Welcome to Litsy!

When the minions of Castle Hangnail send out letters looking for a new wicked witch to rule over the castle, Molly answers. She‘s young, not very tall, & not nearly as wicked as some previous castle lords BUT she does possess some magic that gives the minions hope all their problems are solved. They aren‘t, of course, & Molly has secrets which may threaten everyone‘s future. I enjoyed this spooky middle grade story filled with magic & whimsy.

We‘re expecting snow the next couple of days—not a lot but enough to put me in the mood for a Vernon story (geared towards middle grade) about the minions of Castle Hangnail as they look for a new boss. So far it‘s very entertaining and the illustrations scattered throughout are a definite bonus.

I have fallen behind again. 😑 I really need to do better about logging when I finish a story.
Ok. Prepare for mass posts.

74 Audio

This was very enjoyable! A fun twist on the master of the castle and the henchmen who serve.

Ready for something a little silly and the premise of Castle Hangnail is adorable: “When Molly shows up at the castle to fill the vacancy for Wicked Witch, the castle minions are suspicious. After all, she is twelve years old, barely five feet tall, and quite... polite.”

We‘ve read every book by Ursula Vernon now. Good books to read to the kids. This one was more advanced and not a graphic novel as her other books are, so less exciting for my 6 yo to follow, but we enjoyed it none the less. I like her unique stories with strong heroines.

What an atrocious Monday. Never mind: I went off to Castle Hangnail, where aspiring Wicked Witch Molly claims her castle with Smiting and Blighting, wins over her minions, and even manages to sort out the plumbing. If you enjoy Pratchett's Tiffany Aching, you'll love Vernon's Molly Utterback. This is written for a younger audience - say, 9-99 - but it will charm you (sorry: I just HAD to 😉). What a mood-lifter!

Ursula Vernon's self-illustrated humorous fantasy for children aged 9+ is an absolute delight from start to finish with a fine cast of characters, sharp humour, a lot of warmth and wonderful illustrations.

Next selection for mother-daughter book club at the Watertown Library.