Karen's Little Witch

Baby-Sitters Little Sister #22

by Ann M. Martin

Karen assumes that the neighbor's granddaughter, Druscilla, must be a witch like her grandmother, and develops a good-luck spell to protect herself

Genres: Childrens, Halloween, Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile

97 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1991

About the author

Ann Matthews Martin was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane. After graduating from Smith College, Ann became a teacher and then an editor of children's books. She's now a full-time writer.

Ann gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences, while others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events. All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, and other times she simply chooses names that she likes.

Ann has always enjoyed writing. Even before she was old enough to write, she would dictate stories to her mother to write down for her. Some of her favorite authors at that time were Lewis Carroll, P. L. Travers, Hugh Lofting, Astrid Lindgren, and Roald Dahl. They inspired her to become a writer herself.

Since ending the BSC series in 2000, Ann’s writing has concentrated on single novels, many of which are set in the 1960s.

After living in New York City for many years, Ann moved to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York where she now lives with her dog, Sadie, and her cats, Gussie, Willy and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework. Her favorite thing to do is to make clothes for children.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/annmma...

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm right at the end of Kristy's Mystery Admirer and Kristy mentions Karen and her friends dressing up like characters from The Wizard of Oz. I know that happens in a Little Sister book, and I thought it was this one, but it appears I thought wrong.

I always liked Druscilla, and when I was younger the ending of this book was totally mysterious. ("I'm not a witch, but you can never tell about my grandmother...") I don't remember if Druscilla is ever mentioned again - I'll do a Little Sister re-read when I finish my BSC re-read. But all in all, I always liked the Halloween books.

And, it looks like per the publication date, Karen's Ghost is the book that I was looking for. I was relying on memory and I guess mine is failing me in my old age! ;)

[Brian Stout · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good I liked it and the last part was good and Karen got along with the other witch she did not like in the first part. in fact I think it was the best book I've ever read of babysitters club. Well sort of and my dad did not like it very much he wanted to give it three stars yep he did hey funny so funny well.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite scene was when Boo-Boo, Karen's cat, attended a tea party. Karen expected he would leave the party early. "Well, Boo-Boo might not stay long. He might have to leave early. He is not good at sitting still. (He could never go to school.) . . . I found Boo-Boo, and I lugged him to the party table. I sat him in a chair. I put a napkin around his back. FWOO! Boo-Boo ran away. He did not like the napkin."

I also noticed a possible continuity error. Drusilla attended Stoneybrook Day School with Melody, but was in a different second grade class. SDS students were uniforms. Elementary school girls wear a gray sweater vest, white shirt, and a gray and green plaid skirt. However, Melody assumed Drusilla was a witch when she wore all black to school (black dress, tights, shoes, and hair ribbon).

[Sayo -bibliotequeish-]

Karen and the pint sized goth


When you were too old for childrens books, but too young for The Baby Sitters Club.
Ann M. Martin really is a genius to piggy back on the success of The Baby Sitters Club.

After reading the little sisters series I remember feeling like a real adult opening up that first BSC book.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this might have been the first little sister book I owned after secret diary. I thought Karen and her friends for so judgmental towards mrs porters granddaughter, and even asked her if she’s a witch and she humoured them.

I like the tea party scene, how Karen dressed up as Pippi for Halloween, and the Halloween party where they bobbed for apples, painted pumpkins and had cupcakes

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Drusilla. Karen can be mean. But I like how Drusilla leaned into it and legit scared Karen, ha!

[Laina Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. I remember reading the babysitters club when I was a girl and now my girl and I are reading them together.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Chapter 13 surprisingly was a trigger regarding illness and death.

[V. Arrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

karen "listen I respect that the rule is no spying but spying is my literal favorite thing to do" brewer

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad kiddie fiction. Maybe I just like Halloween. The quest for books my son may like continues. =)

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually found this one really boring. Druscilla? Really?!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book a week ago. My daughter loved it! Perfect for Halloween!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

In which Karen's mistakes an 8-year-old goth for a witch.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14565473