"The characters are awfully likable, and this tale is set so believably in a traditional Alpine world that it's easy to go along with the make-believe. A satisfying, stand-alone sequel that will certainly send readers back to read The Brixen Witch."
Description
Magic beans quickly lead to danger in this standalone companion to The Brixen Witch, which Kirkus Reviews called “fresh and satisfying” in a starred review.
When Rudi Bauer sets out for town one morning, he never dreams that Susanna Louisa will sell his family’s cow—for magic beans, no less! But that’s exactly what she does, and the consequences will be disastrous unless Rudi can return the magic beans to their rightful owner, the evil witch of Petz.
The journey to Petz is long and hard, but Rudi and Susanna Louisa soon find a shortcut: a magically sprouted beanstalk leads them straight there...and straight into danger. Because the evil witch of Petz is really a terrible giant who has locked away summer and keeps his kingdom a frozen wasteland. And in order to defeat him, Rudi is going to need a little magic of his own.
Reviews
"A nice addition for collections where fairy tale retellings are popular."
"A clever blend of folkloric elements with fast-paced action."
"An original and heartfelt novel that, while atmospheric, remains enjoyably untethered to specific time and place. Effectively coupling quiet reflection and suspenseful action, this well-paced story and its cast of believable characters—from the admirable Rudi to the pesky Susanna Louisa to the strong-willed Agatha—might just work magic as a classroom readaloud."
