About This Book
The Witches of Worm is a Newbery Honor chapter book that delves into the psychological and supernatural struggles of Jessica, a lonely twelve-year-old girl. After finding a peculiar, almost hairless kitten she names Worm, Jessica becomes convinced it's possessed by witches and is compelling her to commit destructive acts against those who've upset her, including her mother and former best friend. The narrative skillfully blurs the line between genuine supernatural influence and Jessica's internal psychological turmoil, exploring themes of anger, loneliness, and personal responsibility. This book is best suited for the older end of its age range, 8-11, due to its dark and intense themes, offering a compelling mystery and a poignant look at a child's inner world.
A lonely twelve-year-old is convinced that the cat she finds is possessed by a witch and is responsible for her own strange behavior.
Concepts
Scary Scenes
peril_danger
mental_health_themes
bullying
witchcraft
Discussion Prompts
1
Do you think Worm was really a witch's cat, or was something else happening with Jessica?
2
How did Jessica feel when she was doing the mean tricks? What do you think made her do them?
3
Have you ever felt so angry or upset that you wanted to do something you knew was wrong? What did you do?
4
How did Jessica's relationship with her mother and Brandon change throughout the story?
5
What does it mean to 'exorcise yourself,' as Jessica thought she did at the end of the book?
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