Healer and Witch

By: Nancy Werlin

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh

After eleven young-adult novels, best-selling and award-winning author Nancy Werlin casts a brilliant new spell in a middle-grade historical fantasy for fans of classic fare.

Nancy Werlin’s first story for middle-grade readers tackles and transcends traditional fantasy tropes: can a young woman gifted with magic learn to manage her powers—and claim her strength—without violence? Sylvie and her mother and grandmother are beloved, trusted healers in their medieval French village, though some whisper that fifteen-year-old Sylvie and her grand-mere deal in more than herbs and medicines. Perhaps they’re a bit…witchy? After her grandmother dies, and an attempt to use magic to heal her mother’s grief brooks tragic consequences, Sylvie leaves her village in search of a teacher. The journey subjects her to strange alliances, powerful temptations, danger, and deceit. In the end, there may be only one wise woman Sylvie can trust in a world that would define her limits: herself. Beautifully crafted, this quietly powerful work for younger listeners assures a whole new audience for an established author.

an introduction to adults with complex motives

The subtlety of character--adults who seem good, then bad, then hard to determine--is a rarity in middle-grade fiction. Only Phillip Pullman does it as well as Nancy Werlin. The plucky young heroine is also complex and believable. This one is very worth the time.