Under My Hat

July 1, 2012
Eighteen short tales about witches by some of the wickedest names in fantasy make for a rich anthology. It is inevitable that a collection like this be uneven, but the overall quality is high, even if the stories occasionally suffer from a sameness despite their deeply varied origins. The writers are simply stellar: Ellen Kushner, Frances Hardinge, Charles de Lint, Tanith Lee, Ellen Klages and Holly Black, among others. Neil Gaiman's contribution is a witchy, weird poem. Garth Nix's "A Handful of Ashes" features a library and librarian. Delia Sherman's "The Witch in the Woods" is beautiful and romantic, with deer and bear shape-shifters and no small darkness. Jim Butcher has a Harry Dresden story ("B is for Bigfoot"), and it's terrific. Jane Yolen makes Hans Christian Andersen's life a tale itself, and Patricia McKillip's "Which Witch" makes loud music and crow magic elegantly. The best, however, may be Peter S. Beagle's "Great-Grandmother in the Cellar" (yes, she is, and she goes back there, too, but not the way she came, in this "Sleeping Beauty" variant). Readers will find much to enjoy, especially if taken in smaller bites rather than all at once. (about the authors) (Fantasy anthology. 10 & up)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-This collection of short stories has one common theme: witches. Good, evil, male, female, old, and young-these magical beings and tales of their exploits are all included. The anthology starts and ends with the best of the bunch, kicking off with Diane Peterfreund's "Stray Magic," which tells of a stray dog rescued by a shelter worker that begins to communicate with her and pleads for help finding her master (a wizard to whom the Labrador is the "familiar"). The final story is Margo Lanagan's "Crow and Caper, Caper and Crow," another gem detailing Pen, an aging witch, embarking on a journey across the sea to bless her brand-new baby granddaughter-but the clever witch is in for a surprise when she lays eyes on the new addition. Peter S. Beagle's "Great-Grandmother in the Cellar" assaults readers much like the protagonist's great-grandmother claws her way out of the dirt in the wine cellar where her bones have been buried for years. Yet, great-grandmother is the good witch in this spooky tale. Another standout is Ellen Klages's "The Education of a Witch," about a young girl's growing fascination with witches. It includes the most memorable scene in the book. As supernatural-themed stories are extremely popular and good short-story collections are hard to find, this one is an excellent addition. Though a few of the selections are wordy and not particularly compelling, the great ones more than make up for them.Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2012
Grades 9-12 This 18-story anthology, featuring such notable authors as Garth Nix, Ellen Klager, Margo Lanagan, and Patricia McKillip, offers up an enjoyable witches' brew of tales. In Charles de Lint's Barrio Girls, two teen fans of vamp fiction find the genre's glamour diminishes upon meeting a nasty, real-life bruja. Neil Gaiman's eloquently and evocatively written Witch Work explores the power of witchery, emotions, and nature. Jane Yolen's Andersen's Witch interweaves elements of the iconic author's life and writings into an inventive meta-tale. These mature, edgy stories feature supernatural elements and also deal with resonating themes, from bullying to self-discovery and self-determination. The mainly young adult protagonists, whether they encounter, become, or already are witches, find their lives transformedand sometimes transform the lives of othersin diversely magical ways. Editor Strahan's introduction provides background and context for witches and witch types (and also touches upon the origins of the infamous pointy hat). Lively author biographies are appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)