Donoghue, Emma. (1999). Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins. Harperteen.
At first glance, Kissing the Witch appears to be a simple anthology of fairy-like tales. Upon deeper reading, it becomes clear that the separate stories are fragments—or different points of viewing one continuous thread. The way that the fragments are woven together is brilliant.
Early, the reader is aware that there are continual suggestions of tales that he/she has heard since childhood. Hints are dropped here and there; and they glimmer beneath the surface of the text. The images are repeatedly revisited; and the reader is invited to gather them and piece them into any of several possible interpretations.
Reading the book is like following behind Hansel and Gretel -- picking up the strewn clues and seeking the the messages, hidden along the paths. The plot twists and turns at a dizzying rate of speed. It weaves an intricate and passionate tapestry that celebrates and empowers woman in her universal quest to know and befriend all of the complex voices within herself.
This book contains graphic situations and is recommended for older, more mature teens.
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