Verdigris Deep facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Frances Hardinge |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's fantasy |
| Publisher | Macmillan Publishers |
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Publication date
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4 May 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 400 (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | 978-1-4050-5537-6 |
| OCLC | 81453294 |
Verdigris Deep is an exciting adventure and fantasy novel written by Frances Hardinge. It tells the story of three kids who get tangled up with a "well witch." This happens after they take coins from a wishing well. The witch gives them special powers to help grant other people's wishes. But even though some wishes seem harmless, they often lead to dangerous situations. The book first came out in the UK in 2007. It was later released in the United States as Well Witched.
Contents
Story Summary
The story begins with three friends: Ryan, Chelle, and Josh. They are stuck without bus fare to get home. Josh decides to climb into an old wishing well. He pulls out some old, dark coins from the bottom.
The very next day, strange things start to happen to them. Ryan sees a watery face in his mirror. He also finds odd white lumps growing on his hands. Light bulbs start exploding in Josh's house. And Chelle's usual chatter becomes surprisingly weird and clear.
Ryan then has a vision of the well witch. He understands from her gurgling words that they are now her servants. This is because they took her coins. She has given each of them special powers. These powers will help them find people who have made wishes. They must discover these wishes and help make them come true. The witch also gives Ryan the name of a nearby village.
In the village, they realize Chelle is speaking the thoughts of a tea-shop owner named Will Wurthers. They guess he wished for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. They convince him to enter a competition to win one. At the fete where the motorcycle winner is announced, they hear the thoughts of an unhappy mime. They think he wishes for fame.
In trying to grant his wish, they accidentally cause a big riot at the fete. Then, they learn that Will has been badly hurt in an accident. When Chelle overhears someone wishing for revenge, she gets scared. She and Ryan decide they should not grant any more wishes.
However, Josh is determined to keep his growing power. He can now control machines, metals, and electronics. When he loses control and tries to harm Ryan's mother, Ryan thinks of a way to weaken the witch's power. But Josh also has his own plan. His plan nearly causes all of them to die.
Main Characters
Ryan
Ryan is a smart but quiet boy. His only two friends are Chelle and Josh. He is known for seeing things in an "upside down" way. The well witch gives him a special power of sight. This power shows up as eyes growing on his hands. He can see the well witch when she talks to him. He can also see Josh's power working. Ryan sees people's wishes as glowing snakes coming from their chests. He also understands a lot about the well witch and what wishes truly mean.
Chelle
Chelle is a girl who feels unsure of herself. She tends to talk a lot and quickly. She really dislikes getting into trouble. She also has a low opinion of herself. Her power is telepathic. This means she can hear people's thoughts. The thoughts of people who have made wishes at the well spill out of her mouth. This happens uncontrollably when they are close by.
Josh
Josh is the leader of the three friends. He is confident, full of energy, and popular. However, he feels unwanted by his adoptive parents, who are getting divorced. He is also jealous of Ryan's family. Josh's power is linked to electromagnetism. It affects metals, machines, and electronic devices. He gets very excited as he gains more control over his power. He doesn't care much about Ryan and Chelle's worries about right and wrong.
Mother Leathertongue (The Well Witch)
Mother Leathertongue is also known as the well witch. She is a very old water spirit who lives at the bottom of the well. She gets stronger when wishes are granted. But the human world is too confusing for her. So, she has to work through others, like the children. Her power can cause heavy rain and even floods.
Miss Gossamer
Miss Gossamer is an older woman. She is a friend of Chelle's family. She recognizes the special powers the trio has. In the past, the previous "Well's Angels" caused her baby daughter to drown. This happened because Miss Gossamer had wished not to have a child during her unwanted pregnancy. She is almost losing her mind. She believes that Chelle and the others are demons, not just children.
Awards and Recognition
The novel was nominated for the Carnegie Medal in 2008. This is a major award for children's books.
