Episode 14 - Witch Week, by Diana Wynne Jones

June has become official Witch Month here on Dragon Babies as we follow up Wee Free Men with the stunningly postmodern, cruelly hilarious Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones!

In a world where children are so awful that they put your school's bullies to shame, there's entirely too much magic floating around for witchcraft to be punishable by death. But witch orphans abound, and they're putting their newfound powers to good use by pranking the stuffing out of each other. Join us as we discuss the appeal of alternate fantasy realities and how (not) to talk to new people. Grace's Education Corner has entirely too much information about Guy Fawkes, and Madeleine's Law Corner is never happening again.

EPISODE MEDIA

If you're interested in academic takes on Diana Wynne Jones' works, these are fascinating:

• Time Control in Diana Wynne Jones' Fiction: The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Tesi di Laurea
• The Other in the School Stories: A Phenomenon in British Children’s Literature by Ulrike Pesold (not available to read in full online or seemingly anywhere but the available sections discussing Witch Week are on point)

Pluckiest Boy in School excerpt:

"What ripping fun!" exclaimed Watts Minor. "I'm down for scrum half this afternoon!"....Swelling with pride, Watts Minor gazed into the eyes of his one true friend. Here was a boy above all, straight alike in body and mind.

P.S. My (Grace's) favorite Lord of the Rings characters is Boromir. Comment yours below!!