Sensible, orderly Clover Twig not only cleans up the mess in Mrs. Eckles’s magical cottage in the woods but also manages to return it to its proper place after Mrs. Eckles’s grasping sister-witch Mesmeranza sneakily spirits it away and lands Clover in the dungeons of Castle Coldiron. Focused alternately on Clover and Wilf (her hapless helper), then on Mesmeranza, this is a satisfy ing story. It is also a good introduction for upper elementary school students to the mixture of magic and humor they will find later in works by Terry Pratchett and Diana Wynne Jones. 2010 USBBY Outstanding International Books List. kti

Originally published as Clover Twig and the Incredible Flying Cottage by Bloomsbury Great Britain, in 2008.

Capable and hardworking ten-year-old Clover Twig takes a job as housekeeper for a messy witch, Demelza, but while Demelza is away Clover and an accident-prone neighbor boy must defend the weird cottage from the witch's evil sister.