More like The Word Eater

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The Halloween TreeNovel
Ray Bradburystandalone novel1972
Adventure, about friendship and grief and loss.
“Eight boys gather on Halloween night to trick-or-treat with their ninth friend, Pipkin, only Pipkin never shows, having vanished on some errand that may cost him his life.”
from the catalogue
James and the Giant PeachNovel
Roald Dahlstandalone novel1961
Adventurous in tone, about found family.
“There have been re-illustrated versions of it over the years, drawn by Michael Simeon, Emma Chichester Clark, Lane Smith and Quentin Blake.”
from the catalogue
Charlie (Roald Dahl)Series
series6 books1964
completed
Funny in tone.
Start with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory →
Black and Blue MagicNovel
Zilpha Keatley Snyderstandalone novel1966
About identity.
“Twelve-year-old Harry Houdini Marco is awkward and clumsy, bearing little resemblance to his magician namesake, until he acquires the gift of flight.”
from the catalogue
The Ogre DownstairsNovel
Diana Wynne Jonesstandalone novel1974
Funny in tone, about family secrets, set in british isles.
“When a disagreeable man with two boys marries a widow with three children, family adjustments are complicated by two magic chemistry sets which cause strange things to happen around the house.”
from the catalogue
What-the-DickensNovel
Gregory Maguirestandalone novel2007
Fairy tale retelling, about fae.
“A terrible storm is raging, and ten-year-old Dinah is huddled by candlelight with her brother, sister, and cousin Gage, who is telling a very unusual tale.”
from the catalogue