Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

This is a Book Week book review for Wednesday’s Holiday Reading theme.

Chris read this to Rosemary recently and they both insisted I should read it myself. And I’m very glad I did.

Sophie Hatter lives in the land of Ingary, where fairy tale rules abound. She is the oldest of three sisters, one of two stepsisters and destined to a dull life until the Witch of the Waste curses her and turns her into an old woman. In her search for a cure, she ends up at the mercy of the Wizard Howl, (owner) of the moving castle and renowned for stealing young girls away and eating their hearts.

Sophie’s adventures bring her in the way of fire demons, seven-league boots and animated scarecrows, not to mention kings and a brief visit to Wales.

I asked Rosemary what she thought of it:

Scary. Fun. I liked Sophie in there.

This is an excellent chapter book to read at bedtime, and probably a great read for older children, too. But it’s also an enjoyable read for grown-ups – at least as good, and probably better, than Harry Potter. So, even if you have no children to read this to, I would thoroughly recommend it.