Book Review #118

 The Little Broomstick

Author: Mary Stewart
Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books
Publication Date: April 5, 2018
ISBN-13: 978-1444940190
Reading Level: Middle Grade (approx. ages 8–12)

Main Character: Mary Smith, a lonely girl who discovers a magical flower and a broomstick with a mind of its own.

Plot: Mary Smith, bored in the countryside, stumbles across a strange glowing flower called “fly-by-night.” Soon afterward, she finds an old broomstick that magically awakens and sweeps her into the sky. It takes her to Endor College, a school for witches where spells, animals, and strange experiments take place. But the magic is not as charming as it first appears, and Mary must use her courage and her newly found powers to set things right.

Settings: Shady countryside house and garden, Enchanted forest, Endor College for witches (floating, mysterious, and slightly eerie)

Genre/Theme/Style: Fantasy, Magic, Adventure, Courage, Classic British Children’s Literature.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁 

Why 4 Roars? 

A magical, broomstick-fueled adventure that feels like an early bridge between The Worst Witch and Harry Potter. Perfect for kids who enjoy longer chapter books, cozy fantasy worlds, and brave young heroes. Not a picture book. It would be best for confident readers who want depth and mystery. (Might be difficult for some readers—slow read.)

Critical Analysis: Mary Stewart blends atmospheric writing with old-school fantasy charm. The story is slower than modern children’s fantasy, but it rewards patient readers with vivid description, strong worldbuilding, and a heroine who grows braver with every chapter. The witches are more unsettling than silly, so this book works well for children who like a little suspense but not horror.

Connections: Pairs well with The Worst Witch (younger readers) or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (older readers)
Can be used in a Halloween reading unit focused on witches and magic without being too scary.

Tie-in option: the 2017 Studio Ponoc animated film Mary and the Witch’s Flower is based on this book.