Miss Switch Online

Miss Switch

by Barbara Brooks Wallace

Rupert P. Brown III finds his life once again plunged into chaos when wicked witch Saturna returns to take over Pepperdine Elementary School, causing his computer to display strange messages and his pets to start talking, but he soon discovers that Miss Switch has arrived to thwart Saturna from her evil agenda.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Award-winning American children's writer. Has received, among others, the NLAPW Children's Book Award and International Youth Library "Best of the Best" for 'Claudia' (2001), as well as the William Allen White Children's Book Award for 'Peppermints in the Parlor' (1983).

Wallace was born and spent her childhood in China, but then moved to the United States. San Francisco was often a port of entry for her family, who lived in a huge, white-pillared mansion on the side of a hill, later to become the Sugar Hill Hall mansion which served as the setting for some of her most popular books. She was a UCLA graduate.

Wallace won two Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America for 'The Twin in the Tavern' (1994) and for 'Sparrows in the Scullery' (1998). 'Cousins in The Castle' (1997 and 'Ghosts in the Gallery' (2001) were also nominated for an Edgar Award.

Reviews

[Aerin Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the weirdest of the series, but was probably my favorite. I dont know why. I like computers, and I like witchcraft, and I like the protagonist.

[Bridget Neace · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

Not as good as the originals, in my humble opinion, but it was still good to hear Rupert's voice again.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite an improvement over the second book. The humor has nearly the verve of the original, although Wallace is good at leaving the reader wanting something more. Computowitch.com is unfortunately not even a parked domain, so there was no interactive fun in the marketing (unless it's been taken down, after all, the book is twelve years old, as it is. I haven't seen the book in bookstores, so I suspect sales were less than expected, and that this is the last of the Miss Switch Books, given Wallace's age.

Wallace does not do a good job incorporating Amelia into the story. She communicates with Rupert via e-mail through much of the story, and she admits that she has been nosy and that this is a trait that she is working on. She plays no other part in the novel. Yes, Rupert has Miss Switch come get her so that she can experience Witch Mountain again, but the story would not be affected in the slightest if these sentences were removed. It's not that I think she should have removed them, however.

[Kearstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kinda liked it. I didn't get the point of it though,but I gave it four stars.