This book is a treasure. I used it several years ago as a sophomore in high school to prepare for the AP Examination in Biology. Wonderfully illustrated, exceptionally written, and very easy to use!

I got a "5" on the exam, which is the highest score attainable... I think that speaks for itself!

Despite the title which implies a cast of thousands, this story revolves around the intense relationship betweent two fifth-grade girls, both seeking to be Needed. Black Jennifer is a loner of a character, while white Elizabeth is new to the neighborhood. The author refers to Hecate, the head witch in MACBETH, which may stimulate some discussion of Shakespeare's plays.

On Halloween day Elizabeth is walking through a park, when she spies an old-fashoined shoe dangling from a tree--a shoe on the foot of a self-proclaimed junior witch. Jennifer never smiles or laughts; in fact this curious girl walks with her head skyward--never at the ground. Her abrupt manner lacks social skills, but immediately fascinates the impressionable Elizabeth. Unique and possessive, Jennifer decies to make the girl her Apprentice--without even asking if she'd like this honor! Suddenly Elizabeth must eat certain foods and refrain from eathing others, while leaving food "offerings" for her mentor. Is this a clever scam or a serious attempt to achieve supernatural power; they both start collecting odd ingredients to compound a Flying Ointment. How far will this Game be taken?

Totally dominated by Jennifer's will Elizabeth starts acting strangely both at home and in school. Alas, she learns more than witchcraft when she is promoted to Journeyman witch, but must she sacrifice everything that normal girls enjoy, just to win Jennifer's occult favor? Is it friendship or something more sinister which she seeks? What is the attraction of Power over others? She actually discovers that she enjoys being Different from other girls; that it is exhilarating to behave in a difficult manner, which puzzles concerned adutls. What kind of underground game has their social symbiosis become, if she has to sneak, lie, dissemble and deny her own personality? Elizabeth is convinced that Jennifer's esteem is worth it all. It takes a special toad (as in TUCK EVERLASTING) to teach her an important life lesson: that no joy comes from wishing ill on others. Elementary girls will enjoy this cute BOO! read.

This novel could be described as "Beverly Cleary plus Zilpha Keatley Snyder, with a touch of Carolyn Keene." In other words, it has friendship elements, almost-magical elements, and some mystery elements, all at the same time.

This story is told in first person by Elizabeth, the new girl in town. With the perspicacity of a Ramona Quimby or a Harriet M. Welsch, she makes wonderfully droll observations about people she meets and things she does. (This makes it a little hard to believe that she's just ten years old--but the narration is so nice that this flaw is easily overlooked.) Her cleverness and wry humor fail her, however, when it comes to Jennifer, the first real friend she makes, who is unlike anyone she has ever met before.

On their first meeting, Jennifer cooly reveals that she is a witch and performs a number of seemingly magical feats to prove it. Before long, she starts to train Elizabeth to be a witch, too. Yet despite all the "bonding" they do, as Jennifer prepares rituals, rules, spells and surprises for her willing friend, their relationship remains slightly stiff. I am certain that readers won't mind, at first: Jennifer is too fascinating and her ideas are too imaginative and funny for anyone to complain about any lack of warmth. Besides, anyone is better than Cynthia, who lives one floor up from Elizabeth and is exactly what Angelica Pickles of "Rugrats" will be like in a few years.

Come the end, readers will have read a rollickingly good yarn sprinkled with practical lessons about friendship--so there really is nothing to mind about this novel. I recommend it for young girls who have liked "Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh.

This is a great book, about two fifth-grade girls who have the same need. The need for a friend. Elizabeth, the narrator of the story (I, me, myself) doesn't have any friends until Jennifer comes along. Well, actually, Jennifer and Elizabeth aren't really friends---but Elizabeth carries on the job of a witch's apprentice. That's what Jennifer is-a witch! They meet on Halloween, but they only see each other again on Saturdays, when they go to the library and the park to read books on witchcraft. Their goal is to make a flying ointment, but it is here that trouble starts. This book is great, and at the end, there is a great surprise that Elizabeth realizes. This book was a 1968 Newbery Honor Book, a runner-up to From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, also by E.L. Konigsburg

Working the Web: A Student's Guide is the best book I've ever seen that methodically and clearly explains everything from basic HTML tags to visually exciting websites. I highly recommend it. The only thing I think would make this book better would be a general overview of JAVA.