- Paperback: 201 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins Canada / Trophy Jr Pape; Reprint edition (Feb 14 2004)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0060087846
- ISBN-13: 978-0060087845
- Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 13.1 x 1.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 145 g
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Out of print for more than two decades, Diana Wynne Jones's first novel, Witch's Business (1973), makes a welcome comeback. Siblings Jess and Frank start an underground business to help customers seek revenge, after their father cuts off their allowance. But the duo soon learns they're horning in on a real witch's livelihood. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.6 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite the peak of her talent, Oct 13 2003
By R. M. Fisher "Raye" - Published on Amazon.com
"Witch's Business" (also called "Wilkens' Tooth") is one of Diana Wynne Jones's first published books, and it shows. While those with no knowledge of what comes later in this gifted author's realm of witches, wizards and magic will find this book a pleasant read, those who are already initiated and know what the word "Chrestomanci" means and how a Castle manages to move about a countryside might be a tad disappointed.Short on pocket money, Frank and Jess decide to open a business known as Own Back, in which they seek revenge on past wrongs for their clients. Secretly they hope to find a way to punish the neighbourhood bully Buster Knell, and so it is a grim task when they find he is their first client. His demand? That they remove a tooth from Vernon Wilkins, the large boy that did the same to him. But this job goes horribly wrong when a simple tooth creates more unwelcome employment for them: two strange little girls who want their house back, Buster Knell's entire gang, and even the strange Biddy Iremonger, who is certainly a witch!
Components of Wynne Jones's style is still intact - her quirky way of speaking (newcomers might be confused at the quite literal 'colouful language' that Buster uses) and her intricate melding of several plots and people. But I feel that had she written it today, there would have been deeper reasoning behind Biddy's revenge tactics, more Own Back business for Frank and Jess, an explanation behind the "good eyes" that Jess is given, and a more sophisicated plot for finally getting rid of the evil witch. However, "Witch's Business" is humourous, interesting, and serious enough for Wynne Jones fans to enjoy and compare with her later books (I saw touches of "Time of the Ghost" and "Black Maria" in the plot) and just as good for new readers to find a new favourite author. They're the lucky ones, gifted with the knowledge that from here, Wynne Jones's work just gets better!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
DWJ's first book; not her best but pretty good, July 18 1999
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Witch's Business. (Unbound)
Two children start a "revenge" business to make pocket money, unaware that a real-life witch is already running such a business and doesn't appreciate the competition. This is Diana Wynne Jones' first book, and most of the elements of her style are clearly evident. While it doesn't compare to "Charmed Life" or "The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant," it's a fairly good read.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Early DWJ Title, Feb 17 2000
By "kat_trader" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Witch's Business. (Unbound)
From the previous review I think this was the book published in the UK as Wilkins Tooth. It's a fun story about two children who run a 'Revenge Service' to make some pocket money. As you would expect in a childrens book the scheme backfires. It reminds me of 'Ogre Downstairs' as it's set in an apparently normal town where extra ordinary events occur. I'm not sure why it's been out of print for so long; many of the issues surrounding some bullies in the story could be helpful to schools today.
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Canadian
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Humourous
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
- Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Mythology > Children's Books
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
