La strega nella torre

The Three Sisters

by Júlia Sardà

Da quando sua sorella Franca si è fatta nuove amiche, Carmela si sente tanto sola. Così si mette a girovagare finché non trova una Torre, dove una Strega amorevole le dà chiare istruzioni.

Genres: Picture Books, Fantasy, Childrens, Witches, Halloween, Adventure, Family

64 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Júlia 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.

Reviews

[Danika at The Lesbrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

These illustrations are so gorgeous I want to frame them. I also loved the story about finding community with other outsiders. Love it.

[Adrienne Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story spun and woven out of pure magic. The illustrations are tangles of whimsy and mysticism. Perfect way to kick off spooky season!

[MikaReadsFantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ The Witch in the Tower by Júlia Sardà tells the story of Carmela, a young girl struggling with change and loneliness as her older sister grows distant. Seeking escape, Carmela walks until she reaches a mysterious tower, where an unexpected encounter shifts her perspective and marks a turning point in her life.

The book reads like a quiet fairytale and focuses on themes of isolation and emotional growth. While I‘m not the target audience I appreciated the underlying message. The illustration style is very distinctive and memorable, and it was one of the aspects I enjoyed most.

[AlenGarou · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[✧₊⁎Haru • 🦦🪷⁎⁺˳✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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!!

[Núria Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una passada les il·lustracions de la Júlia. M’ha encantat la forma de plasmar la història, els colors que fa servir, els mil detalls, la composició de les pàgines… per no parlar de les flooors, mooooolt fortament tatuables. Un bon conte infantil per parlar de la soledat, la raresa i totes aquelles persones que se surten de la norma, click

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

les illustrations de Júlia Sardà = du miel. C'est SUBLIME

[Sarah]

Pure magic

[lina ( ˘ω˘ )✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is my shelter” said the witch. “Here, I also learn to make peace with the things I’ll never understand.” ❤️

[E Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un de ces livres dans lequels ça m'irait bien d'habiter.
Trop beau message d'espoir autour de trouver sa communauté et de la force que ça peut donner. 🥲

[Alexiouss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Des sorcières, une communauté incroyable et des illustrations magnifiques ? Ça ne pouvait qu'être magique 🔮✨

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strong picture book for older children, I love the retro illustrations. A little spooky, but mostly just sweet.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

El meu tipus de llibre infantil preferit misteriós oníric sense saber cap a on anirà i desdibuixant absolutament les línies entre la realitat la màgia la imaginació… que tingui un toc de por i que perfectament m’hauria encantat tant als 8 anys com als 25… perfecte!!!

[Ileana (The Tiniest Book Club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[mason]

Super cute and gorgeous art! I could frame every single illustration and put it on my wall. My coworker and I were looking at this after it crossed our path at work, and I’m glad I picked it up. I wish it was a junior graphic novel series as opposed to just a children’s picture book; I want to luxuriate in this world with these characters. But I’ll take what I can get from this author/artist.

I love stories about being an outsider and feeling alone, and old witch hags!!!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[c. ✶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

agli emarginati, agli esclusi: alle streghe ♡

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book has a cute story but its
Illustrations are what makes this story 5 stars. The books is a piece of art ! Great to read during halloweentime !

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars just for the gorgeous art alone!

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fue en la tarde más oscura,
en el día más triste,
que Carmela pudo ver al fin...

Se vio a sí misma.
Y vio a La Bruja.

[Rima Sash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solely for the art, very beautiful

[Aude · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🖤 !

[Luce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[María José · Rating 5 out of 5]

«—Este es mi refugio —suspiró La Bruja. Lo que aquí aprendo me ayuda a hacer las pases con las cosas que jamás entenderé.» Amo las ilustraciones de Julia Sardá.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

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...

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lacks the wild intensity suspense of the first book, but it still quite good. I think it makes it clear that the first book was about Franca, the oldest sister, growing up, since in this book we hear of her off with friends in a very teenage fashion, her sisters left at home and feeling somewhat abandoned or put out in her absence. So this book is about the middle sister, Carmela, growing up in her own way, and making peace with the changing dynamic with her sister.

Strangely, the shear amount of detail in describing the witch's abode and her magics is part of what makes this book less unsettling than the first. In that book there's a phantasmagoric quality to the sisters' journey and the ambiguity of whether they are simply letting their imaginations run wild while observing the creatures they encounter, or if they have slipped into some fey wonderland lends tension to the tale.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carmela has discovered that growing up is hard. She is one of three sisters - Franca, Carmela, and Tomasina. They once were close and did everything together but - Franca has gotten older and has new, mean friends. They bully Carmela and she feels left out, lonely, and sad. Younger sister Tomasina is rather wise. She suggests things for just the two of them. But no. Carmela doesn't want to do anything. She snaps at Tomasina even though she knows Tomasina didn't do anything besides try to help.

Instead Carmela decides to play Walk Until You Can't Walk Anymore. And then she finds a witch in a tower. The witch helps Carmela understand that she is special and has powers she cannot comprehend. After lots of magical experiences, Carmela goes home. There she finds Franca and Tomasina waiting for her - happy to be sisters again.

This is a longer picture book. But the illustrations are magical and it's a captivating story.

[Elaine Fultz, kinda retired librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

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."