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The Three Sisters
The Witch in the Tower
"Not merely a modern classic but one for the ages. . . . Utterly spellbinding." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Gorgeous illustrations are the star of this fantastical adventure about hidden magic, growing up, and braving the unknown to find yourself.
Everything is changing for Carmela. Her older sister, Franca, has new, mean friends, and Carmela is feeling lost and lonely. So she decides to go for a walk—to walk until she can’t anymore, then walk a bit more. Her walking takes her to a strange tower, and what she finds there will transform her life forever. In this companion to The Queen in the Cave, her authorial debut, renowned illustrator Júlia Sardà ventures into a mesmerizing world where mermaid grease washes away envy, a giant’s hair helps you face bullies, a circular library holds all your secrets, and a dome of crystal prisms opens a view to the cosmos. Dreamlike and filled with whimsy, the artist’s kaleidoscopic patterns, decorative borders, glowing colors, and layered, elaborately detailed imagery will bewitch young readers as readily as the title character does Carmela—and beckon them to return for many a visit.
Gorgeous illustrations are the star of this fantastical adventure about hidden magic, growing up, and braving the unknown to find yourself.
Everything is changing for Carmela. Her older sister, Franca, has new, mean friends, and Carmela is feeling lost and lonely. So she decides to go for a walk—to walk until she can’t anymore, then walk a bit more. Her walking takes her to a strange tower, and what she finds there will transform her life forever. In this companion to The Queen in the Cave, her authorial debut, renowned illustrator Júlia Sardà ventures into a mesmerizing world where mermaid grease washes away envy, a giant’s hair helps you face bullies, a circular library holds all your secrets, and a dome of crystal prisms opens a view to the cosmos. Dreamlike and filled with whimsy, the artist’s kaleidoscopic patterns, decorative borders, glowing colors, and layered, elaborately detailed imagery will bewitch young readers as readily as the title character does Carmela—and beckon them to return for many a visit.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2025
5 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
About the author
Júlia Sardà
42 books158 followersJúlia Sardà is a Spanish artist who has illustrated many books for children, including Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey, The Liszts by Kyo Maclear, The Wolf's Secret by Nicolas Digard and Myriam Dahman, and a number of classics, including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Queen in the Cave is the first book she has both written and illustrated. Júlia Sardà lives in Barcelona.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 18, 2025
These illustrations are so gorgeous I want to frame them. I also loved the story about finding community with other outsiders. Love it.
October 10, 2025
another Julia Sarda banger!! I'm particularly into this one because it's about witches and weird women finding community. such a feast for the eyes and a celebration of witchcraft <3
September 20, 2025
A story spun and woven out of pure magic. The illustrations are tangles of whimsy and mysticism. Perfect way to kick off spooky season!
December 9, 2025
La Sardà non delude mai.
Della stessa serie de La Regina della Grotta, questa nuova uscita si sofferma su Carmela e la tristezza che l’avvolge da quando sua sorella Franca si è fatta delle nuove amiche che rivaleggiano con le Plastics di Mean Girl.
Non sapendo come passare il tempo e con la mente piena di dubbi, un giorno Carmela deciderà di giocare a vedere quanto in là riuscirà a spingersi camminando.
E, cammina e cammina, si ritroverà ai piedi di una torre abitata da una vera strega.
Sarà questa sua nuova conoscenza a venirle in aiuto in un modo fin troppo buffo e caotico da musical alla Disney, ma andiamo, proprio per questo ci ha regalato delle vignette deliziose. Una in particolare mi ha fatto quasi cadere gli occhi dalle lacrime, ma dettagli.
Questa nuova amicizia inaspettata aiuterà Carmela a prendere confidenza e ad aumentare la sua autostima, oltre che a farle scoprire i poteri latenti racchiusi in lei.
La Strega della Torre si rivela quindi una lettura breve ma briosa e avvolgente come una coccola. Dalle magnifiche illustrazioni e lo stile tipico della Sardà, è il compagno ideale per un pomeriggio tedioso o per staccare la mente dai complessi con i quali condividiamo ogni giorno.
Della stessa serie de La Regina della Grotta, questa nuova uscita si sofferma su Carmela e la tristezza che l’avvolge da quando sua sorella Franca si è fatta delle nuove amiche che rivaleggiano con le Plastics di Mean Girl.
Non sapendo come passare il tempo e con la mente piena di dubbi, un giorno Carmela deciderà di giocare a vedere quanto in là riuscirà a spingersi camminando.
E, cammina e cammina, si ritroverà ai piedi di una torre abitata da una vera strega.
Sarà questa sua nuova conoscenza a venirle in aiuto in un modo fin troppo buffo e caotico da musical alla Disney, ma andiamo, proprio per questo ci ha regalato delle vignette deliziose. Una in particolare mi ha fatto quasi cadere gli occhi dalle lacrime, ma dettagli.
Questa nuova amicizia inaspettata aiuterà Carmela a prendere confidenza e ad aumentare la sua autostima, oltre che a farle scoprire i poteri latenti racchiusi in lei.
La Strega della Torre si rivela quindi una lettura breve ma briosa e avvolgente come una coccola. Dalle magnifiche illustrazioni e lo stile tipico della Sardà, è il compagno ideale per un pomeriggio tedioso o per staccare la mente dai complessi con i quali condividiamo ogni giorno.
September 29, 2025
"Osservare il cosmo al telescopio è come guardare dentro di sé al microscopio", disse la Strega. "Motivi e disegni si ripetono all'infinito, grandi e piccoli. I fiumi sono come le vene nel nostro corpo o le radici di un albero. I tuoi riccioli sono come le onde del mare o le galassie dell'universo! Anche tu, Carmela, sei un mondo in miniatura, e in te hai la Luna, il Sole e le altre stelle."
sono totalmente in love con questa collana di albi illustrati spero esca presto anche il racconto dedicato a Tomasina!!
sono totalmente in love con questa collana di albi illustrati spero esca presto anche il racconto dedicato a Tomasina!!
October 15, 2025
Very strong picture book for older children, I love the retro illustrations. A little spooky, but mostly just sweet.
September 21, 2025
This is the second installment of Júlia Sardà's picture book series "The Three Sisters", where my favorite sister, Carmela with her witches' hat, goes on her own adventure feeling bullied and laughed at by her older sister Franca's friends.
It's just as gorgeous and eerie as the first book in the series, "The Queen in the Cave".
Carmela, feeling overlooked and excluded, is going on a walk to leave her sadness behind. In a strange tower she meets a strange woman: a witch! The witch shows her all their wonderful pastimes: self-care with snakebite sauce and mermaid grease, potion cooking, gardening, hanging out with the night animals, seeking shelter in her library, textile crafting, broom flights and partying with the other outcasts. It's a wonderful life and to see it helps Carmela finding her place, her people and her way home back to her sisters.
Júlia Sardà's illustrations are beautifully intricate, inspired by Egyptian wall paintings, Studio Ghibli and Japanese Butoh dance theater, among other things. It's a lot of fun to look for references or to just get lost in the creative details of these marvelous Illustrations.
A picture book about sisterhood and coming into one's own that does not want to explain its weirdness away but revels in it.
It's just as gorgeous and eerie as the first book in the series, "The Queen in the Cave".
Carmela, feeling overlooked and excluded, is going on a walk to leave her sadness behind. In a strange tower she meets a strange woman: a witch! The witch shows her all their wonderful pastimes: self-care with snakebite sauce and mermaid grease, potion cooking, gardening, hanging out with the night animals, seeking shelter in her library, textile crafting, broom flights and partying with the other outcasts. It's a wonderful life and to see it helps Carmela finding her place, her people and her way home back to her sisters.
Júlia Sardà's illustrations are beautifully intricate, inspired by Egyptian wall paintings, Studio Ghibli and Japanese Butoh dance theater, among other things. It's a lot of fun to look for references or to just get lost in the creative details of these marvelous Illustrations.
A picture book about sisterhood and coming into one's own that does not want to explain its weirdness away but revels in it.
November 7, 2025
beautifully magical, both the words and the illustrations! Imaginative kids feeling beset by life and out of place, like the young heroine, will find it especially appealing, but even readers for whom that isn't true may well rejoice in this healing escape from mundane life.
October 22, 2025
Coup de cœur. 🖤🧡
C’est toujours avec un immense plaisir que je découvre les nouvelles parutions de Júlia Sardà.
J’aime plonger dans les univers unique qu’elle met sur papier.
Avec Carmela et la sorcière, elle nous transporte dans une ambiance étrange mais à la fois, rassurante !
On y suit Carmela, une jeune fille qui, pour contrer la solitude et la tristesse, s’aventure sur un chemin inconnu. Rendu au bout, elle découvre une tour isolée et fait la rencontre d’une sorcière...
Magnifique !
Les liens qui se tissent entre Carmela et la sorcière sont magiques.
Une amitié sincère et une solidarité profonde se forment entre elles.
La présence chaleureuse et réconfortante de la sorcière amène Carmela à s’épanouir et à poser un regard différent sur le monde qui l’entoure mais aussi, sur ce qu’elle ressent.
C’est un doux clin d’œil à tous ceux qui se sentent différents et qui cherchent leur place dans la normalité qui les étouffe.
L’autrice souligne la différence de façon à la faire briller. Elle la brandit comme une force.
Et comme toujours, j’ai eu le souffle coupé par la beauté des illustrations de Júlia Sardà ! Totalement ma vibe !
C’est grandiose !
Je suis très fan. 🥹
Un livre qui plaira autant aux petits qu’aux grands lecteurs 🖤 !
C’est toujours avec un immense plaisir que je découvre les nouvelles parutions de Júlia Sardà.
J’aime plonger dans les univers unique qu’elle met sur papier.
Avec Carmela et la sorcière, elle nous transporte dans une ambiance étrange mais à la fois, rassurante !
On y suit Carmela, une jeune fille qui, pour contrer la solitude et la tristesse, s’aventure sur un chemin inconnu. Rendu au bout, elle découvre une tour isolée et fait la rencontre d’une sorcière...
Magnifique !
Les liens qui se tissent entre Carmela et la sorcière sont magiques.
Une amitié sincère et une solidarité profonde se forment entre elles.
La présence chaleureuse et réconfortante de la sorcière amène Carmela à s’épanouir et à poser un regard différent sur le monde qui l’entoure mais aussi, sur ce qu’elle ressent.
C’est un doux clin d’œil à tous ceux qui se sentent différents et qui cherchent leur place dans la normalité qui les étouffe.
L’autrice souligne la différence de façon à la faire briller. Elle la brandit comme une force.
Et comme toujours, j’ai eu le souffle coupé par la beauté des illustrations de Júlia Sardà ! Totalement ma vibe !
C’est grandiose !
Je suis très fan. 🥹
Un livre qui plaira autant aux petits qu’aux grands lecteurs 🖤 !
March 31, 2025
Carmela feels left behind—too old to play with her younger sister but no longer included by her older sister. Lonely and disheartened, she decides to walk “until you can’t walk anymore,” leading her to a witch in a tower. What follows is a whimsical journey of self-discovery, resilience, and embracing individuality, all wrapped up in a magical mix of witches’ ingredients and potions.
This beautifully crafted long-form picture book is perfect for students who feel caught between childhood and growing up, especially those struggling with changes in sibling dynamics. While it seems especially well-suited for 3rd or 4th graders, its themes resonate across different ages. The artwork is stunning—a blend of Peter Max’s dreamlike quality and Tomie dePaola’s warmth, rendered in natural, muted colors.
A thoughtful and enchanting story about growing up and finding peace in your own stage of life.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
This beautifully crafted long-form picture book is perfect for students who feel caught between childhood and growing up, especially those struggling with changes in sibling dynamics. While it seems especially well-suited for 3rd or 4th graders, its themes resonate across different ages. The artwork is stunning—a blend of Peter Max’s dreamlike quality and Tomie dePaola’s warmth, rendered in natural, muted colors.
A thoughtful and enchanting story about growing up and finding peace in your own stage of life.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.
October 31, 2025
In The Witch in the Tower, the second book in Sardà’s The Three Sisters series, Carmela is having a bad day. She is bored, having been left behind with her younger sister Tomasina, after their older sister Franca has left to play with friends who were mean to Carmela. Carmela decides to play a game where you walk until you can’t walk anymore and she ends up at a tower in the middle of nowhere. A witch answers the door, and Carmela enters a strange new world of magic. The witch encourages her to be exactly who she is and to not let others make her feel less than. She leads Carmela through a trippy, colorful world with potions, gardens, libraries, frogs, and more to end up at a big witch party! All the witches welcome Carmela into their sisterhood of outsiders, telling her she is where she belongs. Eventually, tired, Carmela returns to her sisters, with a new appreciation for them and herself.
The story is a perfect blend of fantastical, weird, fun, and slightly creepiness. But the real star of the book is the art. The illustrations look like watercolor paintings, but the colors and style have a retro feel to them. It is very reminiscent of the psychedelic art of the 1960s and 70s, which adds to its mystical vibe. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The story is a perfect blend of fantastical, weird, fun, and slightly creepiness. But the real star of the book is the art. The illustrations look like watercolor paintings, but the colors and style have a retro feel to them. It is very reminiscent of the psychedelic art of the 1960s and 70s, which adds to its mystical vibe. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
November 11, 2025
People familiar with the illustrator's work for books like Sweep or 2024's Godfather of Death, might be intrigued with this title, book two of a series called the Three Sisters that she has both written an illustrated.
This book features the story of second sister Carmela who feels like she is being left out. Her older sister has gone off with friends and the younger happily entertains herself. What should her role be? She sets off on an adventure that takes her to unexpected discoveries.
While the title can be read on its own, for continuity's sake, I would recommend reading the books in order to understand the relationship between the sisters. Written in a picture book format and illustrated digitally it feels and reads like a picture book, but one for older readers. I would think readers ages 6-9 might be more interested in and able to understand the Grimm like undertones of this story.
I would recommend for libraries looking for modern folk and fairy tale picture books.
This book was sent by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
This book features the story of second sister Carmela who feels like she is being left out. Her older sister has gone off with friends and the younger happily entertains herself. What should her role be? She sets off on an adventure that takes her to unexpected discoveries.
While the title can be read on its own, for continuity's sake, I would recommend reading the books in order to understand the relationship between the sisters. Written in a picture book format and illustrated digitally it feels and reads like a picture book, but one for older readers. I would think readers ages 6-9 might be more interested in and able to understand the Grimm like undertones of this story.
I would recommend for libraries looking for modern folk and fairy tale picture books.
This book was sent by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
December 31, 2025
There are no words. But I'll try of few. Soulful. Whimsical. Affirming. Random. More please.
"The purr of a black cat adds a pinch of love to philters, and the sigh of the white owl calls the shadows and its fellows. Ravens are ideal for evening rituals and can recite magical verses from memory... They are also very faithful."
"Let the outcasts come! Let the lonely, the lost, and the different ones come! May they stop their roaming. May they all come home!"
This one hits the way The Life of Chuck (King short story) did. "Formulas and designs are repeated all the time, big and small. Rivers, for example, are like the veins in our bodies or the roots of a tree. The swirls of hair on your head are like whirls of water in the sea, or of galaxies in the cosmos! Carmela, you are another small world, and within you are the sun, the moon, and also the stars."
"The purr of a black cat adds a pinch of love to philters, and the sigh of the white owl calls the shadows and its fellows. Ravens are ideal for evening rituals and can recite magical verses from memory... They are also very faithful."
"Let the outcasts come! Let the lonely, the lost, and the different ones come! May they stop their roaming. May they all come home!"
This one hits the way The Life of Chuck (King short story) did. "Formulas and designs are repeated all the time, big and small. Rivers, for example, are like the veins in our bodies or the roots of a tree. The swirls of hair on your head are like whirls of water in the sea, or of galaxies in the cosmos! Carmela, you are another small world, and within you are the sun, the moon, and also the stars."
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December 12, 2025I loved this one. I want every kid who's having a tough time to have a copy of this book. I would call it an advanced picture book, there's more text than on average, so I think it would be great for someone who's starting school proper. It's all about things changing and feeling like an outsider, and subtlety dealing with trauma or at the least upsetting situations. It's also about sisterhood and community of the rejects. Then the art is simply awesome. I can't pinpoint what exactly it reminds me of but it's that flat style where you only see one side of a character and brimming with color, detail, and life. If I was a kid reading this I'd spend hours looking over every corner of every page.
December 23, 2025
The Witch in the Tower is absolutely gorgeous. The rich artwork reveals more the longer you look. The story follows Carmela, the middle sister from Julia Sarda's The Queen in the Cave. Carmela is feeling unmoored as her sisters pursue activities without her, but finds camaraderie with other witches she encounters. They manifest magically and accept her as she is, which is exactly what she needs. The intricate beauty of the book and the struggle to reach the companions she needs illustrate how hard it can be to feel like you don't fit in. The fact that Carmela does find sisterhood validates her need to be loved and reassures the reader of each unique individual's inherent worth.
October 10, 2025
The story of a sister who is feeling sad because of the changes going on around her and the self-discovery journey she experiences.
I hadn’t read the other book of the “series” and I didn’t understand who Franca was until the very end. I would guess if you read the first one you would understand right away who the characters are.
I also don’t understand why the outsiders, lonely people, etc had to be weird looking witches.
I feel it’s not a book for little kids because the message is trying to transmit will not be understood by them. It would be better suited for older kids.
I hadn’t read the other book of the “series” and I didn’t understand who Franca was until the very end. I would guess if you read the first one you would understand right away who the characters are.
I also don’t understand why the outsiders, lonely people, etc had to be weird looking witches.
I feel it’s not a book for little kids because the message is trying to transmit will not be understood by them. It would be better suited for older kids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
I checked this out from the library for a three year old that has grown increasingly curious about magic and witches, without glancing inside. We were both immediately enthralled with the story, and immersed into Sarda’s dreamscape. I cannot say enough good things about the storytelling and illustrations, for a review cannot capture its magic! It was compelling to me at 30 years of age, while also resonating with a budding human, who I’ve been trying to encourage that magic is within her! Thank you so much for creating this work of art!
December 3, 2025
The Witch in the Tower delivers a fresh, enchanting twist on classic fairy-tale tropes, weaving together mystery, magic, and emotional depth with surprising finesse. The atmosphere is rich without feeling overwrought, and the central character’s journey, equal parts dark whimsy and heartfelt discovery, keeps the story engaging from beginning to end. While a few pacing dips slow the momentum, the novel’s imaginative worldbuilding and compelling character dynamics more than make up for it, resulting in a delightful, immersive read.
September 6, 2025
The strangest children’s book I have ever read. 10/10
Fr though I love the way it handles conflict between siblings but it takes a HARD left turn and kept my 3 year old nanny kid and me thoroughly engaged. The art style is gorgeous and has incredible attention to detail. You could look at every page with your kid pointing out hidden details for hours. I highly recommend to every creative, smart, and spooky kid (or kid at heart) out there!
Fr though I love the way it handles conflict between siblings but it takes a HARD left turn and kept my 3 year old nanny kid and me thoroughly engaged. The art style is gorgeous and has incredible attention to detail. You could look at every page with your kid pointing out hidden details for hours. I highly recommend to every creative, smart, and spooky kid (or kid at heart) out there!
September 19, 2025
5 stars for the illustrations
3 stars for the writing style so 4 total
I’m not sure if these were translated from Catalan but the books always are not quite there in English. Not poorly translated just no rhymes, no flow. Flat storytelling and the progression is kind of chaotic.
Best lines:
“Only boring people get bored.”
“With the wisdom of these pages we could overthrow a king or outshine the sun”
3 stars for the writing style so 4 total
I’m not sure if these were translated from Catalan but the books always are not quite there in English. Not poorly translated just no rhymes, no flow. Flat storytelling and the progression is kind of chaotic.
Best lines:
“Only boring people get bored.”
“With the wisdom of these pages we could overthrow a king or outshine the sun”
September 23, 2025
One of the most beautiful books I have every held! Honestly, the artwork, detail and coloring are breathtaking. I was intrigued when I saw this at a bookstore, I had to buy it right away. It turns out, the story is also something near and dear to my heart and my own experience. This is the book I was looking for as a child, and I am so grateful I found it now.
November 28, 2025
Júlia Sardà is one of my absolute favorite illustrators, and this very sweet fairytale about a girl seeking to find her place in the world as her older sister grows up and away from her might just be my favorite yet. I would like to wallpaper my home in this images of witches and toads and mushrooms and plants.
September 10, 2025
Stunning artwork - Júlia Sardà's work is absolutely mindblowing. This is one of my favorite of her stories though - it is about the beauty of being different and coming to terms with your unique abilities and strengths.
October 3, 2025
I was utterly stunned by this book. I think I spent at least an hour picking slowly through the illustrations, savoring the weird, chant-like quality of the text. This is an incredibly empowering story with gorgeous trappings. I'll be returning to this one again and again when I need a pick-me-up.
October 30, 2025
Carmela, a bullied girl and the middle child of three sisters, spends time with a sage witch who empowers her to discover magic within herself.
I liked the themes and the illustrations, but the text seemed very lengthy.
I liked the themes and the illustrations, but the text seemed very lengthy.
November 13, 2025
an absolutely stunning little book. as much a picture book for adults as it is for children. for the weirdos and outcasts to remember that you are magic and contain more than some others can handle.
September 6, 2025
“We, the outsiders, are the hearts! Here, the lonesome won’t be apart!”
September 12, 2025
Read for Palestine this September https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfundi...
September 27, 2025
Beautiful illustrations! A bit long so 5th/6th grade...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews