her class everything is going well until the days around abd after her birthday things she can not explain and she feels alone with no one understanding except for when she see's her grandmother and she explains their family history. some good lessons can be learnt in this book about friendship and how to deal when life changes without a reason
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews