There is lots of humour in the story, we found the spell that Mildred casts on Ethel very funny and couldn’t wait to see whether Mildred could reverse it. Ethel gets her own back on Mildred when she lends her a broomstick but ultimately her conceitedness leads to her downfall. We read the story in one sitting, my daughter was eager to hear about Mildred’s spells and loved her attempts to train her new kitten.

The Worst Witch is a great story to read for Halloween and with only ten chapters it’s a short book for a beginner reader. However, Mildred always tries her best and has a strong relationship with her best friend Maud who supports her through thick and thin. She also has to contend with nasty remarks from Miss Hardbroom, who appears and disappears when least expected. It’s only half way through the first term, Mildred’s broomstick has snapped in half and she’s made an enemy out of Ethel, a smug young witch. Will she keep running or can she save the Academy? Mildred comes across a group of witches who are plotting against the school and she is horrified when she hears their plan. All goes well until Mildred’s broomstick misbehaves during the display so she runs away from school. One day Miss Hardbroom, Mildred’s form mistress, announces that Mildred’s class has been chosen to do a display at the Halloween celebrations. The Story: Mildred Hubble is in her first year at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches and has already been sent to Miss Cackle’s study on several occasions for causing trouble.

The Worst Witch is the story of Mildred Hubble, a young witch who is often in trouble at school, often through no fault of her own.

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy