
A parent would reach for this book when their child is navigating the space between childhood play and the nervous thrill of the unknown. It is perfect for children who love folklore and spooky secrets but may feel easily overwhelmed by darker horror. Set in the ancient Italian town of Benevento, the story follows five cousins as they use their wits to outsmart various local witches during the Mischief Season. It highlights the power of sibling and cousin bonds while celebrating cleverness over brute strength. At its heart, this book is about bravery and the realization that even things that seem scary can be understood or outmaneuvered with a little teamwork. The 128-page format with illustrations makes it a gentle bridge for young readers transitioning into longer chapter books. It offers a wonderful way to discuss heritage, as it is steeped in real Italian folklore, providing a magical lens through which children can view history and family traditions.
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Sign in to write a reviewAtmospheric descriptions of witches in wells and bridges might be spooky for sensitive readers.
The peril is supernatural and folkloric. While there is 'danger,' it is handled with a secular, fairy-tale logic. The witches represent natural fears (darkness, deep water, nighttime), and the resolution is always hopeful, emphasizing the children's agency.
An elementary student who enjoys 'Scooby-Doo' style mysteries or 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' but needs a slightly lower reading level. It is ideal for a child who feels small in a big world and wants to see kids their age outsmarting powerful adults or entities.
The book is safe to read cold. Parents might want to look up the real town of Benevento, Italy, to show the child that the setting is a real place with real history. A parent might see their child avoiding the basement or expressing fear of 'monsters' under the bed and want a story that validates those fears while modeling how to face them with humor.
Seven-year-olds will focus on the 'scary' elements and the cool magic. Nine and ten-year-olds will appreciate the historical setting and the distinct personalities and bickering of the five cousins.
Unlike many fantasy books that create entirely new worlds, this is rooted in specific, authentic Italian folklore. The collaboration between the cousins creates a unique ensemble dynamic rarely seen in books for this age group.
In the Italian town of Benevento, known for its legends of witches, five cousins (Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio) navigate the 'Mischief Season.' The book is episodic, featuring encounters with folkloric figures like the Manalonga, who lives in wells, and the Janara, who flies at night. The children must use logic and cooperation to avoid being tricked or caught.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.