The Pinhoe Egg

Starred review from September 11, 2006
Wynne Jones is at the top of her form in this excellent addition to the Chrestomanci books, set not long after the events chronicled in Charmed Life
. Marianne's summer gets off to an unpromising start, thanks to her grandmother, the willful and manipulative Gammer Pinhoe, head of all Pinhoe family witchcraft in Ulverscote and the other villages surrounding Chrestomanci Castle. Marianne becomes errand-runner for her entire extended family when Gammer lurches into a punning, malicious (and wickedly funny) form of dementia, the seeming result of a run-in with another local witching family. Meanwhile, up at Chrestomanci Castle, Cat Chant (last seen in Charmed Life
) has inadvertently become the owner of a horse named Syracuse, whose powers include helping Cat recognize the presence of dwimmer, a mysterious, nature-oriented magic. On a trip to Ulverscote, Cat meets Marianne, recognizes her as a kindred spirit and becomes the caretaker of a mysterious egg they find in the attic of Gammer's house. Wild magic ensues as the egg hatches, long pent-up nature spirits are released, ugly secrets are revealed, and Marianne and Cat confront terrifying challenges. Longtime fans will be pleased to encounter Cat once again, and to watch the early stages of his friendship with Marianne unfold. Newcomers will relish the lavish storytelling, and doubtless be driven back to earlier books. Witty, wise and wonderfully imaginative—this novel ranks among the author's best. Ages 10-14.

January 1, 2007
Cat, the young nine-lived enchanter, is adjusting to life at Chrestomanci Castle, while villager Marianne Pinhoe is destined to be the next head of her clan. Jones's ability to create believable young characters and to pit them against cruel or indifferent adults is as masterful as ever. The story's resolution will leave readers cheering and hoping for future adventures for Chrestomanci's wards.

(Copyright 2007 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 15, 2006
There's magic afoot, and no wonder, for Jones' latest book extends her Chrestomanci fantasy series, which began with " Charmed Life" (1977). In the village of Ulverscote, young witch Marianne Pinhoe watches her aging, headstrong grandmother's mental decline, which is unfortunately unaccompanied by a waning of her magical powers. Meanwhile, at the nearby castle, another young enchanter, Cat, prefers riding his new horse, Syracuse, to teleportation, but while riding through the countryside, Cat discovers that something is amiss in the neighboring woodland. In the end, the wizard Chrestomanci separates local history from superstition and brings peace to the area. Magical creatures, spells, castles, and bicycles come together in Jones' alternate world, which offers a refreshing change from the settings of more traditional fantasies. A must for Chrestomanci fans, this solidly entertaining tale is also accessible to readers new to the series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

October 1, 2006
Gr 4-8-Fans of Harry Potter will enjoy exploring the magical world of Ulverscote, which is every bit as enchanting as that of Hogwarts, though humbler by far. Part coming-of-age tale, part fantastical mystery, this sixth entry in the series is chock-full of interesting characters. Gammer Pinhoe is a manipulative and mentally unstable matriarch who secretly starts an all-out witch war with the neighboring clan. Her plan is discovered by her granddaughter, Marianne, a young witch beginning to come into her own magical powers. Marianne meets up with Cat, nine-lived enchanter and resident of Chrestomanci Castle, as well as Chrestomanci himself. They find a mysterious egg in Gammers attic, which the girl cares for until it hatches into a charming baby griffin. Meanwhile, Chrestomanci keeps a watchful eye over all of this as he tries to figure out the mystery of the enchanted woods. In the end, Marianne uses her inner strength to help Cat free the creatures in the woods, and Chrestomanci restores peace among the witch families of Ulverscote. Although some children may be put off by the complicated plot and unfamiliar wording and references, Jones does a good job of entertaining readers with an interesting new world, strong characters, and a satisfying ending."Nicki Clausen-Grace, Carillon Elementary School, Oviedo, FL"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.