About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like their best intentions always end in a mess, or when they are struggling to navigate the pressure of a 'naughty' new friend. It offers a safe, humorous space to explore the anxiety of being the kid who cannot seem to get things right despite trying their hardest. In this installment, Mildred Hubble is tasked with looking after a new student, Enid Nightshade. While Mildred wants to be a model pupil, Enid's secret wild streak leads them into a series of magical mishaps. The story explores themes of peer pressure, the weight of a bad reputation, and the resilience needed to keep trying when you feel like a failure. It is a gentle, funny read for children aged 7 to 10 that normalizes the 'clumsy' or 'troublesome' phase of childhood development.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with school-based social dynamics and authority figures. Miss Hardbroom's teaching style is strict and somewhat intimidating, which is handled with a secular, British boarding school trope. There are no heavy topics like death or trauma; the focus is on the realistic social hierarchy of childhood.
