"[Barnhill] is an eloquent writer who spins beautiful lines...This spellbinding fantasy begs for a cozy chair, a stash of Halloween candy, and several hours of uninterrupted reading time."

"Barnhill skillfully interweaves the stories of Ned, Áine, Sister Witch, and the stones, along with an intriguing group of secondary characters. The third-person narration switches perspective smoothly, and it's all related in a precise, flowing prose that easily places readers into the fantastic setting and catches them up in the story. The classic fantasy elements are all there, richly reimagined, with a vivid setting, a page-turning adventure of a plot, and compelling, timeless themes."

"Barnhill...creates an absorbing world of kingdoms and prophecies in which transformation comes through language and through courage and self-awareness as well...Áine, with her sharp survival skills and fearless navigation of the forest, is a cunning and strong figure unlike any typical damsel in distress. She is sure to make young girls aspire to more than the dainty and pretty female image of older fairy tales. The Witch's Boy may be yet another children's novel about magic, but it should open young readers' eyes to something that is all around them in the very world we live in: the magic of words."

"In a story of an unexpected hero, a thief's daughter, and some very tricky magic, Barnhill weaves a powerful narrative about the small tragedies that happen when parents fail their children, even with the best intentions...Barnhill makes bold character choices: Ned is soft, but never weak, while Áine is tough, prickly, yet sympathetic. Peripheral adults are well fleshed out, from Ned's father, devastated by the loss of one child and afraid to show his love for the other, to a sensible queen who knows the value of a good witch. Barnhill elegantly joins the story's diverse threads in a complex tale whose poignancy never turns sentimental."

"In [this] gorgeously written and fast-paced adventure through forest and flood, bandits and courtiers, wolves and queens and witches, the boy and the girl must stop a war, restore magic to its rightful place, and find their own places in a world they've helped to make bigger. Barnhill is a fantasist on the order of Neil Gaiman, and this story feels fully inhabited."

"Kelly Barnhill is deft at crafting strong characters, and this classic fairy tale is filled with otherworldly beasties and plenty of magic."

"The boy's growing confidence and ability to wield and protect his mother's magic adds elements of a classic origin-quest tale to a story that's already brimming with a well-drawn, colorful supporting cast, a strong sense of place, and an enchanted forest with a personality to rival some of the best depictions of magical woods."

"The characters are vivid and well developed, despite their basis in fairytale archetypes. The writing is beautiful and lyrical but keeps pace with an action-packed story. Powerful themes of grief, redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, and generosity are all present. Recommend this title to those who like retellings and strong, narrative fantasy."

"While the story moves slowly at times, Ned and Áine's adventures will appeal to fans of middle-grade fantasy, and Lister's narration adds to the magical feel of the story."

When Ned and his identical twin brother tumble from their raft into a raging river, only Ned survives. Villagers are convinced the wrong boy lived. Across the forest that borders Ned's village, Áine, the daughter of the Bandit King, is haunted by her mother's last words: "The wrong boy will save your life, and you will save his." When the Bandit King comes to steal the magic Ned's mother, a witch, is meant to protect, Áine and Ned meet. Can they trust each other long enough to cross a dangerous enchanted forest and stop the war about to boil over between their two kingdoms?

"Barnhill is a fantasist on the order of Neil Gaiman." --Minneapolis Star Tribune

"[The Witch's Boy] should open young readers' eyes to something that is all around them in the very world we live in: the magic of words." --The New York Times

"This is a book to treasure." --Nerdy Book Club

A Washington Post Best Book of 2014
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2014
A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2014
A Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" 2014