The Witches – Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake (2027-28)

The Witches by Roald Dahl is a spooky, funny adventure about a boy and his grandmother who find out that real witches exist and hate children. This Puffin paperback, with pictures by Quentin Blake, has 22 chapters, and it suits Classes 5 to 8. It is a cleverly scary pick for readers who have already enjoyed The BFG or Matilda, and a strong option for the 2027-28 session.

Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, supplies it with cash on delivery across Pakistan and delivery to the Gulf countries.

Quick facts about this copy

• Title on the cover: The Witches
• Author: Roald Dahl · Illustrator: Quentin Blake
• Imprint: Puffin
• Chapters: 22, starting with "A Note about Witches" on page 7 and ending with "It's Off to Work We Go!" on page 198
• First published: 1983
• Session: a spooky reading novel for 2027-28

What is The Witches about?

The story begins with a warning. Real witches, the narrator says, are not the kind you see in fairy tales. They look like ordinary women, and they live all over the world. The narrator, a young boy, has learned this from his grandmother, a wise and fearless storyteller, who teaches him how to recognise them: by their gloves, their wigs, their strange noses and a few other clues.

After the boy's parents die, he lives with his Norwegian grandmother, and during a summer holiday the two of them stay at a seaside hotel in England where a secret meeting of witches is taking place. The leader of all witches, the Grand High Witch, announces a plan to get rid of every child in England. The boy hides in the hall and listens, and the plan involves a new potion called Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker. The witches find out that someone has been listening, and the story then turns into a race to stop them.

It is a book about courage, family and finding strength in unexpected places. The humour is dark but never nasty, and the relationship between the boy and his grandmother is one of the warmest in children's literature.

Contents of The Witches (with page numbers)

The book in five stages

1. The warning and the grandmother (chapters 1 to 4, pages 7 to 46). Before any plot begins, the book teaches the reader what a witch is and how to spot one. It also introduces the grandmother, one of the best characters Dahl ever wrote.
2. The holiday and the meeting (chapters 5 to 8, pages 47 to 87). The seaside hotel, the hidden meeting and the Grand High Witch's chilling speech. The Formula 86 appears here.
3. The recipe and the trouble (chapters 9 to 13, pages 88 to 123). The witches' potion is tested on a greedy boy, Bruno Jenkins, and the narrator becomes part of the story in a way that he did not expect.
4. The mouse-sized plan (chapters 14 to 18, pages 124 to 178). The boy and his grandmother turn the situation around and come up with a plan, and the kitchen scene is the high point of tension.
5. The end of the plan (chapters 19 to 22, pages 179 to 198). Mr Jenkins and his son, a triumph and the final chapters, which close the book with a warm and surprising note.

Who should read it?

• Students in Classes 5 to 8. The story is more frightening than The BFG, so it is better for readers who are ready for something with a little more edge.
• Parents who want to make sure that a child who reads is also ready for darker themes. The book is scary but never gruesome, and there are laughs on nearly every page.
• Teachers who need a novel for lessons on setting, suspense, narration and the way an author builds a world with rules.
• Fans of the film who want to see how much stronger the original book is.

Why is it still so popular?

First, the rules of witchcraft in the book are so specific that readers feel they could be true: the gloves, the wigs, the itchy scalp and the missing toes. Second, the grandmother is a hero for young readers, because she is old, wise, funny and brave. Third, the book is a clear and exciting plot with a countdown feel. Finally, the tone mixes fear with laughter so well that children who normally avoid scary stories often love it.

When and how to use it

Pick a time of day when the child is not tired, as the story builds suspense. Read the first four chapters carefully, because they set up the rules of the world. Then let the child read alone, and every few chapters ask: "What does the boy know that the witches don't?" After finishing, a lovely task is to write a "Witch-Spotting Guide" for another child, using the rules from chapter 3.

Is it a good book for session 2027-28?

Yes. For the 2027-28 session it is an engaging choice for upper-primary and lower-secondary reading. Check whether your school has named a particular edition, and send us your list on WhatsApp.

Books to read before or after

• Matilda: a clever child up against a terrifying adult.
• The BFG: lighter, with giants rather than witches.
• Boy: Tales of Childhood: Dahl's real childhood, which includes his Norwegian family.
• The Twits: shorter and sillier.

Buy it in Urdu Bazar, Lahore

• Shop: Exams Book House, Shop Number 4, Al Fazal Market, Urdu Bazar, Lahore 54000
• Urdu Bazar Lahore book shop number: 0317 4846676 (call or WhatsApp)
• Open: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM – 9 PM; closed on Sunday
• Delivery: all over Pakistan with cash on delivery, and to the Gulf countries

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Frequently asked questions

Is The Witches suitable for session 2027-28?

Yes. It is a popular reading novel for Classes 5 to 8 in 2027-28. Check your school's list for any specific edition.

Is it too scary for children?

It has frightening scenes, but the tone is funny and it is not gory. Classes 5 and above are the best fit.

How many chapters are there?

Twenty-two, from "A Note about Witches" on page 7 to "It's Off to Work We Go!" on page 198.

Who illustrated it?

Quentin Blake, as printed on the cover.

Can I order by WhatsApp?

Yes. Message 0317 4846676 with your name and address. We deliver across Pakistan with cash on delivery and to the Gulf countries.

Inside the book — contents and sample pages