You Can't Make Me Go To Witch School! - Story Snug

You Can’t Make Me Go To Witch School! by Em Lynas & Jamie Littler

You Can’t Make Me Go To Witch School! is the debut novel from Em Lynas and we enjoyed reading it so much that we couldn’t put it down! Why anybody wouldn’t want to go to Witch School is inconceivable to my daughter who loves the fact that one of the characters shares her name! We can’t wait for our next visit to Toadspit Towers!

The Story: Daisy Wart is unceremoniously dumped at Toadspit Towers by her grandmother. Granny is convinced that she’s a witch but Daisy is equally convinced that she isn’t. She’s desperate to escape Witch School so that she can fulfil her destiny as an actress but magical forces are at work. Can Daisy find a way to escape from Toadspit Towers? Will she discover her real identity? Will she get to play Bottom?

Daisy’s ancestry is unknown and her witch’s hat is not visible but her protestations to Granny fall on deaf ears and she ends up in a dormitory led by Dominique, the best and brightest witch in the school. Daisy is fearless and stubborn and her sole aim is to find a way to escape so that she can play Bottom in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Magic is all around to prevent her from leaving but Daisy is determined, despite the fact that her action packed escape plan is fraught with danger. Surprisingly, it also leads to secrets being revealed that will affect both Daisy’s future and the future of Toadspit Towers.

A colourful cast of characters include the ghostly headmistress, Ms Toadspit, and Dominique, who becomes meaner and more spiteful as the story unfolds. Luckily Daisy has the support of her friends, Jess and Shalini who do everything they can to help her get accustomed to life at Toadspit Towers. There are so many wonderfully original witchy elements to the story, the girls sleep in cauldrons, they wave wooden spoons instead of wands and each wears a different coloured hat depending on her status. There are spiders, cats, hungry plants and a reward system which is absolutely genius!

Jamie Littler’s fabulous illustrations add to the humour in the story. We particularly love the illustrations of the Toadspit Towers’ teachers and Daisy singing to a vernicious veraptor. My daughter loves the biggest and best chocolate cake, it looks much more delicious than a bowl of ‘Toadspit Stodge’!

You Can’t Make Me Go To Witch School! is a magical, fast paced story with a feisty, loveable main character. It also has a brilliant twist at the end. Congratulations Em and Jamie on a fabulous book!

Age: 7 +

Author: Em Lynas / Illustrator: Jamie Littler

Thank you to Nosy Crow for sending You Can’t Make Me Go to Witch School! We thoroughly enjoyed reading this fabulous story and are looking forward to the publication of the next Toadspit Towers story!


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18 responses to “You Can’t Make Me Go To Witch School! by Em Lynas & Jamie Littler”


  1. The Reading Residence avatar

    I do like the sound of this, I just know my daughter would enjoy it, thanks for sharing.


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s a fabulously fun story, we’re really looking forward to the next Witch School story ๐Ÿ™‚


  2. Fiona - Coombe Mill avatar

    I love a fast paced story to keep older kids interested #TriedTested


    1. Catherine Friess avatar

      This one definitely kept us reading, it’s a ‘one more chapter please’ type of book ๐Ÿ™‚


  3. Anne avatar

    It sounds like a really good read for my Boo, she loves anything like this.
    #TriedTested


    1. Catherine avatar

      We’re really looking forward to the next book in the series ๐Ÿ™‚


  4. Acorn Books avatar

    I love the look of this book, it reminds me of the worst witch books which were favourites of mine when I was younger #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s similar but completely different if that makes sense!!


  5. Debbie Roberts avatar

    Hi Catherine, this book sounds perfect for encouraging older children to pick up a book to read on their own! What child doesn’t enjoy a story that involves magic? I love the name Toadspit Tower too! Who knew that toads spat! If my two were younger this would be a book you would find in their bookcase!

    Thank you for linking up with the #MMBC.

    XX


    1. Catherine avatar

      Toadspit Tower is a great name for a school! It really is a very magical story ๐Ÿ™‚


  6. Shell Louise avatar

    Sounds perfect for Ella. I think I would have liked it as well when I was her age!


    1. Catherine avatar

      I think you would also enjoy it now! I know lots of adults who have read and loved it too ๐Ÿ™‚


  7. BookBairn avatar

    Ooooo we got this and now I can’t wait to read it! #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      It’s brilliant. I enjoyed it as much as my daughter did ๐Ÿ™‚


  8. Alice avatar

    This reminds me how much I am looking forward to my girls learning to read and bringing home fun books like this for us to explore! You Can’t Make Me Go To Witch School sounds delightful #Readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      We still read and love lots of picture books but are now enjoying a huge variety of wonderful chapter books. This one is particularly entertaining!


  9. chantelle hazelden avatar
    chantelle hazelden

    This sounds like a book my 7 year old would really enjoy, she’s just read The Worst Witch. Thanks for sharing with #readwithme


    1. Catherine avatar

      I think you’ll definitely enjoy You Can’t Make Me Go To Witch School if you’ve enjoyed The Worst Witch. Although it’s a witch school setting it’s very different and extremely entertaining ๐Ÿ™‚