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TL;DR: A young boy, raised by his Norwegian grandmother after his parents die, learns that real witches secretly hate children. At a seaside hotel, he stumbles on a meeting of England's witches, led by the terrifying Grand High Witch, who plans to turn every child into a mouse. Turned into a mouse himself, he fights back.
Table of Contents
The Witches at a Glance
| Author | Roald Dahl |
| First published | 1983 |
| Type | Novel |
| Best for | children who enjoy a scary, funny adventure with a brave hero |
The Witches is a children's novel by Roald Dahl, published in 1983 with illustrations by Quentin Blake. It is one of Dahl's darkest and most thrilling books. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes the death of parents and scary scenes.
Main Characters
- The narrator: A brave boy who discovers the witches' plot.
- Grandmamma: His wise, cigar-smoking Norwegian grandmother.
- The Grand High Witch: The most powerful and evil witch in the world.
- Bruno Jenkins: A greedy boy also turned into a mouse.
- Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins: Bruno's parents.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
Real witches
After his parents die in a car crash, the boy lives with his grandmother in Norway. She tells him that real witches look like ordinary women but are bald, wear wigs and gloves to hide claws, have square feet with no toes and can smell children. They hate children and want to get rid of them.
The hotel
The boy and his grandmother move to England. When his grandmother falls ill, they stay at a seaside hotel. The boy hides in a ballroom to train his pet mice and becomes trapped when a meeting of the “Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children” begins. The women are witches.
Formula 86
The Grand High Witch reveals her plan: open sweet shops across England and sell sweets laced with Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker, turning children into mice. She demonstrates on Bruno Jenkins. Then the witches smell the boy, catch him and turn him into a mouse.
Fighting back
The boy, still able to talk, escapes to his grandmother, who believes him at once. Together they steal a bottle of the formula from the Grand High Witch's room. The boy sneaks into the hotel kitchen and pours it into the witches' dinner.
The ending
At dinner, the witches turn into mice and are killed by the hotel staff. The boy remains a mouse, but he is happy, because mice live only about nine years, which means he and his grandmother will die at about the same time. They plan to use the Grand High Witch's money and formula to destroy all witches in America.
5 Key Takeaways
- Courage does not depend on size.
- Trust and love between generations are powerful.
- Evil can look ordinary.
- Happiness can come from unexpected outcomes.
- Cleverness can defeat danger.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- It does not matter who you are or what you look like, so long as somebody loves you.
- Bravery can come in small packages.
- Listen to those who know more than you.
Who Should Read The Witches?
Read The Witches if you want a scary, funny Dahl adventure. It suits readers aged 8 and up who enjoy a thrill.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of The Witches:
- How does the ending make you feel?
- Why does Grandmamma believe the boy so quickly?
- What makes the witches so frightening?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether The Witches is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of The Witches, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
If the summary caught your interest, read the opening chapters before you decide. A summary tells you what happens, but the voice and pacing are what make a book work or not.
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What to Read Next
- Matilda by Roald Dahl: another Dahl classic
- The BFG by Roald Dahl: a friendlier Dahl adventure
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman: a creepy but brave adventure
Related: 15 Books Like The Witches You’ll Love · Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Witches about?
A boy and his grandmother fight witches who want to turn children into mice.
How do you spot a witch?
They wear wigs and gloves, have square feet and can smell children.
What is Formula 86?
A potion that turns children into mice.
Does the boy turn back into a human?
No. He stays a mouse and is happy.
Who is the Grand High Witch?
The most powerful witch in the world.
What happens to Bruno?
He is turned into a mouse and returned to his parents.
Is The Witches scary?
Yes, it is one of Dahl's scariest books.
What age is it for?
About 8 and up.
Is there a film?
Yes, in 1990 and 2020.
How long is it?
About 200 pages.
Is The Witches worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for children who enjoy a scary, funny adventure with a brave hero. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.