Module 8: Howl's Moving Castle

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Summary: A young girl, Sophie, was the eldest of three daughters which is really bad luck for her. The fates have left her with the taks of failing miserably if she ever decides that she wants to leave home. The Witch of the Waste has an interest in her, and she is turned into a little old woman. She must track down the Wizard Howl's castle. She must complete several tasks like make a deal with a fire demon and ultimately deal with the witch. She learns a lot about herself, and Wizard Howl, in her quest.

APA: Jones, D. W. (2012). Howl's moving castle. New York, NY: HarperCollins, Inc.

Review: "Sophie Hatter reads a great deal and soon realizes that as the eldest of three daughters she is doomed to an uninteresting future. She resigns herself to making a living as a hatter and helping her younger sisters prepare to make their fortunes. But adventure seeks her out in the shop where she sits alone, dreaming over her hats. The wicked Witch of the Waste, angered by ``competition'' in the area, turns her into a old woman, so she seeks refuge inside the strange moving castle of the wizard Howl. Howl, advertised by his apprentice as an eater of souls, lives a mad, frantic life trying to escape the curse the witch has placed on him, find the perfect girl of his dreams and end the contract he and his fire demon have entered. Sophie, against her best instincts and at first unaware of her own powers, falls in love. So goes this intricate, humorous and puzzling tale of fantasy and adventure which should both challenge and involve readers. Jones has created an engaging set of characters and found a new use for many of the appurtenances of fairy talesseven league boots and invisible cloaks, among others. At times, the action becomes so complex that readers may have to go back to see what actually happened, and at the end so many loose ends have to be tied up at once that it's dizzying. Yet Jones' inventiveness never fails, and her conclusion is infinitely satisfying. Sara Miller, White Plains Public Library, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted"

Citation: N.A. "Howl's moving castle." School Library Journal Review. 2010.

Library Use: This book is a great addition for students to see the different styles of fantasy writing that there are. This is also a great book to show the comparison of a book to a movie.