The Witch's Daughter facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Nina Bawden |
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| Illustrator | Shirley Hughes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Victor Gollancz |
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Publication date
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1966 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback; Paperback) |
| Pages | 160 pp |
The Witch's Daughter is a children's book written by Nina Bawden. It was first published in 1966. This exciting story has also been made into a TV show two times. Fiona Kennedy played the main character in 1971, and Sammy Glenn took on the role in 1996.
Contents
What Is The Witch's Daughter About?
This story takes place on a small, faraway island in Scotland called Skua. A girl named Perdita lives there. The people on the island call her "the witch's daughter." They believe her mother cursed the sea, which is how most of the islanders make their living. Perdita lives alone in an old house by a lake. She does not go to school and has no friends.
Perdita's Lonely Life on Skua Island
Perdita's house belongs to a man named Mr. Smith. He is usually away. When he visits, he expects Perdita to stay out of his way. The other kids on the island avoid Perdita or are mean to her. They say she is a witch, just like they believe her mother was.
New Friends Arrive on the Island
One summer, two visitors come to Skua Island. They are Janey, who cannot see, and her older brother Tim. Their father is a scientist who studies nature. He hopes to find a very rare flower on the island. Another visitor, Mr. Jones, also arrives at the same time. He stays at the village inn.
Tim and Janey soon become friends with Perdita. At first, Perdita is very shy. She has only known unkindness from other children. Mr. Smith then comes to stay at his old house with Perdita. One evening, Perdita hears Mr. Jones talking with Mr. Smith in the kitchen.
An Island Adventure Begins
The three children, Perdita, Tim, and Janey, start exploring the island together. Tim loves old rocks and finds many fossils. They explore the island's secret caves. They also look into an old mystery and a new problem. Tim's father is hurt, and they try to find out what happened. During their adventures, they also discover a hidden treasure!
Facing Danger and Finding Treasure
The children soon realize that Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith are not who they say they are. These men are actually criminals. They had stolen many valuable jewels from a bank a few years ago. They hid these jewels in the sea caves around the island. The criminals try to get the treasure back, but the children are brave. In the end, the children are safe, and the thieves do not get the stolen jewels. The children find the hidden treasure. The jewels are given to the police so they can be returned to the bank.
A Happy Ending for Perdita
Tim and Janey's holiday on Skua Island comes to an end. They are with their father as they get on the ferry to leave. Just as the ferry is pulling away, Perdita runs to them. She brings a bunch of wild flowers she picked for Janey. These are the very rare flowers that Tim and Janey's father was looking for! This means they might come back to the island another time. Perdita can then show him where the flowers grow.
Because Perdita helped find the treasure, she is now seen as a hero. The local children stop being mean to her. The story ends with Perdita expected to start attending school soon. She will no longer be so alone.
The Witch's Daughter on Television
The Witch's Daughter has been made into a TV show two times.
1971 BBC Mini-Series
The first TV version was made by the BBC in 1971. It was a mini-series with five episodes.
- Fiona Kennedy played Perdita.
- Gillian Bailey played Janey.
- Spencer Banks played Tim.
1996 Scottish Television Film
The second TV version was a 90-minute movie made by Scottish Television in 1996.
- Sammy Glenn played Perdita.
- Richard Claxton played Tim.
- Peter Firth played Mr. Jones.
- Patrick Bergin played Mr. Smith.
This movie changed some things from the book. For example, the character Janey was not in the film. The movie also had a more positive ending. Alan Macmillan directed the 1996 TV movie.
