Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Moving Castle #1)

Highly recommended.

I had chosen to read this book for my English class, where we will have to do activities based around the characters. The theme was meant to be fantasy, and I had so many fantasy books just sitting on my shelves. I thought that it was maybe time to try Howl's Moving Castle, which had been sitting there for years and totally covered in dust.

I think that this story is different to many of the books that I have ever read, mainly because the main character was a girl who got changed into an old lady accidentally. I have never read anything like this before, sure I have read ones where the main character's best friend does, but nothing close to this.

I thought that the book didn't really explain the reasons behind what happened in the book. I read a page, and the story jumps from one event to another without any warning, and I re-read the whole thing again, and flicking back to see if I had skipped a page or something. I think that the author should of slowed the story down to work on the characters more.

I think it was strange introducing the Wales thing into the book, and it didn't really help the book in anyway, just made it slightly more confusing. It had no relevance to the storyline, and it upset my train of thought when we found Sophie in a car, when she was in a kingdom with carriages a second before.

I think that this book has won awards since it is full of creativity, crazy characters, and sense of humor. Children from the ages of 8+ will enjoy this book full of colours, magic and hats.

Reader reviewed by Jessica M.

I heard that Disney made a movie off of this book four years ago. I did not know that Howl's Moving Castle was a book, until I saw my friend read it 3 months ago. I decided that it looked interesting, so I decided to read it. I was not disappointed at all.

The story is about a teenager named Sophie, who is cursed to be an old woman by the Witch of the Waste. One night, Sophie randomly shows up at Wizard Howl's castle, although she is not aware. After Howl lets Sophie stays, craziness ensues. A very entertaining book; you should read it.

Reader reviewed by Tina.S

I must admit, i only read this book after i watched the movie, and i liked the movie just a little bit better. The reason being is thet the Howl in the movie was sappy and somewhat stupid, but i liked him better than the Howl in the book. Anyway, the story starts off with Sophie,a young girl who's life is as dull as anything. Then she suddenly gets turned into an old women and is forced to move into Howl's moving castle, as a cleaning lady to the notorious wizard Howl.

Reader reviewed by swim freak

seven league boots, fire demons, hopping scorecrows? what cant happen. this breath-taking book gives you the insight on the misfortunes on being the oldest. jones leads you on the adventures that follows sophie, the oldest of the hatters family. when the witch of waste decides to turn her into an old lady; sophie was forced to go out and seek her own fortune. she ends up in howl's moving castle, a place that was feared by all, for it was rumored to have an evil wizard who sucks souls out of pretty young girls........ this is one of those books that you can't put down. you have got to read this beautifully spun out book.

Reader reviewed by Lala

What would you do if a witch kept you from your family by turning you into an old women? The protagonist of this series has been turned old by the witch of the waste and goes to live with Howl in his enchanted castle to try to break the curse. The movie has been drastically changed to fit in with modern politics. I enjoyed the book much more.

Reader reviewed by Katya

You might have seen the recent anime film that was based on this book. I simply can't stress enough how much you should try and forget what happened in the film, and go and read this, straight away.

Sophie Hatter is, for no apparent reason, placed under a horrible curse by an evil witch. Sophie, being practical, realises that the only way to get rid of the curse is to go to the best wizard around - which, unfortunately, happens to be the wicked Howl, who eats young girls hearts.

While it's perhaps not Diana Wynne Jones' best book, it's still excellent. She has a real talent for making her characters real; Sophie is unbearably meek, whilst Howl is ridiculously selfish, yet you end up liking them both immensely. The plot is really good, and it'll make you want to laugh out loud at times. Definitely worth a look, and please, please, please - read the book before you see the film!