Loading...
59th out of 515 books
—
1,246 voters
My rating:
add to my books
The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance
When her little brother seems to become possessed by an evil spirit, fourteen-year-old Laura seeks the help of the strangely compelling older boy at school who she is convinced has supernatural powers
Mass Market Paperbound, 224 pages
Published
January 1st 1994
by Puffin Books
(first published 1984)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,357)
I love this book so much that when I could no longer find it at a public library, I hunted it down on the used market. (That probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but it's been one of my public library repeat reads since I was a kid; it was like an every three years ritual for me.)
Do I still love this book now? Yes. It's scary, sensual (in a non-graphic way), smart, magical, empowering and in many other ways fabulous. Plus, it's set in New Zealand, which as a kid growing up in one ...more
Do I still love this book now? Yes. It's scary, sensual (in a non-graphic way), smart, magical, empowering and in many other ways fabulous. Plus, it's set in New Zealand, which as a kid growing up in one ...more
Read this in 2008 and was horrified at how bad this book was.
First of all, the plot seems dreadful to me : an evil spirit or whatever that creature was drains the main character's brother body of it of life energy, the main character loves her sibling, so she's willing to do whatever it takes to rescue him which brings her to Sorensen Carlisle (who's called Sorry throughout most of the book). Sorry!!! What kind of a name is that?! Either way, turns out the only way to help Laura is thr...more
First of all, the plot seems dreadful to me : an evil spirit or whatever that creature was drains the main character's brother body of it of life energy, the main character loves her sibling, so she's willing to do whatever it takes to rescue him which brings her to Sorensen Carlisle (who's called Sorry throughout most of the book). Sorry!!! What kind of a name is that?! Either way, turns out the only way to help Laura is thr...more
view 2 comments
Originally posted here.
The novel is set in the 80s in Gardendale, New Zealand, where Laura Chant lives with her mother, Kate, and her three-year-old brother, Jacko. The story starts with Laura getting a premonition, a warning of sorts that something terrible will happen. She tells her mother who shrugs it off as irrelevant. Laura is forced to ignore it and she goes to school. At the end of her school day, she picks up Jacko at the babysitter's and they pass by an antique store on the...more
The novel is set in the 80s in Gardendale, New Zealand, where Laura Chant lives with her mother, Kate, and her three-year-old brother, Jacko. The story starts with Laura getting a premonition, a warning of sorts that something terrible will happen. She tells her mother who shrugs it off as irrelevant. Laura is forced to ignore it and she goes to school. At the end of her school day, she picks up Jacko at the babysitter's and they pass by an antique store on the...more
I read this book WAY back in like 8th grade, (were talking over 20 years ago) and although i generally DESPISE romances, this book has always had a soft spot in my heart. Maybe because it has a subplot about Witchcraft at a time when i was becoming drawn to Wicca. Maybe because its "voice" was non patronizing and dealt with issues often not discussed in YA lit at the time, like child abuse,personal transformation, and all the hormonal confusion that comes with emerging sexuality for ad...more
YA Fantasy. An evil spirit has marked Laura Chant's little brother and the only place she can turn is to Sorry Carlisle, seventh form prefect and witch. I have read this book so many times I've lost count. It's the perfect mix of magic and romance and the mundane details of family life. It also takes place in New Zealand, which makes it all the more adorable to me, because Laura might find it boring but it's got a magic quality of its own. It's a very short book, but packs a lot in, and the endi...more
What I love most about this story about a girl who becomes a witch to save her brother is the way the heroine wakes up to the world throughout the book. Everything develops identity and importance, even telegraph poles and toasters.
"Every telegraph pole stood centred on a single leg gathering wires up, looping them over little stunted arms, and Laura felt her way into being a telegraph pole, or a roof rising to a ridge and butting against itself. The Baptist church squared its con...more
"Every telegraph pole stood centred on a single leg gathering wires up, looping them over little stunted arms, and Laura felt her way into being a telegraph pole, or a roof rising to a ridge and butting against itself. The Baptist church squared its con...more
So great! Laura Chant's little brother gets marked by a creepy shopowner, and immediately becomes ill. He's being drained, and the only one Laura knows who might help her is Sorenson Carlisle from school. He's a witch, and so is his grandmother, and Laura has to become one, too.
I love the interplay between Laura and Sorry, with all his inappropriate comments not fazing her a bit. She's got more important things on her mind.
Set in New Zealand, I think, which adds to the otherworldly f...more
I love the interplay between Laura and Sorry, with all his inappropriate comments not fazing her a bit. She's got more important things on her mind.
Set in New Zealand, I think, which adds to the otherworldly f...more
One of my favorite and most-read books from my childhood. I always thought a very dark, semi-gothic version of this could be turned into an interesting screenplay idea. I loved the relationship between the two main characters. The 'weird boy' from school turning into some sort of personal guide for Laura's changeover to save her brother. Although I always got kind of a 'Wizard of Oz' type narration from the book, it did nothing to deviate from the storyline of an original and fascinating tal...more
The Changeover by Margaret Mahy is a rich, multi-layered tale that I discovered as a teen, and quickly fell in love due to its relatability- in addition to being one hell of a good read! During each reread it has delivered a fresh meaning to me and it’s one of my all time favourite reads.
The Changeover focuses on the tumultuous changes that Laura, the heroine, endures throughout puberty and later in the story, supernaturally. The story begins when Laura finds herself and Jacko, her baby bro...more
The Changeover focuses on the tumultuous changes that Laura, the heroine, endures throughout puberty and later in the story, supernaturally. The story begins when Laura finds herself and Jacko, her baby bro...more
Interest level: 8th +
Reading level: medium
Genre: fantasy, witches, brothers and sisters, friendship, New Zealand
Laura knew she was different. She could feel it when something bad was going to happen just by looking in the mirror. But on one particular day, she had a particularly bad premonition that something terrible was going to happen, and happen it did - not to her, as she expected - but to her sweet baby brother Jacko.
As Laura picked up Jacko after school...more
Reading level: medium
Genre: fantasy, witches, brothers and sisters, friendship, New Zealand
Laura knew she was different. She could feel it when something bad was going to happen just by looking in the mirror. But on one particular day, she had a particularly bad premonition that something terrible was going to happen, and happen it did - not to her, as she expected - but to her sweet baby brother Jacko.
As Laura picked up Jacko after school...more
Laura's life is complicated. Her father, absorbed by his new wife, never visits; her mom is beginning to see other men. Her little brother Jacko is acting strangely since they encountered a very unpleasant old man in a shop. And there's a boy at school that she thinks is probably a witch.
When little Jacko becomes desperately ill, Laura enlists the help of Sorenson, the oddball boy at school, to find a way to heal him. I don't care much for Mahy's style - her characters talk in ex...more
When little Jacko becomes desperately ill, Laura enlists the help of Sorenson, the oddball boy at school, to find a way to heal him. I don't care much for Mahy's style - her characters talk in ex...more
This book is overflowing with excellence. From the perfectly described details of Laura Chant's everyday family life to her charmingly atypical romantic suitor to the threat of a truly sinister villain, The Changeover is a terrific coming-of-age story with a paranormal twist. For a novel written twenty-six years ago, this book does not feel dated, and it quickly found its way onto my favorites shelf to be read again and again.
What I Liked:
- The beautiful and precise prose. ...more
What I Liked:
- The beautiful and precise prose. ...more
I've been wanting to read this book in ages (because I found an interesting Harry Potter fan fiction that starred the two main characters) and I was very delighted to find it in my local library. This book is just.. wow. The UST between Laura and Sorry is so thick that you can probably cut it with a knife! And how Sorry's past affected him. Wow. This book was better than I thought it would be.
I'm sad that there's no sequel, but I understand it would be unrealistic to push them both int...more
I'm sad that there's no sequel, but I understand it would be unrealistic to push them both int...more
SpasticSquirrel
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Older children or young teens
Recommended to SpasticSquirrel by:
When I decided to read Kaitangata Twitch, I also chose to read another of Mahy's more famous works.
Shelves:
1-year-100-books-challenge-2012,
reviewed
This book is my 4th review and book in my 1 Year, 100 Books Challenge. To see more information on this challenge and how I will be going about it follow the link http://spasticsquirrelsreviews.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/1-year-100-books-challenge-about.html
I'd give The Changover by Margaret Mahy 3.5 stars. I loved the descriptions given during Laura's changeover into a witch - They were so indepth and detailed. The plot wasn't too great but it was better than the only other Margaret Mah...more
I'd give The Changover by Margaret Mahy 3.5 stars. I loved the descriptions given during Laura's changeover into a witch - They were so indepth and detailed. The plot wasn't too great but it was better than the only other Margaret Mah...more
I read this as a middle school kid, I think, and even though the concepts were a bit scary for me, I liked the way it was written. (I have no idea if I'd enjoy it as much when judging it by my current standards, but I liked it enough to put it on an old "favorite books" list that is floating around in my memory boxes.) I liked that the main character's little brother was so important to her that she'd be willing to make a really big change in her life, and I liked the way that was de...more
I loved this book. Partly for the wonderful plot and setting (recognisably Christchurch), but mostly for the characters. There was absolutely nothing cliched about them. The teenage boy, Sorry Carlisle, is such a strange character, wonderfully full of contradictions, and the dialogue is funny and real yet different from any book I've read, especially one for young readers. I love that Margaret Mahy writes about whole families, not just teens having adventures while the parents fade into the back...more
This was awesome. I admit that Mahy's unusual stye takes a few pages to get used to, but once I did I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I finished this in a busy crepe place and didn't even notice the hyper children sitting beside me. Sorenson "Sorry" Carlisle may be one of the best ficitonal characters I've read in years. He's a hilarious contradiction and such a boy: charismatic and aloof; utterly bonkers and a reader of romance novels. While I got this from the library, I actuall...more
Laura Chant is a 14-year old part-Maori New Zealander, happy living with her slightly scatterbrained mother and her younger brother, despite very straightened circumstances. The family is so open-hearted and good-natured that it is a pleasure to be in their company. But Laura has unusual perception and can detect witches, and in desperation decides to go to one, an older boy she has been eyeing, for help when her brother comes under a curse. She will be helped, but it will require an irrevers...more
This is probably my sixth or seventh time reading this book, though it has been many years since the last time. I think I first read The Changeover in fifth grade, and I remember loving it the first time, and loving it even more each subsequent reading. Now, as an adult, I find that it has lost none of its charm, wit, adventure, or creepiness.
Fourteen year-old Laura Chant is the heroine at the center of this Young Adult mystery. Her home life is not a walk in the park, but neither is...more
Fourteen year-old Laura Chant is the heroine at the center of this Young Adult mystery. Her home life is not a walk in the park, but neither is...more
Startlingly perceptive! I was surprised when I realised the book was written in 1984 -- the characters' voices, the narrative and the issues don't seem dated at all.
This was utterly gorgeous. I'm not quite sure how I managed to grow up in New Zealand without having (I realised by the end) actually read this before; I must have assumed that I had done so.
I can't believe when this was written, because some parts of it are so modern in tone and attitude, and it holds up astoundingly well today; the only way it really seems dated is by the lack of computers/internet and cell phones. But this is beautifully written and paced and the characters are WON...more
I can't believe when this was written, because some parts of it are so modern in tone and attitude, and it holds up astoundingly well today; the only way it really seems dated is by the lack of computers/internet and cell phones. But this is beautifully written and paced and the characters are WON...more
Cheryl Klein
rated it
Recommends it for:
Fans of Diana Wynne Jones
Recommended to Cheryl by:
Betsy Bird
One of the strangest and most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It was my first Mahy, so I have no idea if this is typical of her style (I suspect it is), but it combines a matter-of-fact magic reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones with an admirable frankness about sex, and strong, unique characters. I can't say I fell in love with Sorry, in the way I fell in love with, say, Tom in FIRE AND HEMLOCK, but I always was interested in what he and Laura were going to do, and I admire the commonsens...more
When Laura Chat's brother becomes ill, she knows doctors can't help him. The only person who can help her is Sorensen Carlisle, a witch. When it becomes apparent that the only way to save her brother is to “changeover” into a witch, Laura takes the leap. Set in contemporary Australia, this teen fantasy novel depicts witchcraft as a personal strength and sensitivity that is not at odds with a conventional lifestyle. The strength of the novel lies in Mahy's realistic rendering of relationships- bo...more
A gem of a book. Reminded me a lot of Housekeeping in its interior view of a girl's passing unevenly from child to woman, sometimes feeling trapped somewhere in-between. A good romance for people who don't generally like that sort of thing: a love interest who's part danger and part damaged goods and a heroine who manages to stay self-possessed and singular throughout the whole thing. The supernatural elements are woven in neatly and definitely creepy enough to be bothersome. I wish I'd had the ...more
by Margaret Mahy
I read this and started to copy down the opening line and then I was in hurry and it was long and so I didn't, thinking that I could find it on the internet. And I cannot. So if you happen to have a copy and wouldn't mind giving me the opening line, I would really appreciate it. My angst is all the worse because it was a great beginning and a lovely example of Mahy's prose and I wanted to quote it.
Edit: Catherine helpfully supplied it: "Although the l...more
I read this and started to copy down the opening line and then I was in hurry and it was long and so I didn't, thinking that I could find it on the internet. And I cannot. So if you happen to have a copy and wouldn't mind giving me the opening line, I would really appreciate it. My angst is all the worse because it was a great beginning and a lovely example of Mahy's prose and I wanted to quote it.
Edit: Catherine helpfully supplied it: "Although the l...more
Laura Chant is a seemingly normal 14 year-old girl. She goes to school. She babysits her brother Jacko. And sometimes Laura even has what she calls 'premonitions.' Like the time she knew something bad was going to happen the day her father left her mum. Ever since, Laura has been careful to not ignore her strange feelings until one hurried morning when Laura finds herself experiencing that disquieting sensation once again. Forced to ignore her fears in favor of making sure Jacko and her mother a...more
I first read this book when I was in high school. 1996, probably. And yes, I did read the edition with this horrible cheesy 1980s cover.
This book has wonderful dialogue and familial relations that are (well, in the heroine's case) realistic without being terrible. And I think it's realistic about the physical and emotional changes of adolescence.
The thing that I can't quite make up my mind about is the guy/love interest. Let's face it - (view spoiler)...more
This book has wonderful dialogue and familial relations that are (well, in the heroine's case) realistic without being terrible. And I think it's realistic about the physical and emotional changes of adolescence.
The thing that I can't quite make up my mind about is the guy/love interest. Let's face it - (view spoiler)...more
I am nuts about this book, and about Margaret Mahy in general, although not all of her books are equal. Personally I think she has greatly lost out by writing her supernatural YA books a generation too early, before the supernatural consumed the entire YA section!! But these are far better than the typical supernatural YA books. This is beyond a doubt the book I reread the most when I was a teenager, and I still adore rereading it today. Also particularly her books Aliens in the Family, The Tric...more
Looking at the covers of other editions, I realize how lucky I am to have gotten this one. All the other covers are incredibly creepy--and not in the way that the book is creepy, in an 'oh my god why is that child's head malformed?' way. This one is pretty much creepy in precisely the way the book is creepy.
Anywho, Karen Aich sent me this when she discovered I hadn't read Margaret Mahy, and then I didn't read it for a month because I am an awesome friend like that. It's YA, a genr...more
Anywho, Karen Aich sent me this when she discovered I hadn't read Margaret Mahy, and then I didn't read it for a month because I am an awesome friend like that. It's YA, a genr...more
Laura Chant's baby brother has been...possessed, enchanted, something. She's not sure what it is, but she knows the doctors won't be able to fix it. Laura is other, able to recognize supernatural power, although she doesn't possess any. So she turns to the only other person who might be able to help her. She recognized Sorry Carlisle as a witch from the moment she saw him, even though he's a guy, and three years ahead of her in school. Sorry's not had an easy life, because of his gender; he...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers Also Enjoyed
Margaret Mahy is a well-known New Zealand author of children's and young adult books. While the plots of many of her books have strong supernatural elements, her writing concentrates on the themes of human relationships and growing up.
Her books The Haunting and The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance both received the Carnegie Medal of the British Library Association. She has written a ...more
More about Margaret Mahy...
Her books The Haunting and The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance both received the Carnegie Medal of the British Library Association. She has written a ...more
Share This Book
3 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“It changes you for ever, but you are changing for ever anyway.”
—
9 people liked it
“Stamp, your name is to be Laura. I'm sharing my name with you. I'm putting my power into you and you must do my work. Don't listen to anyone but me. You are to be my command laid on my enemy. you'll make a hole in him through which he'll drip away until he runs dry. As he drips out darkness, we'll smile together, me inside, you outside. We'll crush him between our smiles.”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
