Lauren Crozier won the 2023 Text Prize for her debut novel, a funny original adventure full of magic, found family, new friends, and self discovery with the catchy title of The Best Witch in Paris, .
Luna has a witch’s hat and wand and sometimes she’s quite good at magic, but she isn’t completely sure that she’s a real witch, given that she was found under a tree by her adoptive aunts, three real witches. Every witch has a familiar and when Luna swaps her moonstone ring for Silver, a boobook owl, she hopes that it will help her become accepted, especially at her school, Grim’s School for the Education of Young Witches. Unfortunately the mysterious bird seller says she has to keep Silver hidden. Why? It seems that Madame Valadon, the Best Witch in Paris is missing her boobook owl and will stop at nothing to find it. Luna travels far and wide, making new friends and discoveries in her efforts to find out where she and Silver truly belong.
Paris is lovingly depicted, filled with eccentric characters, curses, cobblestones and croissants. Snappy dialogue enlivens the action and brings people to instant life. Crozier has a lot of fun filling Luna’s world with goblins, ghosts, owl parliaments, pythons, talking reflections and more. She gives the story a deep heart with themes of self belief, courage, belonging, and friendship underpinning Luna’s quest.
Readers aged 8+ who love J K Rowlings Harry Potter books, Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor series and Melanie La’Broooy’s The Wintrish Girl will find here an enthralling magical world and a feisty hero to enjoy.
Lauren Crozier won the 2023 Text Prize for her debut novel, a funny original adventure full of magic, found family, new friends, and self discovery with the catchy title of The Best Witch in Paris, .
