The Notwitches

by Gary Panton, Dotty Sutton (illustrator)

Melanda’s monstrous aunts, The Notwitches, treat her more like a servant than a niece. Her life seems hopeless until an older girl, Mitch, knocks at her door offering the chance of freedom. Mitch knows a thing or two about magic and for this special spell, all they need is one magical ingredient...

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens

Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Les McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! Funny, gruesome, madcap, slapstick but played straight. Has a big hearted side too.
Would be such great fun to read aloud, so many opportunities for funny voices!
Great for 7yrs and upward & for those who’ve enjoyed Roald Dahl

[Cara Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much fun! Every page has a joke on it and the illustrations make things even more entertaining. Indeed, text and illustrations work perfectly together, much like the classic collaboration between Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake.

There are shades of Roald Dahl in the story, too, starting as it does with a young girl who is forced into a series of unpleasant chores by her three grotesque and gruesome aunts. But The Notwitches is a modern update, keeping everything that's good about Dahl (humour, imaginative twists, little bits of the kind of gross stuff that children love) but losing the aspects that no longer fly in the 21st century.

I have a particular soft spot for the vegan biker gang, but the not-quite-as-you'd-expect mermaids come a close second. And amidst all the mayhem and comedy, the book also has an emotional heart.

If your kids like David Walliams then try this. It's far superior.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for ages 7+ and I definitely fall into that category as I am 59. I did not find it too young for me. In fact, it was just what I needed in these challenging times. This book is such a lot of fun, and I will never not laugh when I read the name 'Aunt Rear Admiral Barbara Notwitch, not titter when I think of Aunt Claggy, who feasts on stationary, demanding, 'Get to the shops this instant! We’re completely out of protractors!’, nor not chortle when I think of, 'the Hairy Skulls ~ the meanest, burliest, hairiest, beardiest and windiest of all the motorcycle gangs. Rumour had it they drank pints of gravel, played loud music well after bedtime and used hedgehogs to scratch their itchy bits.'

We all need this book in our lives. Recommended.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was adorable and funny! Melanda is a young girl who is looked after by her horrible aunts, and one day when she meets a young witch, her life changes forever! This has got shades of Matilda and George’s Marvellous Medicine in it. I raced through it. I loved all the people she met on her journey - life’s always better when you have a family (chosen or given) around you! Gorgeous illustrations too!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Notwitches is silly, very funny and made me giggle out loud many times. It has three disgusting villains, unexpected heroes (love the vegetarian bikers!) , turns mythology on its head (who says mermaids have fish tails and not heads?!) , and features a very cute almost-talking cat.

[Rebecca Howat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my P5 class. They enjoyed the story with the different character names & twists and turns. They also got to meet the author & illustrator too who were both lovely & so enthusiastic!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick, easy read. It has lovely illustrations which add perfectly to the story. Almost like a Cinderella story, this tells the tale of Melanda; a young girl who lives with her three horrible aunts. But life may begin to change for her when she meets Mitch, a young witch who says that she can help Melanda by doing a very special spell. The only thing is, they will need one very special ingredient.
A nice, gentle story, with some humour along the way. There was never a sense of real tension, but this would suit some younger readers.