W.I.T.C.H. Crushes

W.I.T.C.H. Specials

by Parke Godwin

Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin may not be afraid of blue monsters or giant snakes, but they sometimes freak out when it comes to boys, parents, friends, and fashion. The W.I.T.C.H. GUIDE BOOKS provide lifestyle advice and valuable information about getting through life's tricky moments-straight from W.I.T.C.H.'s mouth.

Genres: Fantasy

96 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Parke Godwin was an American writer known for his lyrical yet precise prose style and sardonic humor. He was also known for his novels of legendary figures placed in realistic historical settings; his retelling of the Arthur legend (Firelord in 1980, Beloved Exile in 1984, and The Last Rainbow in 1985) is set in the 5th century during the collapse of the Roman empire, and his reinterpretation of Robin Hood (Sherwood, 1991, and Robin and the King, 1993) takes place during the Norman conquest and features kings William the Conqueror and William Rufus as major characters. His other well-known works include Waiting For The Galactic Bus (1988) and its sequel The Snake Oil Wars (1989), humorous critiques of American pop culture and religion.

Parke Godwin also worked as a radio operator, a research technician, a professional actor, an advertising man, a dishwasher and a maitre d' hotel.

Godwin's short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. His short story "Influencing the Hell out of Time and Teresa Golowitz," was the basis of an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone.

Reviews

[Artemis Crescent]

Pretty weak, dated, and cringey. Reading a kids' book from the early-to-mid 2000s today, especially from Disney, you realise just how indoctrinated into heteronormality and cis-normality we truly were when we were young and unable to recognise these sometimes toxic patterns and systems. Fixed gender roles being taught as "normal" to preteens is inexcusable nowadays; and the segment in this book told from the POV of the 'W.I.T.C.H.' girls' boyfriends (plus Taranee's brother Peter) is especially cringeworthy.

But at least the book makes a point that boys and girls have the same feelings and insecurities, and are really not that different from each other; girls are not creatures from a different planet who are impossible to understand (I hate that 'Boys Talk About Girls' chapter') - that's patriarchal nonsense designed to separate us further. No sex is superior nor inferior to the other - we are all human and equal.

'W.I.T.C.H. Guide to Crushes' might be helpful to young teen girls experiencing their first crush (male or female or other, it doesn't, in fact, matter). Like with the other old 'W.I.T.C.H.' guide books, it talks about the importance of female friendship and support to coincide with its subject. There's a bit about potentially abusive and toxic relationships not being worth it and you should move on (though of course it doesn't use those exact words). A "Deal with disappointment" message is in here, too. And it is 'W.I.T.C.H.', so I can't dismiss the book entirely.

Only keep in mind while reading that it is a product of its time.

Final Score: 3/5