Review: The Near Witch - Victoria Schwab

• Reading level:
 Young Adult

• Hardcover:
 288 pages

• Publisher:
 Hyperion Book CH (August 2, 2011)

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

My Thoughts...

There was something haunting about this book. Something about the writing made me crave more. The story was terrific although a little slow in the beginning in my opinion. The characters we were written and all served a purpose to moving the story along. Lexi amazed me! In her shoes I would have fallen apart, but she for the most part used her head and held herself together. The stranger...he made me want to melt, I want my own personal "stranger". The story was quite compelling, at times I sat there routing and cheering Lexi on like a cheerleader, Other times I wanted to reach into the book and smack people. The village of Near and the "world" build around it really came to life for me. I look forward to more by this author. I give this one 4 stars, and highly suggest that you run out and pick up a copy of this book as soon as possible!