Howl’s Moving Castle
By: Diana Wynne Jones
My Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Best for: 12 and up

A little bit odd, a lot bit fun

I’ve been hearing about Howl’s Moving Castle for years, so I figured it was time to give it a try.

I’m glad I did!

Howls Moving Castle is an enchanting story that feels a lot like a classic fairy tale with a handful of modern twists, and the mashup worked really well. It’s very NOT “on the nose” though–you have to work pretty hard to follow the story and keep up with the clues. Several times I discovered something briefly referenced early in the story turned out to be an important clue, and this style left me (and other reviewers) surprised with some of the reveals. Not a negative, necessarily. More an admonition to keep your wits about you as read!

The characters in Howl’s Moving Castle were delightful, one and all. But for me, the real star of this story was the amazing world they all lived in. In this world magic is the norm, Wizard and Witches are as common as Hatters or Tailors, and there are portals to other worlds, including one that leads to a place called Wales…

There is room enough in this world Diana Wynne Jones built for many, many more stories, and I’m sure they will all be as delightful as Howl’s Moving Castle!

No content concerns. Some very mild language. It’s a bit of a complex story for younger readers. I say best for advanced 12 and up.

Happy Reading!