Maybe There Are Witches

by Jude Atwood

"I can’t think of a better fate for young readers." -Steven T. Seagle, co-creator of Ben 10, Big Hero 6, and Camp Midnight

After moving to the tiny village of Biskopskulla, middle school student Clara Hutchins discovers that her family has a history in the region: one hundred forty years ago, one of her ancestors was hanged as a witch from the white oak tree on the edge of town. When Clara finds a mildewed diary in the basement, she’ s even able to read the rambling thoughts of her long-dead relative.

But when the book’ s predictions about Clara’ s own life start coming true, she wonders if those 19th-century villagers had a point: maybe her great-great-great grandmother really did have unearthly abilities. Now, a break-in at the tomb of the town’ s founder means a great evil has returned to Biskopskulla. Clara and her newest friends— two of the weirdest boys in school— must join forces to decipher the messages of a murdered witch and stop an unnatural catastrophe. But as they quest through historic cemeteries, backcountry libraries, and high-octane scholastic bowl tournaments, something sinister is lurking, watching, and waiting…

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Young Adult, Childrens, Horror, Witches

216 pages, Paperback

First published June 13, 2023

Reviews

[MikaReadsFantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ Jude Atwood’s Maybe There Are Witches is an atmospheric middle grade debut that blends small-town mystery, eerie folklore, and fast-paced suspense into a genuinely entertaining read. The story follows Clara Hutchins, who moves to the isolated village of Biskopskulla and uncovers unsettling ties between her family and the town’s dark past, including an ancestor accused of witchcraft generations earlier. When Clara discovers an old diary filled with strange predictions that begin to mirror her own life, she and two unlikely new friends are pulled into a dangerous mystery involving ancient secrets, restless history, and a growing supernatural threat.

This was a very story-driven book, and it kept me engaged the entire time because I always wanted to know what would happen next. The pacing was especially strong, with enough twists and discoveries to maintain the tension without slowing down. I also really enjoyed the setting. The small town felt rich with history, and the atmosphere was surprisingly spooky at times. There were several genuinely creepy moments that added a lot to the reading experience, and the suspense worked really well throughout the novel.

The cast of characters was fun overall, particularly Clara’s friendships, and I liked how the story balanced mystery, humor, and supernatural elements. That said, the emotional side of the book felt a bit underdeveloped for me. While I enjoyed the characters, I never fully connected with them on a deeper level, and I wish some of the themes had been explored with more depth. I was also not completely satisfied with the resolution, which felt weaker compared to the strong buildup leading up to it.

Overall, Maybe There Are Witches is an engaging and creepy middle grade debut with excellent atmosphere, strong pacing, and an intriguing mystery at its core. Even though the emotional impact and ending did not fully work for me, it was still a fun and suspenseful read that I think younger readers, especially fans of spooky small-town stories, will really enjoy.

[Jude Atwood]

Goodreaders and good readers,

I’m so thrilled to be be able to share this book with you! It’s a story about exploring new places, getting to know new people, and finding new sides to the people you think you know. It’s also a spooky mystery. There might even be witches. Maybe.

This book was influenced by the places I’ve lived: small-town Illinois where I grew up; the city of Portland, Oregon, where I began writing it; and Orange County, California, where I live now. It is out in the world now, and you can find links to order it on my website: judeatwood.tv

[J.R. Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devotees of the supernatural reeling from the end of Stranger Things reel no longer! Atwood delivers a twisting, turning tale of Midwestern macabre equal parts spine-tingling and laughter-inducing. Teens fighting the doldrums of what can often feel like a charmless world will particularly identify with curious and resilient heroine Clara Hutchins and the town of Biskopskulla that disguises the extraordinary beneath a thin veil of quaint normalcy. Every town is a permeable mirror, a portal of Past and Present, Good and Evil, and Atwood makes Biskopskulla spring to life with the unexpected menace of Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes but with a quirkiness and a beating heart all the author's own.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara is the hero I wanted to read about when I was in middle school. She's smart, kind, brave, and devoted to her family and friends. As a middle-ager reading a book meant for a much younger audience, I was entertained and interested in the outcome. The characters are likeable and the story stands up. I'm reminded of The Goonies! It's an enjoyable adventure regardless of the age of the reader.

[Bob Manasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charmingly creepy? Creepily charming? Definitely some combination of both - this is a great book. As a native of small-town Illinois, oh my goodness, does this book read like truth. I KNOW some of these small towns, and I KNOW some of these kids. There are enough twists, turns, and surprises to keep things interesting, and enough authentic details to make it feel like life. I cannot recommend strongly enough!

[Becky Butterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book to read!! Full of friendship, adventure, mystery, wonder, suspense, and surprise.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAYBE THERE ARE WITCHES is a charming, funny, and sometimes very frightening novel as three bright thirteen-year-old kids (Clara, Chris and Gary) in a small town find themselves undercovering a 140-year-old mystery that turns out to be more dangerous than they ever have dreamed. It begins when Clara finds an ancient diary of her grandmother's ancestor who was hanged for a witch and cannot really comprehend that the executed woman writing this diary from so long ago seems to know Clara well and writes intimately to her as if writing now from the next room. The instructions to uncover truths can barely be followed in secrecy, as they must be. Only the three young teens set about their journey which includes a pretty scary search for long-buried bones. What they eventually find is astonishing. I never could have guessed the end.

[John Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

When thirteen-year-old Clara moves with her mother into an old house in a small town, she finds out that one of her ancestors is a famous local witch, killed a hundred years ago. It's not long before she and her friends are on a quest to save their town from a supernatural disaster. Wonderfully plotted with head-spinning twists and turns, I was racing toward the end of this impossible to put down adventure.

[Tim Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enthralling book, wondrous, witchy, and wise. Bradbury-ian in scope and tone, it's a cauldron bubbling with echoes of my favorite spookbooks & spookfilms of all time: Something Wicked This Way Comes, IT, Poltergeist, The Crucible, Harry Potter, Coraline, Cloak and Dagger, THE VVITCH, and most thrillingly, The Neverending Story, in the way a book contains magic that pulls not only the protagonist of the story into the world of the book-within-a-book, but also the very reader of that book. It also reminded of the beloved Ruth Chew books that I was so obsessed with as a kid; all stories about tweens having adventurous encounters with random witches that lived in the neighborhood, witches that would whorl them into paranormal parallel dimensions to help them figure something out...

Atwood is so skilled at conveying this tale of young Clara, who has moved from Orange County to Bisksopskulla, Illinois with her mother to take over her late grandmother's sprawling Victorian-styled house. It used to be a bed & breakfast, but is now, for Clara, a host to all kinds of labyrinthine ominousness; beginning with the discovery of a strange, prescient book and eventually whirling her to the heart of a malevolent plan she must unwittingly play a dark part in. To say too much would give it away! I love the B-plot too, which encompasses a competitive school trivia club that results in the discovery of crucial information for the clever young sleuths at the heart of this joyous and creepy mystery.

[Christian Pipion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is SO good! The story grabs you right away and keeps building. It's got a great mix of mystery, magic, and heart. It’s eerie without ever feeling heavy, and there are great moments of humor and personality that make the book feel fun and make the characters feel more real.

There’s also a lot of cool easter eggs and references when you dig deeper. I'm not one hundred percent sure where the author got the word "Häxa" from, but after looking out up I found out it means “witch” in Swedish. After that I started looking up more things, and I started noticing all these tiny details that connect to Swedish folklore and real historical stuff from the area in real life. It’s one of those books where the more attention you give it, the more you find. It was cool to see how much of the details in here were related to things that aren't fictional.

It’s rare to read something that feels so layered but also so fun and easy to read. I'm very happy I read this book, and I missed the characters once the book was over!

[M.J. White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “maybe” in the title of Jude Atwood’s excellent Middle Grades novel, Maybe There Are Witches, might equivocate, but thirteen-year-old Clara, our hero, is not afraid of the truth and sets out to find it with schoolmate sidekicks, Gary and Chris, after she discovers a journal of spells left by a long ago relative hanged as a witch. The three will lay to rest an unhappy spirit and perhaps ensure another unsavory spirit gets its just deserts while often defying readers’ expectations.. Expect surprises and twists of fate, danger and mysteries, both solved and resolved, before this story reaches its scary, thrilling and satisfying conclusion.

[Christina Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! Every time I put it down, I couldn't stop thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it. I finished it quickly, loved every minute, and enjoyed the ending immensely. Love the characters and how their friendships developed throughout the story. Just a well-written, intriguing story the whole way through!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are witches still in our midst? A fun novel for young adults that leads to a mystery with 3 misfit children who become good friends. The book does have some scary situations that might make it for the older young adults. I really enjoyed getting to know Clara, Chris and Gary and I thought the story was very engaging!

[Hannah Haghighat · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Maybe There are Witches,” is funny, clever, and throughly engaging! It grabs your attention and keeps it until the very end. The characters are fun and charming. The supernatural elements are well thought out and enjoyable for anyone who loves “Stranger Things” or “Nancy Drew.”

[Alycia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a goodreads giveaway. When I received it there was a hand written note from the author Jude Atwood.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a good easy read and I didn't expect the ending!
Good story about friendships, and mysteries!
I would recommend it!

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and the fact that it takes place near where I live. It kept me interested and had some great twists and turns. A very good book for middle schoolers my opinion. I will be passing it to my son to read now.

[꣑୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

high 4.5 stars… omg this was so fun and i started to get scared at some parts LMFAOOO

[Spooky Little Book Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adventure and I loved it! It wasn’t the typical witch story. It was unpredictable and imaginative. Clara’s new friends, Chris and Gary are so sweet! I loved their friendship and teamwork. Chris especially was so weird and quirky. My favorite line was from Gary about Chris…“I mean, he’s a little weird, but that’s probably why there’s no one I’d trust more with a knife.” He was also the most mysterious. We got a little backstory and learned about Clara and Gary but never learned what Chris’s situation was even if there were little hints. I think that was to keep his character a mystery which made him even more interesting.

The setting was perfect too and really set the scene. The Victorian house that Clara and her mom have inherited is a creaky, spooky place with a ton of history. The town itself is the most haunted in the U.S. according to Gary’s Mom who hosts ghost tours. This would be the perfect fall read. It’s so atmospheric! It’s the best middle grade book I’ve read. Very well written and plenty spooky. Highly recommend!

[Yoji82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin? From the charm of the characters, to the engaging and colorful storyline, I really loved this book. You can sense that the author Jude Atwood really has a love for Illinois and the deep REAL history behind some of the elements in this book. It's full of well written dialogue, funny moments and some genuinely chilling horror moments. I love that the chapters are short, it's one of those elements I always like in a book that make it easy to pick up and read. Even though they are short, I found myself blazing through it. I couldn't praise this book enough. Go read it! You won't be disappointed!

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! I had the pleasure of meeting Jude Atwood at a signing event at my local Barnes & Noble, and since witches and creepy small town vibes are in my wheelhouse, I decided to pick up a copy, which he was kind enough to sign for me. I'm so happy I did! Even though the author himself told me this is upper middle grade, there were times that it felt very adult, at least in terms of the creep factor. Pleasant read, this would be a great read for anyone, especially around fall and spooky season. I can't wait to see what else Jude Atwood has up his sleeve!

[Roxan AlexanderArntson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great YA novel. I loved the development of the characters and the witty writing. I also loved the twists and turns and magic sprinkled throughout. You don’t need a kid in your life to enjoy this book (although my 8 year old loved it and fought me to keep it in his bookcase instead of mine.)

[Christine Amoroso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale about middle school ghost hunters is the perfect combination of fun, suspense and scary. I Your tween reader will see themselves and their friends in the details.

I couldn't put it town.;-)

A great addition to any classroom library. :-)

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating - 3.5 Stars
This was super cute!!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 A middle school read that is enjoyable for adults.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murdered witches, predictions coming true, and a sinister presence in the shadows...together these create the perfect door to an excitingly spooky adventure.

Clara's not so sure about the move from California to small town Illinois, but outside of the spooky doll collection her grandmother left behind, it seems okay. She quickly finds friends at the new school and especially catches attention when they learn she's the great-great-great grandchild of a woman hung for witchcraft. What's weirder still is the old diary Clara discovers in their basement from her past relative...and the words not only were written just for her, but they predict the most impossible details. Not all of these are good. Teaming up with her new friends, Clara needs to figure out what is truly going on before a horrible disaster hits.

This is a read with just the right amount of details, action, spook and heart to draw in and hold until the very last page. The small town and the inherited bed and breakfast come to life as Clara hunts through the historical past to discover not only hints of magic and the paranormal. She finds herself in an odd mystery, which bridges time by using historic clues to stop a sinister plot in the present. The author has carefully laid out the steps to form a well-woven adventure, making it hard to guess what is coming next, while building the tension little by little. All the while, Clara's natural personality draws the reader in. And when the ending hits...well, I really didn't see it coming.

While friendship, family, and settling into new situations adds meaningful foundation, it's the delicious layers of tension and chills, which really draw in. It's not overly scary but tip-toes right on the border of mystery and creepy. And that, in all the right ways. I received a DRC, enjoyed it, and am placing this read on my possible favorites list for 2023.

[Sandy Grubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her mother announces they're moving to Biskopskulla, Illinois, population 140, to live in her recently-deceased grandmother’s century-old Victorian house, Clara is not thrilled, but she’s determined to make the best of things for her mother’s sake. If Clara can just get rid of the creepy doll collection that stares at her with “cold, lifeless eyes,” maybe she could settle in. And with mention of creepy dolls in the first line of the book, author Jude Atwood sets the tone that continues making spines tingle for the next two hundred well-written pages. Clara isn’t looking for witches as the story begins; she simply wants to fit in and make friends at her new school. But just as witches certainly find her, I recommend you read the book to see if Clara survives and if friendships find her as well. A fun, page-turning read, Jude takes us on a magical wild ride at the end of which we are indeed thinking “maybe there are witches!"

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the magical cauldron that is MAYBE THERE ARE WITCHES, Jude Atwood has created a delightful and immersive tale, full of heart, humor, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and unique and memorable characters. While the plot kept me turning pages, I was equally charmed by the book’s spunky and independent teen protagonist, quirky mother, and group of misfit friends. And it’s funny too! Sure to appeal to readers who love a good spine-tingling supernatural mystery, as well as those drawn to character-based stories about family and friendship dynamics. The book’s small Midwest town of Biskopskulla is so perfectly rendered, you’ll want to look it up on a map - I’ll save you the time, it doesn’t exist except in the pages of this thoroughly entertaining read. Highly recommend!

[Liz H]

Maybe There Are Witches is exactly the kind of middle grade fantasy that sparks curiosity from the very beginning. I loved how the mystery unfolds piece by piece, blending family history, eerie folklore, and supernatural twists into a story that feels both adventurous and genuinely suspenseful.

One of my favorite aspects was the dynamic between Clara and her unlikely group of friends. Their teamwork, humor, and determination bring plenty of heart to the story, balancing the darker moments with warmth and excitement. The atmospheric setting, mysterious diary, and fascinating blend of history and magic kept me turning the pages, making this an entertaining read for young fantasy lovers and adults who enjoy clever, folklore-inspired adventures alike

[Candi Sary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude Atwood knows how to tell a magical story! In MAYBE THERE ARE WITCHES he gives readers a mysterious small town with quirky, lovable characters, a middle-school girl in communication with her great-great-great-grandmother (a witch!), and a fantastic quest to stop an evil villain—all masterfully orchestrated with suspense, humor, perfect pacing and a shockingly brilliant ending. I laughed, I gasped, and I stayed wide-eyed with wonder while reading this page-tuner of a novel.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this page-turning imaginative tale. I don’t usually read middle grade fiction but was pleasantly surprised to find MAYBE THERE ARE WITCHES, a charming read. Clara is a heroine any middle grader will want to root for and her two male friends, sidekicks, are cool too, and together they piece together a fascinating mystery. I can’t wait to share it with Parker, my very smart 11 year neighbor. Highly recommend this!