The Witches of Worm

By Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Cats. Jessica’s never liked them. Especially not a skinny, ugly kitten that looks like a worm. Worm. Jessica wishes she’d never brought Worm home with her, because now he’s making her do terrible things. She’s sure she isn’t imagining the evil voice coming from the cat, telling her to play mean tricks on people. But how can she explain what’s happening?

Witches. Jessica has read enough books to know that Worm must be a witch’s cat. He’s cast a spell on her, but whom can she turn to? After all, no one will believe that Worm has bewitched her...or worse!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Release date: Oct 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781416995418

Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Zilpha Keatley Snyder is the author of The Egypt Game, The Headless Cupid, and The Witches of Worm, all Newbery Honor Books. Her most recent books include The Treasures of Weatherby, The Bronze Pen, William S. and the Great Escape, and William’s Midsummer Dreams. She lives in Mill Valley, California. Visit her at ZKSnyder.com.

Reviews for The Witches of Worm

[angelab86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable story, but at the end I was a little let down that Jessica didn't seem to learn her lesson the way I imagined she would.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jessica, whose mother Joy is frequently absent, finds herself the unwilling adoptive mother of an ugly kitten named Worm in this third Newbery-Honor book from the prolific Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Embittered by her mother’s neglectful behavior, her abandonment by her childhood friend Brandon, and haunted by dreams in which she is left alone in an endless void, Jessica comes to believe Worm can speak to her, and that he is responsible for the hateful things that she begins to do...The Witches of Worm is another Snyder title in which the supernatural elements are questionable. Through the third-person narration, the reader is invited to view how Jessica’s rage at her mother and friends has colored her perceptions, and her abusive treatment of Worm is very hard to witness. The author depicts a troubled young girl who blames the object of her abuse for her own behavior, a girl who is her own demon. Seen in this context, it is difficult to know how to read the exorcism scene towards the end of the book. Is the demon figurative, a colorful description of a psychological state, or is it external to Jessica, an actual supernatural manifestation? The evidence points strongly, but not conclusively to the former. Whatever the truth may be, this was a powerful, and quite disturbing read.

[ctmsjamc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"The Witches of Worm" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder was a very interesting book. A girl named Jessica lived with her mom in an apartment. Jessica finds a kitten and decides to keep it. While the kitten grows up, Jessica realizes thats it is not an ordinary cat. Along the way, the cat gets her into some trouble. This is a book i would definitely recommend to others. I enjoyed reading this very much.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I image this 1973 Newbery honor book would give youngsters the heebie jeebies and it might take a more mature YA to sift through the overtones of paranormal to the fact that the author is making a strong statement about those who seem to blame others or outside forces for their own character defects.Jessica is more than a latch key child, she emotionally neglected by a selfish, immature and young mother. Astute in knowing she is not wanted, Jessica suffers dramatically and acts out viciously.When she discovers an abandoned, weak, feeble, scrawny kitten, she reluctantly nurses him to life. Calling him worm, as he grows, she projects her inner turmoil to the cat and blames worm for her evil, nasty, spiteful deeds.Believing both young and old are against her, and refusing to accept responsibility for her actions, she grows more and more out of control.I cannot recommend this book. While the author is a three-time Newbery honor winner, this one doesn't seem to be one of her best.

[kissmeimgone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was absolutely amazing! Lots of imagination and I wasn't able to put the book down. Page after page, I hungered for more. I recommend this book to anyone, espescially those in the 8-13 age range. A definite good read worth your time. ^.^

[dianevogan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well written by disturbing story about a lonely, angry girl who believes her cat is a witch cat that tells her to do bad things.

[dawno13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jessica really starts to scare me as she spirals out of control. She really seems to become "evil". But she remains sympathetic, because you really feel bad for her, as she is lonely and neglected. And in the end, she redeems herself.

[trishnyc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jessica is a twelve year old who feels deeply the apathy and abandonment of her mother and friends. In addition to her mother's behavior, she has managed to lose all her friends this past summer and so for all intents and purposes is alone. One day while reading in the little cave behind her house, she finds an abandoned kitten. Jessica normally does not like kittens but takes this one home with the hope that she can give him to her neighbor who has many cats. But her neighbor says that she does not want the extra responsibility and encourages Jessica to keep the kitten which she names Worm. But coinciding with Worm's arrival, Jessica begins to do and think bad things about those around her who had either scorned or annoyed her. She believes the cat is speaking to her and directing her on the bad things that she does and at one point seems to sincerely want to be rid of him.This is a strange book in that it presents a very young heroine who is somewhat disturbed. Her alienation from life and the lack of care that she receives from her mother had obviously shaped her personality. She is angry at the world and because she is so young, cannot clearly identify her feelings about various situations. Rather she blames everyone around her and avenges herself on them by being destructive, mean and manipulative. It would be near impossible to walk away from this book with warm and fuzzy feelings. I was really surprised while reading as I did not find this book to be typical YA fare(for me at least). The author captures very succinctly the loneliness of childhood especially one where the parent is truly neglectful. I did feel sorry for her because at the end of the day despite her behavior, she was a child and severely lacking in love and direction. The end is not at all cookie cutter but does leave you hopeful for Jessica's future.

[cabinmn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jessica found a newborn kitten and nursed her. Worm wasn't a very loving or playful cat. In fact she never played or wanted to be pet, just watched Jessica's every move. Jessica did strange bad things when Worm was around.

[armyangel1986 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enjoyable story, but at the end I was a little let down that Jessica didn't seem to learn her lesson the way I imagined she would.