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45th out of 99 books
—
25 voters
The Little Broomstick
by
Mary Stewart
Sustained narrative pace and an irresistible ability to evoke a setting have made Mary Stewart's novels among the most popular today. Now she brings these gifts to her first story for young readers. In a fantasy that skillfully blends the real world with the magical, she spins a tale of enchantment and high adventure.
A lonely girl spending a holiday in Shropshire provides...more
A lonely girl spending a holiday in Shropshire provides...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
2006
by Hodder Children's Books
(first published 1971)
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A girl follows a black cat to a magic broomstick and finds herself whisked away to a school for witches.
Appropriate for ages 8-12
This was one of my favorite books when I was about 9. The story tells of Mary, a girl who is parked with two elderly aunts. In the garden, she finds a black cat who leads her to a purple flower, which the gardener tells her is a "Fly-by-Night". Mary accidentally rubs the juice from the flower onto a broom handle and is whisked away to a school for witches, run by an ev...more
Appropriate for ages 8-12
This was one of my favorite books when I was about 9. The story tells of Mary, a girl who is parked with two elderly aunts. In the garden, she finds a black cat who leads her to a purple flower, which the gardener tells her is a "Fly-by-Night". Mary accidentally rubs the juice from the flower onto a broom handle and is whisked away to a school for witches, run by an ev...more
Janet recommended this--I read it in the middle of the night last night when I couldn't sleep, which seemed appropriate.
It definitely has that mid-century British children's fantasy thing going on, with kids being left to stay in elderly houses with elderly relatives and finding their way into fantastical situations. But the writing is really unusual, very sensual and poetic in the descriptions, and not in an annoying way.
The other thing that struck me about this, in a post-Harry Potter world, w...more
It definitely has that mid-century British children's fantasy thing going on, with kids being left to stay in elderly houses with elderly relatives and finding their way into fantastical situations. But the writing is really unusual, very sensual and poetic in the descriptions, and not in an annoying way.
The other thing that struck me about this, in a post-Harry Potter world, w...more
1 like · like · see review
The cover of the book shows a nice little girl and her kitty, and a cute title --you think you know what you're getting. But don't judge this book by its cover. Mary Stewart is great at suspense and unsettling moods, and she continues this in her only children's book, published in 1972. Her boarding school for young witches is nothing like J.K. Rowlings' wondrous Hogwarts school. It's more of a cross between mad scientist's laboratory and Dracula's castle. Not a place to linger. A chase scene on...more
Sweet tale that I liked myself when I was Logan's age, written by the author of The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills. A girl staying with her elderly great aunt is bored until a little black cat, Tib, leads her to an adventure that involves a flight on a broomstick and a tour of a school for witches. But unlike Hogwarts, this school is filled with creepy bad witches, and as you might expect, some trouble ensues. Not too scary, just a little tense. Stewart's writing is great for reading aloud. I...more
This was one of my favorite books as a little girl. It has a marvelous "autumn" feeling about it. Little girl finds a broomstick in the woods, magic ensues. I reread it as an adult and it stood the test of time quite well. A good story, although I'm not into witch-stuff at all these days.
After reading the Harry Potter books, to read something similar, but simpler, made for a nice comparison. The Little Broomstick is adorable. But the comparisons between the Rowling Books and the 1971 title by Mary Stewart are good for a discussion topic.
First published in 1971 it is one of three books Mary Stewart wrote for children. You may be more familiar with Stewart's writing from her Merlin series and her romance and suspense novels. I first read this book as a child, loved it then, still do after re-discovering and reading it again, and though it was written over 30 years ago, because it is in the fantasy genre it hasn't dated too badly.
It has all the ingredients one needs, intelligent animals, witches, a lonely child, good and evil, adv...more
It has all the ingredients one needs, intelligent animals, witches, a lonely child, good and evil, adv...more
"Even her name was plain. Mary Smith. Nothing could have been more depressing, she thought; to be plain, to be ten, and to be alone, staring out of her bedroom window on a gray autumn day, and to be called Mary Smith."
So begins this magical, swift read about a young British girl, Mary Smith, bored staying with her elderly aunt in the country while her parents are away for work in the US. But soon Tib, a charming and mysterious cat, leads her to a patch of fly-by-night flowers in the woods, and w...more
So begins this magical, swift read about a young British girl, Mary Smith, bored staying with her elderly aunt in the country while her parents are away for work in the US. But soon Tib, a charming and mysterious cat, leads her to a patch of fly-by-night flowers in the woods, and w...more
2 likes · like · see review
A re-read from my childhood. The author is perhaps better known for her gothic romances (I've read every one more than twice) or that heavy, ponderous Merlin series (not a fan, but haven't given it a chance since age 13). This one is a fun story about a girl visiting elderly relatives; she stumbles across a school for witches and it is NOT like Hogwarts.
I particularly like the vivid and delicious scene when all the locks come unlocked at once.
I particularly like the vivid and delicious scene when all the locks come unlocked at once.
This book was a bit dated, perhaps, in this post-Harry Potter era, but I think it would make a good real-aloud. Too bad my kids haven't picked it yet in the two years I've been offering it as a choice for chapter book. Now I think they're almost too old to enjoy it the way they would have. Well, the cover art isn't as interesting as the books they do pick... it's a bit dated, too, I guess.
Jan 13, 2010
Keiko Niwa
added it
I read this book as a little girl, after our English teacher read this book to us.
I found this book really intriguing from the begining.
Although the setting is classic, I think the idea of releasing animals are quite modern.
This book always takes back to happy childhood times in Britain.
I found this book really intriguing from the begining.
Although the setting is classic, I think the idea of releasing animals are quite modern.
This book always takes back to happy childhood times in Britain.
This story has aged well. I had this book in storage, and just noticed it while unpacking. It's a very quick read, and a quick story - the whole adventure takes place over just a few days. A nice change from the epic fantasy we are usually presented with.
A lonely girl spending a holiday in Shropshire makes friends with a green eyed cat who launches Mary on a wild journey involving spells, witchcraft, and animals transformed. Cute good early primer fantasy, plot a little thin ending comes quite abruptly.
I *loved* this book as a child -- and my first thought upon reading "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was, 'huh - this is a lot like The Little Broomstick, but lighter.'
A fun little story. I liked Cheryl in CC NV's review of this book and I am glad she recommended I read it.
Makes me want to know a lot more; wishing it was a book written for grownups.
Simply one of my favourite children's books. How I adore it!
Dec 14, 2009
Laura Quilter
added it
The little broomstick by Mary Stewart (1971)
The little broomstick by Mary Stewart (1971)
Most favorite childhood book--read many times.
Not as 'cute' as the title implies, rather more adventurous. The girl has to use courage and intelligence to deal with the witches, who are bad, who use black magic. I enjoyed the illustrations, and the language, the writing style, is beautiful.
One of the favorite books of my childhood, I read this to my kids every October for Halloween.
Stewart is better known for her romantic suspense but I enjoyed this juvenile fantasy.
An enjoyable magical story enjoyed by a class of 9 year olds.
Disappointing, with a serious cop-out ending.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lady Mary Stewart is a popular English novelist, and taught at the school of John Norquay elementary for 30 to 35 years, but has now retired.
She is one of the most widely read fiction writers of our time. The author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for...more
More about Mary Stewart...
Lady Mary Stewart is a popular English novelist, and taught at the school of John Norquay elementary for 30 to 35 years, but has now retired.
She is one of the most widely read fiction writers of our time. The author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for...more
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Dec 08, 2008 08:26pm