Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth

E. L. Konigsburg's classic chapter book introduces Elizabeth, a lonely only child who yearns for connection. She finds an unlikely companion in Jennifer, a girl who believes herself to be a witch. The story follows their unique friendship from fall to spring, as Elizabeth becomes Jennifer's apprentice, learning about 'witchcraft' and, more importantly, the complexities and joys of a real friendship. Set against a realistic suburban backdrop, the book beautifully explores themes of imagination, belonging, and the universal need for a friend, making it a poignant and gentle read for children navigating their own social worlds.

Elizabeth is the loneliest only child in the whole US of A until she discovers Jennifer. Of course, Jennifer isn't a friend, really. Witches don't make friends, and Jennifer is a witch. Elizabeth becomes her apprentice, however, and in the process of learning how to become a witch herself, she also learns how to eat raw eggs, how to cast short spells, and how to get along with Jennifer, among other things. The relationship lasts from fall into spring. The girls meet each Saturday at the library and go from there to the park where they hold special ceremonies and read books on Witchcraft. The climax of their joint effort is to be a flying ointment, but it is here that trouble crops up. Though this story is set in suburban New York City, it could happen anywhere, for Elizabeth's problem, and Jennifer's problem, the need for a friend, can happen to anyone.