The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children
A Novel
by Keith McGowan
Macmillan + ORM 2009
Great fit for 4th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
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Genre
Themes
- siblings and family bonds
- trust and deception
- courage and resourcefulness
- stranger danger
- survival
- modern fairy-tale retelling
- good vs. evil
- mystery and investigation
About this book
After siblings Sol and Connie Blink move to the town of Grand Creek, they meet an eccentric neighbor, Fay Holaderry, and her dog, Swift—who happens to be carrying what looks suspiciously like a human bone. Street-smart Sol and cautious Connie follow their suspicions into a darkly comic, modern twist on Hansel and Gretel, where solving a mystery about their new neighbor could be far more dangerous than they imagined.
Setting: Contemporary small town of Grand Creek, primarily in a suburban neighborhood, the woods, and the eerie home of a suspected witch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children right for my child?
Yes — The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children is a great fit for 4th grade. The reading level is AR 4.7, which is typical for 4th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include siblings and family bonds, trust and deception, courage and resourcefulness.
How long does it take to read The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children?
At a typical 4th grade reading pace, The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children takes around 4.2h to finish. The book has 38,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children have an AR quiz?
Yes — The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children has an AR quiz available, worth 5 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children?
The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children has an AR reading level of 4.7, which places it at a 4th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.