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 Reviewed by Sabrina Williams for Breeni Books Oct 30, 2008
By Breeni Books
"www.breenibooks.com"
ElsBeth is a young witch with very ordinary concerns, like that annoying boy in class, Robert. If she's not being taunted by Robert, her teacher, Ms. Finch, is determined to make her days unbearable. As Halloween approaches and the class prepares for holiday festivities, ElsBeth will be presented with a challenge above and beyond typical childhood trials.
Because of the excitement surrounding the upcoming Halloween pageant, no one seems to notice when all of the boys in the class mysteriously disappear. By the time their absence is realized, they've been gone far too long to be up to typical little boy mischief. As everyone in town heads out to search for the missing children, ElsBeth leads the girls in her class on a magical rescue mission.
The boys have gotten in over their heads in a quest for hidden pirate treasure. With the help of some enchanted friends, ElsBeth discovers her classmates' whereabouts in a hidden cave. Even more surprises await when she finds the boys are not alone in the cave.
Fairies, witches, toads, pirates, and Indians make up the character-driven cast of The Cape Cod Witch and the Pirate's Treasure by J Bean Palmer. The cast is part of an interesting cross between magic and reality. ElsBeth and her grandmother are both modern witches with roots in Earth magic and herbal medicine. They've also got that Sabrina the Teenage Witch flair with talking familiars and ancient spells.
ElsBeth sets an example for her classmates with her reverence of nature, encouraging them to consider how their actions affect creatures of the wild. This is an admirable quality to include in children's literature. Its influence likely stems from Palmer's career in Environmental Science.
The plot feels a bit hasty in spots, and some areas could use further explaining. For instance, there's really no explanation why Ms. Finch targets ElsBeth in class and constantly assumes she's causing trouble. The teacher seems to have a grudge against the innocent child for no reason at all. Her grandmother is aware of the problem, but doesn't think it warrants intervention.
Also, after ElsBeth saves the day and she's reflecting on what happened in the cave, she asks her friend Johnny what he meant by something he said. I've scoured the chapter over and over and cannot figure out what she was referring to, unless it's when Johnny tells her he knows she a witch. There's no other part of the story that indicates ElsBeth has concealed her identity, so it doesn't fit with the storyline. And if she is hiding her witch skills, why? Is there prejudice against witches in her town, or is it for other reasons? Johnny uses Indian sign language at one point to communicate to ElsBeth, but how does she understand him? Is this something she was taught by her grandmother, or can everyone interpret his signing?
Answers to these questions could enhance the story if included, creating a more three-dimensional world view. ElsBeth has a lot of potential. Palmer could really use her protagonist to introduce children to other cultures and bring greater understanding of nature spirituality. I was impressed with the way ElsBeth's grandmother utilized the shamanic revelations of her Native American friends to solve the problem. Unfortunately, her friends are presented as a bit disgruntled and hostile.
ElsBeth could be a very influential figure in children's literature. Her world could use some depth, but the foundation is solid. She's a strong witch with an enduring spirit who could tackle any number of problems. I can see many other magical characters being introduced in her tutelage. All the makings are present for an exciting children's book series.
 Middle-Grade Series Jul 11, 2009
By 365andMe
The littlest witch of Cape Cod is ElsBeth Amelia Thistle. She's in second grade and already hates it. Her teacher is Ms. Finch, a mean unfriendly person. She's forever giving ElsBeth detention. Then there's Robert Hillman-Jones. He is a nasty boy always trying to get ElsBeth into trouble. But she ignores these troubles as best as she can.
Halloween is coming up and ElsBeth is excited. But all the boys seem to be planning something. It might have something to do with the lost treasure of Billy Bowlegs. In any case she needs to be prepared. She may be the youngest witch on Cape Cod, but that's not going to stop her from having an adventure.
The reading level says ages 9-12, but I think younger kids who are advanced in reading would appreciate this series. I was an earlier reader and had trouble finding interesting books to challenge me. This would have been perfect.
Also I want to mention how much I loved the artwork inside the book. You can see some on the cover, but inside there is more.
(Review by my daughter)
Witches on Cape Cod? Oh my! May 17, 2009
By DelGal's Book Reviews
The youngest witch on Cape Cod, Elsbeth Amelia Thistle, is growing up in a fairly normal fashion with her grandmother, Hannah Goodspell, a silly and mischievous black cat, and attends a local school where she has a few interesting but non-magical friends. During Halloween, some of the school children decide they want to uncover a local legend about a pirate, Billy Bowlegs, and his treasure. The children manage to sneak off to embark on a treasure hunt, but find themselves in quite a scary predicament.
J. Bean Palmer skillfully weaves an enchanting story filled with many excellent characters, not merely limited to the youngest witch, Elsbeth, but a prince turned into a frog, and local Indians who help when needs arise. Not only does the author add a touch of Cape Cod history and flair throughout the book which will delight both locals, visitors, and even those who have never experienced this quaint sea town, but a few environmental issues are discussed in such a way to both entertain and create an important statement. The Cape Cod Witch and the Pirate's Treasure is also filled with colorful illustrations by Melanie Therrien which are generously laced throughout, enhancing significant parts of the story. Readers both young and old will undoubtedly enjoy Elsbeth's adventure, and will look forward to hearing continued tales of the youngest witch on Cape Cod.
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