Cheap Escape to Witch Mountain (Book) (Alexander Key) Price

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Customer Reviews of Escape to Witch Mountain

One that I have always remembered from my childhood
I went searching for this book and have been delighted to find a copy of the ORIGINAL story (not the horrible Disney adaption...ick!) that I can share with my children. Though this story was second to 'The Forgotten Door' in my estimation, it is a lovely, mystical adventure that takes the reader along a gentle path of discovery. It is probably the best introduction a young reader could have to science fiction, and also introduces the concept of living in balance with nature. I can recommend both this book and 'The Forgotten Door' very highly.

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Magic's still there
I was entranced by this book (and even by the schlocky Disney movie) when I was a kid, and remembered Tony and Tia vividly as I grew up. I just reread the book for the first time as an adult, and it still works its magic. Anyone who knows or strongly recalls the pain, rage, and suffocating frustration of being a child surrounded by unsympathetic, uncaring, irrational adults will identify powerfully with all the trials T&T go through. I used to long for a "people" of my own to reunite with, and envy T&T for their finding this at last, despite all the harrowing disasters they undergo on the way. The story is haunting and moving.

I've only given 4 stars because the story does seem a tad dated now in several aspects: the writing style at times (but I like old-fashioned writing), the fact that they are rescued from their crisis by adults rather than pulling themselves out of it (violating today's usual doctrine for good children's lit), and the politics, sort of. About the politics, one of the "good guys" makes disparaging remarks about communists in a way that really sounds pretty old and simplistic (not that I'm a huge fan of communists), plus, he conveys a clear message about God and Christianity that I find mildly offensive. However, this is balanced by the fact that he also makes disparaging remarks about the rampant commercialism of American society; so his criticism is at least even-handed.

I want to close by reiterating that to me, these minor negative points are vastly outweighed by the magic and the power of the story, and of Tony and Tia. They are marvelous people that I wish I knew personally; they face genuine danger and difficulties with aplomb; their love for one another is well developed and not gooey; they are courageous and resourceful; their magical abilities are well thought up by Key, and complement each other; and all in all, they impart a wistful sense that the world would be a better place if people like this really existed.

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Excellent SF book for young teens
I hadn't thought of this book for many years. This book (along with another by the same author "The Forgotten Door") set me on a lifetime of reading science fiction and fantasy. I have rarely rediscovered the sheer unadulterated *magic* that I felt while reading this book. Tony and Tia are teens and most teens will relate to them and will get caught up in the mystery and the adventure. I haven't reread it in years and years but I remain certain that for young readers this would be a book they would treasure. Forget about the Disney movie: It was silly popcorn fluff that I am sure crushingly disappointed every fan of the book. This book is about as serious as young adult science fiction gets. (And for those adults who enjoy Harry Potter: take a look at this book too! You won't be disappointed!)