First Prize for the Worst Witch

The Worst Witch #8

by Jill Murphy

"I am a hopeless case - everything I do always does go wrong in the end."

Mildred Hubble may be the worst witch at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, but she's the best friend you'll ever have.

-----

Summer term has started at Miss Cackle's Academy, and somehow the disaster-prone Mildred has made it to Year Four.

Even though everyone knows her as the Worst Witch in the School, she's secretly set her sights on winning the school's highest honour.

Yes, Mildred wants to be Head Girl!

Can she stay out of trouble and prove to everyone that even the worst witch can turn her fortunes around?
Not if her arch-enemy Ethel Hallow has anything to do with it...

'The Worst Witch is back - and it's as subtly feminist as ever' - New Statesman

Read the rest of Mildred's (mis)adventures: The Worst Witch, A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch, The Worst Witch All at Sea, The Worst Witch Saves the Day, The Worst Witch to the Rescue and The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Witches, Boarding School, Audiobook

186 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2018

About the author

Jill Murphy was a London-born English children's author, best known for The Worst Witch series and the Large Family picture books. She has been described as "one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land."

Jill Murphy was born in London and attended the Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon which, together with the boarding school stories she enjoyed reading, provided much of the material and inspiration Miss Cackle's Academy in the The Worst Witch, which she started when she was 15. She put the book on hold as she attended both Chelsea and Croydon Art Schools, but continued to write it whilst living in a village in Togo, West Africa for a year and then whilst working as a nanny back at home. The book was published when Jill turned 24 and proved an instant success. However, Jill continued working as a nanny until the publication of The Worst Witch Strikes Again prompted her to devote herself to full-time writing. The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies. They were also made into a major ITV series. She was also well known for her picture books and was commended in the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal for Peace at Last. A Quiet Night In was shortlisted for the same medal in 1994. She was perhaps best known for the very popular Mr and Mrs Large picture books, which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. Five Minute's Peace won the 1987 Parents Magazine Best Books for Babies Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 1986 Children's Book Award. All in One Piece was highly commended for the 1987 Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the 1987 Children's Book Award. The Last Noo-noo won the 0-5 category of the 1995 Smarties Book Prize and in the same year was shortlisted for the English 4-11 Outstanding Children's Book of the Year, going on to win the 1996 Sheffield Children's Book Award. It won the 1996 Gateshead Gold Award. In the same year it was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, London.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Candlewick Press, for reissuing this — pardon the pun — magical series featuring witch-in-training Mildred Hubble. Before there was Harry Potter, before there was the TV series Sabrina the Teenage Witch (even the cheery original), before there was Kiki’s Delivery Service, there was Mildred, an impetuous, clumsy and unlucky girl who first appeared in 1974. Despite her ill fortune, Mildred saves the day through her ingenuity and the help of her fast friends, Maud Spellbody and Enid Nightshade. A wonderful message for children who feel that nothing goes right.

In this, the eighth and latest book in the series, Star, the stray dog Mildred found in a previous book, is reclaimed by his owners. Heartbroken, Mildred seeks to find a way to be reunited with her dog. She also wishes that her archnemesis Ethel Hallow wouldn’t win all the prizes at the end of the year. No spoiler to reveal that Mildred gets recognized for her kindness and good intentions. (It’s in the title!)

Each book in the series covers one semester of the five years at Miss Crackle’s Academy for Witches, so we can expect two more. But newbies to author Jill Murphy’s humorous, good-natured series will enjoy this book as much as longtime fans.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

[☽•☾-Grimalkin-☽•☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly 2 years ago today (on my 25th Birthday) I re-read the first Worst Witch book.
As I was reliving all the emotions and nostalgia you generally have when you re-read a book you read as a child, I remembered how I used to really relate to Mildred Hubble and her struggles in school.
Mildred made me feel like I had not only a friend but a representative I could hold up to myself to show myself that I wasn't as sad and miserable as I felt I was .
I did not have a good time in school but I wanted Mildred to be happy for me, to have friends and achieve things that I felt I couldn't do.
I was not able to ever acquire any of the further books in the Worst Witch series so I had to contend with book #1 but sadly I lost it during a house move and I couldn't replace it.
Mildred Hubble and Cackles Academy faded from my mind and for nearly 2 decades I forgot all about the story and what it meant to me.
I never knew what became of my beloved Mildred...
Well today, on my 27th Birthday, I have got my wish, I finally know!
It has taken 2 years exactly of reading all of the other books in this series (among other reads) and early this morning I finished the 8th and (as far as I know) the last book.
I will not mince words, I very nearly burst into tears but I'm holding it back because if I start, I don't think I'll stop and I would like to enjoy the rest of my b-day and not just be sobbing through it.
I won't spoil anything in this waffle but it couldn't have ended better.
I'm sad that the journey had ended (hey, it only took me 19 years!) but I am so proud that I now know just what this goofy, clumsy, kind hearted, funny, wonderful, worst witch can achieve and that gives me something to hold on to, that things will get better and if Milly can make it then so can I. xx
:)

[Shae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful!

I loved this series of books when I was a little girl.

I read this last installment with my nieces and we all thought it was fabulous.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the worst witch books. I grew up watching the original series, I love reading these to relive the memories of going home from school and getting engrossed in Cackles Academy.


This one did not disappoint. Mildred was up to her old tricks, she always has the best intentions, just something always goes wrong. Her friends always try to talk her out of her mad plans but never manage. I love how her charm is even growing on Hardbroom.


I do sometimes feel a little sorry for Ethel, is often mean and cruel but she is just trying to live up to her family's name.


I think the next enstallment is the last and I cannot wait.


4 out of 5 stars

[Suzanne Fournier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildred heads back to Summer term hoping to do well and win a First prize. Ethel, of course, has to make her life miserable and Mildred has to come up with a way to make everything better again.

I have fond memories of the old BBC television series based on these books. Reading them as an adult is interesting, it's a good and decent series. However this final one fell short, it was utterly predictable and inconsistent with the others. Mildred would have been in far more trouble before than she is now, I didn't feel like the characters have progressed, it's just seems like an arbitrary change.

[Selenita · Rating 2 out of 5]

¡Aleluya! Ha costado siete libros pero, ¡por fin!, se representa bien la amistad. Mildred, Maud y Enid se cuentan las cosas y apoyan mutuamente.

Por otra parte, lamentablemente debo confirmar que definitivamente la serie empeora en lugar de mejorar con el avance de los libros. No hay evolución en el elenco (Mildred pasa de ser la peor bruja a demostrar que el título era inmerecido y tener más confianza, pero es una diferencia de habilidades, no de madurez), son tal y como eran en el primer libro y muy unidimensionales; sobre todo Ethel, siendo mala porque es mala y ya. Además, simplemente leer el mismo argumento una y otra vez ya cansa. Sí, el libro, igual que toda la serie, hacen pasar un rato entretenido y los recomiendo. Pero conforme pasan los libros se pierden la frescura y originalidad y no hay nada que compense esa pérdida para mantener el interés; como podría ser un argumento elaborado o una evolución de personajes o que se explicara más sobre el mundo en que sucede la historia, por ejemplo. Leer oootraaa vez cómo Mildred se mete en un lío por tener mala suerte (y por culpa de Ethel) pero al final salva el día de forma muy conveniente ya no interesa ni divierte como antes, porque llevo siete libros leyendo lo mismo de distinta forma.

Los primeros libros se leen con interés y curiosidad, los últimos ya por matar el rato y no dejar la serie inconclusa.

[Laury Glory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schade, dass das Abenteuer mit Mildred Hubble, ihren Freunden und tierischen Begleitern nun ein Ende hat.
Diese Reihe ist für mich etwas ganz Besonderes und vermittelt ganz wunderbar, den Wert wahrer Freundschaft.
In diesen kleinen Büchlein steckt so viel und es mir auch als Erwachsene Freude bereitet, in die magische Welt einzutauchen.
❤️

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Harry went to Hogwarts, there was another magical school book series--The Worst Witch! This charming British series is still going strong, and it has a classic feel that will remind any adults who pick it up of juvenile fiction of their own childhoods.

In this story, our heroine Mildred is dismayed to learn her beloved little dog, Star, is actually an escapee from a circus--and the circus owners want him back. Star is none too happy about returning to the travelling show, and worse, Mildred and her friends discover the circus is also keeping two other animals who feel neglected and lonely for their old homes. Can the Worst Witch save the day and keep her promise to the animals held captive in the circus?

This is a sweet story that gently broaches the subject of animal welfare in circuses without being heavy-handed or upsetting to readers. As such, it's a perfect choice for mainstream audiences. I also liked that the circus owners weren't depicted as cackling villains, but rather as a couple who were struggling in their livelihood and were more than happy to give the animals a more appropriate home as long as they could find some new attractions.

One lesson I wish the youngsters in the story would have absorbed was applying the empathy they learned for the animals in the circus to Mildred's cat, Tabby. The witches repeatedly try to put Tabby on a flying broom despite the fact that she hates it so much she actually begins running and hiding from the girls whenever she sees them. Tabby was doing her best to say that she has no desire to ride a broom, and I wish the characters would have listened to her.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS! I love to see the way Miss Cackle and HB see Mildred. Miss Cackle has so much hope in her and sees the good. And even though HB acts like she is such a problem she secretly cares and I love that. She is my favorite! This series is absolutely adorable and it really shows how perseverance and believing in oneself is important. It is great to see how Mildred has changed and starts to really shine! Poor Ethel though. I hope she gets the chance to change and become better as well. I also love how in every book Maud always knows that Mildred is up to something. It makes me laugh every time she says it.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable book, it's nice to have seen the gradual transition of Miss Cackle's Academy from a school to a zoo! This book had good characters, a good plotline and an excellent (albeit slightly predictable ending).

I did notice a few plot holes, I know this is a children's book but I do hate inconsistencies:
- Miss Cackle says that Hallows have been head girls at the school for the past two hundred years, however in the third book Mr Rowan-Webb says that the castle used the be a conference centre when he was a young man. Surely he was not two hundred years old.
- Mildred's talking animal spell is only supposed to work on animals smaller than 25cm yet she casts it on a seal and a pony.
- How can Hallow girls keep getting picked for head girl when the family name is passed through the male line. Does Ethel just have two hundred years worth of maiden aunts in the family? Maybe in the culture of witches family names are passed through the female line? It doesn't seem likely to me as what we have seen of this culture outside of the school is pretty male-dominated (The Supreme Magician, the Grand Wizard and Mr Rowan-Webb).
- Magic is definitely secret in this universe, so why would Miss Hardbroom and Miss Cackle allow a 'muggle' circus to keep a load of enchanted brooms and toothbrushes. Doesn't that go against the witches code?

Anyway, I'm not here to criticise, those were just some things I noticed.

[Nolany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Un très bon tome, remplie d'humour, de catastrophes et de rebondissements. J'aime le fait que Mildred gagne en maturité et surtout j'aime le fait qu'elle soit tant attachée à ses animaux de compagnie. J'espère qu'il y aura un autre tome, parce que j'aime vraiment beaucoup cette saga.

[Coral (fruitloop_chronicals) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites in the series, although it all just kind of ends. There's no finishing school, it's like we just leave the school before seeing the characters to the end. Loved it but sad the series is over.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up with these stories made me love reading! I can't help myself when a new Worst Witch book comes out! #guiltypleasure 🤷🏻‍♀️❤️

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine installment in this enjoyable series -- apparently the conclusion, or so it would seem. We loved it, and I'll be recommending (and/or gifting) the series to my grandchildren, no doubt.

[Melissa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another fun read. Technically Mildred and company are supposed to have one more year at Miss Cackle's so hopefully there will be another book for their last set of adventures.

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Tiffany Spencer]

First Prize for the Worst Witch
Mildred is starting the Summer Term at Miss Cackles Academy. (This is Year Four). Mildred is excited to get Year Four over with. Year Fives get to wear a different uniform that consists of a multi-stripped tie and a braid swen around their cloaks. While flying back, they pass a circus and Mildred wishes it wasn’t so far away or maybe they could take a field trip. They fly a little to high and Star doesn’t like it and hops from the front of the broom to the back. Even when Mildred flies lower he doesn’t get back in the front. At school, Mildred is reunited with Maud and after Mildred does a eerily accurate impersonation of Hard broom they wonder what she’ll have come up with this year and guess that because of the new pool a lot of swimming will be involved. Mildred says she’s practiced over the holidays just in case.

On the last day of Summer Term there was a ceremony called Fourth Year Firsts, when prizes were awarded to pupils who had proved themselves best in certain subjects over the past four years. It was also the occasion when the witch chosen to be Head Girl for the coming year would be solemnly announced. This event was actually more important to the girls than the final year itself, when there would be no time for distractions, as everyone would be working madly to pass the Witches’ Higher Certificate. Maud says she hopes to get “Team Spirit”. Mildred confesses she’d like to be “Head Girl” and this strikes both of them as hilarious as its so unlikely. They laugh so hard they have to land to avoid crashing into a tree. (Besides who could ever compete with Ethel Hallows).

Ethel and Drusila are an hour behind. Ethel is in a bad mood because Mildred has become such a good flier. Drusila is trying hard to keep up. Ethal confesses to her friend that she’s been thinking about how every time she thinks Mildred messed up and she’ll be kicked out, she turns it around somehow. She’s sure to be voted Head Pilot. Drusilla tells her that at least she knows she’ll be Head Girl. Drusilla gets a little behind because her hat comes off flying and she shows something (a faded poster) she found in the trees. Ethel grins mischievously and says they’d better take it to Miss Cackle.

When they get back, Cackle and Hard broom announce that the pool is ready and since Mildred won it, her class gets to swim in it first. So, the girls change into their swimming costumes and head to the pool. Only the pool isn’t quite what they expected. True, it was a large rectangle full of water, but the structure surrounding it was like an enormous old-fashioned greenhouse, with a huge pitched roof made entirely of steel struts and glass. Several of the skylights were propped open to let out the condensation, but they also let in the wind that whipped constantly around the high castle walls, and the girls shivered as they imagined getting into their costumes.

To make matters worse, the water was so crammed with bulrushes and plants that no one could quite imagine how they would actually get in and attempt any sort of swimming. Far from the turquoise tiles of Maud’s imagination, the water was dark and sinister; you couldn’t see the bottom and it looked as though things might be lurking. HB explains it’s a ecological pool. Self-cleaning, with carefully chosen plants, so no need for chlorine or any polluting chemicals, which means it’s full of fascinating pondlife – perfect for natural history studies-which they can do while getting exercise.

Mildred asks what kind of pondlife and is told water snails, flying insects, frogs, dragon flies, and underwater larvae. Plus lots of healthy silt at the bottom to assist with frogspawn and other developing larvae and eggs, Mildred gets called into Cackle and HB’s office and the show her the poster which shows a ringmaster in a top hat, a lady on a trapeze, a seal and a Shetland pony. Sitting on the back of the pony was a small dog. Immediately Mildred notices that the dog is Star. Mildred pleads with them not to send Star back. She starts to cry. They say it’s a difficult situation but they should at least see if Brilliantine’s Amazing Travelling Circus wants him back. Cackle tells her to keep her head up. Maybe they won’t be able to find the circus and she’ll get to keep Star.

Mildred confesses to Maud that she *did* fly over this circus and realizes that’s why Star jumped to back of the broom and tried to hide. Maud advises to not saying anything to Ethel. if Miss Cackle and H.B. don’t make a huge effort to find the circus, enough time might pass so that they genuinely give up. Then she should also avoid starting a fight with Ethel. It will only make her try harder to find the circus.

Drusilla overhears Enid, Maud, and Mildred outside their door talking about the circus. While initially she was feeling guilty about showing the paper to Ethel and was getting a lot of heat for it (because Ethel didn’t mention she was the one who told of course not) and she was going to apologize to Mildred. Now she can’t resist and goes to tell Ethel about the circus thinking of how much more easy it would make her difficult friend to get along with.

Mildred gets called to Cackle and HB’s office and inside are Mr and Mrs Brilliantine. Mildred takes Star with her but before they get to the office he wanders off down the hall. Mr. and Mrs Brilliantine were surprisingly nice and thoughtful. Miss Cackle had already explained to them how attached Mildred and the dog had become – Mildred had perked up on hearing this – but her hopes were dashed when Miss Cackle told them that Mildred had always known he would have to go back to the circus if it was found. They tell him he feel off the crate when they were moving around. He never liked the circus much but they never mistreated him and always feed him. The audience loved him. They ask for him back if she can bear to part with him.

Mildred says she’d rather not but Cackle says he was never hers to begin with. Then HB brings him in yelping and carrying on. It turns out his name is Binky. Mildred says her goodbyes and asks if she can come visit him. HB says no that would just confuse him and her. So, she leaves the office without another look. She breaks down once in her room and tells Enid and Maud she knows there’s nothing to be done but she wishes there was something she could do to get him back.

Mildred tries to get Tabby on the broomstick but nothings changed and she finds herself getting teased by Ethel and Drusilla. Mildred confronts them but they say nothing. Drusilla blushes. Ethel looks smug. Mildred walks off in tears and anger. Ethel says now things will go back to normal. Mildred will go back to being the worst witch -as it should be-. Maud and Enid tell Mildred things have a way of always turning around for Mildred-as if she has a magic pixie-. All she has to do is be patient and this situation too will work itself out in her favor.


Sadly, it didn’t take long before Mildred found it impossible to concentrate on anything, and she was soon back at the bottom of the class in all subjects. One night she had a horrible dream about Star. He often featured in her dreams (usually happy ones, although these made her sad when she woke up and found they weren’t true), but this one was a nightmare. In the dream, Star was locked up in a crate, with a thunderstorm raging outside, and she was flying around, dodging lightning bolts while trying to get him out.

Mildred woke with a jolt. She was partly glad that it had only been a dream, but she also had an unsettled feeling that the little dog might have been trying to send her a telepathic message. The dream had seemed so real. Mildred decides to go to Queen’s Warren just to make sure he’s ok. She convinces Enid and Maud to come with her. When they get there Binky’s in a cramped cage and starts to howl. This wakes up the owners. They wonder how they got there. (Before they asked what kind of school it was to Cackle and HB seeing the cloaks and uniforms and they were told an old-fashioned one and a magical one). So they make up a story that Enid has an aunt that has long hair and had to go to the hair dressers to get a perm early and dropped them off. So the owners invite them in for breakfast and let Binky out of his cage.

Enid, Maud, and Mildred learn over breakfast that this isn’t much of a circus. Binky seems to pull out all the weight. There’s a seal that won’t even balance a ball on it’s noise and there’s a pony that just trots around the ring and that’s it. Soon its time for them to say goodbye. Miss Brilantine says they could have all three animals if they had something to replace them, but unfortunately Binky has to stay. Mildred wishes again there was something she can do about how unhappy Binky, Spotty, and the pony looked but unfortunately they have to get back before the rising bell.

Mildred has an idea. She’ll use her animal speaking spell to find out of the animals are really unhappy. So, she goes back to the circus. The spells work. The seal says it’s name is Selkie and the Brilliantines found him at Grim Cove. He wants to go home to his family. He’s a Common Seal and the only trick he knows is how to turn into a banana. Mildred says she knows the place and he asks if she can take him back there. He hates it here. He can never seem to please them.

The pony says his real name is Merlin and he once belonged to a nice little girl that had to be sent to boarding school. When she went to school he got sold to the Brillantines They all hate the traveling. Binky says when he came there he was a pupply so he didn’t mind it too much because he didn’t know any other way of life. He enjoyed doing his acrobatic acts each evening -tho it did get boring being left outside and sleeping-. Then he feel out of the crate when they were on the move and she found him and that was wonderful. But then the Brilliantines took him back and he hated every minute there because he knew what he was missing. He begs her to take him home.

Then they all plead with her not to leave them there. Mildred says she’ll have to go back to school for a week or so to think of a plan but she promises them she’ll be back to rescue them. Enid comes up with the idea that they can use Privilege Spell – you know, the one where we can enchant any sort of brush. We could do a flying dustpan and brush for Mr Brilliantine when he’s being a clown, and a big yard-broom for them to do acrobatics on. And a whole load of toothbrushes in different colors to offer the Brillantines in exchange for the animals. The circus owners are astonished and ask how it works. Mildred tells them you just have to speak to them in a particular way. I’ll show you how in a moment. And you have to be very firm with the dustpan and brush. The yard-broom is fine, and the toothbrushes are a dream, but for some reason the dustpan and brush have a bit of a wild streak so you have to show them who’s boss. Then she gives them lessons. They agree to the trade.

They do the transfer spell to send Selkie back. Miss Bat comes into Cackle and HB’s office and says a seal materialized in the pool. HB then spots Mildred, Enid, and Maud arriving back with the dog and the pony. Cackle invites them into her office to explain. It turns out Dulcie (one of the students) is the girl that Merlin belonged to and when Cackle sends her to get him some water she recognizes him and begs Cackle to let her watch him. HB finds out Mildred didn’t do the spell properly because her mind wondered for a minute if they could keep the seal in the pool. HB makes them go to the pool to verify it’s the same seal. Then she does the spell properly and sends it to Grim Cove.

HB wants to find out how Mildred got the circus owners to trade but Cake says the letter is legit so no need. They’ll retire Mildred’s poor unfortunate cat again, let Mildred have fun with Star, and advertise riding lessons in our coming year’s prospectus – and it’s such a pleasant coincidence that Merlin was Dulcie’s pony in the first place. So there you are – everyone’s happy and no harm done. Ethel has Drusilla go to the circus to snoop and see what she can find out. She repots all the magical items used and Ethel is thrilled and goes straight to Cackle and HB. Again Cackle says everyone’s happy and comments that Mildred has all the qualities of being a Head Girl. They go back and forth on whether it should be Ethel or Mildred and why.

At the ceremony, Ethel wins awards for “Highest Grads” and “Best Pilot”. Maud gets the award for “Team Spirit”. Mildred is so engrossed in crosswords with Enid that she’s shocked when she hears her name called as Head Girl. She chooses Enid as her deputy.

My Thoughts:
This one was just a feel good kinda story all around. Mildred gets to keep her pet. She gets Head Girl. Maud gets an award. Enid gets to be second in command. At first, I thought the Brillantine’s would turn out to be horrible and abuse the animals. I wasn’t really crazy about them being locked in those small cages either but I don’t think these people thought that was wrong. Today they don’t even have animals in circus’s anymore because of this. I honestly didn’t know *what* to do with that when I heard it. There was a circus coming here (I think last year) and I wanted to go because it was one of those nostalgic memories I had that my family and I did. And it might motivate me in what I’ve been struggling through to write. Anyways I heard they didn’t have any animals and I was thinking WHAT? What kind of circus is that? It definitely wasn’t the kind I remember and it just cemented that things in this age have gone VERY DOWN HILL! I was thinking ok well can’t they just make better (bigger) cages for the animals. And speaking of circus’s I’m not even sure how this circus made any money. It sounded EXTREMELY LAME! They have two acts (a clown, a trapeze artist, and an acrobat dog). Ok three. I hope it was a free circus. But nice story.

Rating: 7

[Kirsty Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Ashish Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so sad that I completed this series so fast. What will I do now?

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect as always!!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good it deserves 5 stars it is very addicting to read and I read it in 3 day

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the timeliness of these books - the morals or lessons have value (if you look for it) whatever age you are and whatever year you read it.

[Jake Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with the previous couple of books, the best thing about this one is Mildred's concern for/relationship with the animals. To start with, the situation she and Star get into reminded me a lot of the situation she was in with Tabby in the fourth book, but it went off in a different direction so it didn't turn out to be too derivative, even though it wasn't really much good either.

Again Jill Murphy is somewhat guilty of hitting the reset button, although she makes a lot more specific reference to previous books than ever before (I suspect because this is meant to be the final one and has therefore been given a plenary-like feel in places) and we do at least get to enjoy Miss Cackle laying down to Miss Hardbroom all the reasons why Mildred is a better witch, a better student (certainly by Miss Cackle's definition if not by Miss Hardbroom's) and a better person than Ethel.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Candlewick Press through NetGalley.
Latest in the series about Mildred. They move through Year Four in this book. Murphy spins a delightful story about Mildred and her friends Maud and Enid along with her archenemy, Edith. Her text and the illustrations make readers part of the adventures. Mildred has her flaws and quirks and younger readers will relate to her successes and failures. She's an example of showing GRIT and solving problems.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one I hadn't read before and I really enjoyed it. The narration was great too.

[✨️ Louise Allen ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heartfelt Farewell to a Timeless Heroine

Jill Murphy’s First Prize for the Worst Witch is a masterstroke of gentle storytelling — a final chapter that honours the legacy of Mildred Hubble with grace, humour, and emotional clarity. For readers who’ve followed Mildred’s journey from her earliest broomstick blunders to her quiet triumphs, this book feels like a warm hug goodbye — tender, funny, and deeply affirming.

Set in the familiar, slightly wonky corridors of Miss Cackle’s Academy, the summer term brings fresh challenges and subtle shifts. Mildred, still delightfully accident-prone, carries a new sense of purpose. Her growth is handled with a light touch — never preachy, always sincere — and it’s this emotional maturity, woven through Murphy’s crisp prose, that gives the story its heart.

Murphy’s illustrations, as ever, are a joy. They punctuate the narrative with warmth and whimsy, grounding the magical world in something deeply human. There’s a quiet confidence in the way she draws Mildred now — a girl who’s still learning, still stumbling, but who’s finally beginning to believe in herself.

Thematically, the book is rich without being heavy. It celebrates perseverance, kindness, and the courage to be different. It’s a story for anyone who’s ever felt out of step with the world — a gentle reminder that being “the worst” at something doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of praise. In fact, it’s often the ones who struggle most who shine brightest in the end.

What makes this finale so special is its emotional resonance. Murphy doesn’t rely on grand gestures or dramatic twists. Instead, she offers a quiet, powerful affirmation: that being true to yourself is the greatest magic of all. It’s a message that lands with particular poignancy in this final instalment, making it not just a satisfying conclusion, but a deeply moving one.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the series, First Prize for the Worst Witch is a beautifully crafted farewell — a celebration of imperfection, resilience, and the kind of magic that lives in the margins. A five-star gem that lingers long after the last page.
❤️✨️🧙‍♀️

[Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog) Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A missing circus dog, a chance of an important prize and the usual cast of Miss Cackle, Miss Bat, Miss Hardbroom, Mildred, Maud, Enid, Ethel and Druisilla make up another fun story at Cackles Academy. It’s as well and reliably written as they always have been for primary school/middle grade children with themes of school life, magic, friendship and teamwork, mixed in with humour, this series always entertains and is perfect for reading for pleasure. Whether you’re new to this series or an established reader to them, this is a book you can dive right into.

Mildred Hubble, the most haphazard witch in Cackles Academy is back for the summer term, as are her fellow witchy class mates. She still has her trusty cat – Tabby, plus a tortoise – Einstein and another addition from last term – a dog – Star.
There’s fun with trying to get a Fourth Year Firsts prize and what Mildred really wants is to be picked as Head Girl. That gets Maud giggling so much! Readers of this series will know that Mildred’s reputation isn’t exactly favourable in Cackles Academy and her witch skills leave a lot to be desired. Ethel Hallow is also bemused by her even reaching fourth year!

There’s also the addition to the school – a swimming pool with all manner of pond life in it, which causes excitement and ideas, which leads to creating spells that go wrong, leaving Miss Hardbroom (HB) to fix things out with a Selkie.

Druisilla and Ethel discovered a poster that shows Star to actually be a missing dog from a circus and Miss Cackle and Miss Hardbroom are left to deal with it, a situation, Mildred only goes and makes worse for those involved, including the Brilliantines at the circus.

Ethel and Druisilla are still up to their tricks on poor Mildred, to sabotage anything she wants to try and acheive. Maud and Enid are never too far behind, trying to keep her spirits up.

It’s another joyous addition to the Worst Witch series. I’ve read from this series since I was a child and more recently, to school children and it still never fails to entertain.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mildred Hubble, the worst witch at Miss Cackle's School for Witches, has somehow made it to the summer term of Year Four, the year during which first prizes are awarded and the head girl is named because Year Five is all about studying for the Witches' Higher Certificate exams. Between Mildred and her best friends, Maud and Enid, only one of them hopes to win anything at the end of the term – Maud is hoping for a first prize in Team Spirit – but everyone knows all the serious prizes will go to Mildred's nemesis, Ethel Hallow. And also, there's never been a Hallow at the school who didn't end up as head girl. Mildred's just hoping to continue flying with her acrobatic dog, Star, and work hard to prove that she isn't always the worst witch.

Hardly surprising, if you've followed the series so far, Ethel isn't content to let Mildred have even that. She and her toadie, Drusilla, arrange to have Star's previous owners – Mr. and Mrs. Brilliantine, who run a small circus – show up at the school to claim their dog. It's an entertaining scene in which you might realize that no one from the non-magical world has appeared in the series till now. Of course it wrecks Mildred, emotionally and academically, to have Star taken away from her. But slowly, she and Enid and Maud concoct a scheme to get Star back – a scheme that incidentally involves a couple other circus animals, some zany enchanted objects and a transportation spell that goes hilariously wrong. Will they succeed or will the whole caper end in disaster? Don't just guess. Grab the book, or better yet, the box set.

This book represents the end of an eight-book, 44-year project by Jill Murphy, a British children's author and illustrator who passed away in 2021. Perhaps sadly, it leaves to our imagination what Mildred Hubble would have gotten up to during her final year at Miss Cackle's School for Witches. But seeing the "worst witch" named Head Girl going into that last year also brings the series to a pretty satisfying conclusion. It's nice how things like that work out sometimes.

[Sanchari Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everything's back to normal now: Mildred Hubble the worst witch in the school, just as it should be."

Mildred Hubble once again heads towards Miss Crackle's Academy for Witches with the hope to win the most prestigious honour of being the Head Girl. All she has to do is work hard, stay out of troubles and be the best in everything. A little too hard for the Worst Witch.

It gets harder when her pet dog, Star is mercilessly snatched away from her to be handed over to a Circus community. A heart-broken Mildred suffers a great deal from the devastating loss and again finds herself at the bottom of the class. With Star no longer beside her and her arch-enemy stirring things up, Mildred seems to be back to square one.

And when she learns that the circus animals hates being there, the Worst Witch assumes her former position of creating magical mayhem to go on a rescue mission, jeopardizing her chances of becoming the Head Girl at Crackle's. But Mildred always has her own exasperating way of doing things and still spectacularly ending up exactly where she wanted to be!

Ride alongside Mildred Hubble in Jill Murphy's "First Prize for the Worst Witch" as she strides forward to win the school's highest honour and ends up brewing a cauldron of troubles, only to become the little game-changer at Crackle's Academy.

As it appears, the Worst Witch does have some magical qualities to earn the most prestigious award for herself after all!

"Mildred does have a quite extraordinary knack of sorting things out, doesn't she?"

[Sarah Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Prize for the Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Mildred is back with all her friends and animal companions, including her dog, Star, with Amazing acrobatic skills. He loves flying alongside Mildred on her broomstick.

Unfortunately, as usual Ethel and her friends are keen to stir up trouble. When Drusilla stumbles across a missing poster for Star, Ethel can’t wait to inform Miss Cackle and poor Mildred is forced to give Star back to the Circus forever unless an alternative act can be found. Mildred's going to need her friends help to come up with a plan to find an alternative act for the circus and rescue Star and the other circus animals.

As usual, the latest book in The Worst Witch series is all about the ups and down of Mildred’s school life.

When I read this book, I found myself transported back to my seven year old self, who saw herself in Mildred and the challenges she faces. I’m sure many young readers feel the same. Any child who knows what it’s like to lose a beloved pet will feel Mildred's anguish at losing Star. They'll be flying along with Mildred, hoping everything works out in the end. It’s another winning story for The Worst Witch.

5 out of 5 stars. With thanks to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.