Up Goes the Skyscraper!

Jones has outdone herself in this frolicking, warmhearted fantasy. Convinced she's a failure, Sophie Hatter is resigned to working in her stepmother's hat shop. Then the evil Witch of the Waste appears, turning Sophie into an old woman. For the first time, Sophie must take charge of her own life. But she also must free herself from the Witch's spelland the only one who can help her is the Wizard Howl, whose moving castle is terrifying the countryside and who is rumored to suck the souls of young girls. Everything is part of a vast jigsaw puzzle, and no one and nothing is as it seems. There are spells and counterspells, battles, fire demons, possessed scarecrows, lost loves, and intertwining worlds, and it's all great fun. Thoroughly enjoyable, a wonderful blend of humor, magic and romance. (12-up)