Ravenwolf, S. (1998). Teen Witch. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications.
ISBN-10: 1567187250
•Plot Summary
Craft writer Silver Ravenwolf brings her down to earth methods of teaching and knowledge of Wicca to today's teen audiences. Beginning with a introduction on what brought her to the Craft (a conversation with an older and wiser relative whom she idolized) the next stage of her manual is an extensive chapter on practical reasons why teens might be interested in the Craft, religious persecution of innocents accused of witchcraft, principles of belief, and what the Craft truly entails/does not. From there, this manual moves into the basics of Wiccan traditions, creation myths, raising power, constructing a circle for magickal purposes, information on full moons, holidays, and creating a personal altar. Lest teens believe that the Craft is only about performing spells, the third chapter is entirely devoted to rituals, including those especially designed for teen situations. It isn't until the fourth chapter that magick truly enters the scene, and Silver first talks about details such as prayer, music, meditation, and invocation/evocation before discussing the more obvious elements of magick with candles, the elements, alphabets, herbs, incenses, and oils. She describes why magick might not work, reminds teens not to dabble in darker things that might turn out to bite them in the end, and is explicit in her explanation that magick and alcohol don't mix. While she does point out spells for such things as love, they are never about changing the will of another person, but only about attracting it to her readers, deflecting the advances of those with whom teens aren't interested, and removing walls to success that others may (either intentionally or unintentionally) place before them. Chapters seven and eight are about magicks surrounding healing and prosperity, and readers are advised to only heal those that agree, make sure you're on the right path several times while working, and that a spell will only work if there is actual work done right along with (i.e. nothing worth having comes free). Chapters nine and ten involve magick to bring wisdom and for protection, but again, there are advisories about how the spirit in which these should be performed. Chapter ten has assorted fun spells for everything from making the day a little brighter to just getting some peace and quiet. Finally, chapter eleven enters into discussion about how teens should discuss the Craft with their parents, friends, and others, how to fight discrimination in a responsible way, how to network with other Wiccan teens, and future reads that might help answer any remaining questions.
•Critical Evaluation
A candid, insightful look into the Wiccan religion as explained by one of its foremost authors and educators. Created for teens, by a mother of four, but suitable for beginning adults as well. Some readers might be annoyed by the quaint language, and many of her texts have been called "fluff", but this is fine for the age group included in this evaluation.
•Reader’s Annotation
Silver Ravenwolf's first book for teens. Newer titles also available in the fiction genre for this age group.
•Information about the author
Silver Ravenwolf became interested in magick at the age of thirteen, although her father was a Lutheran, and her mother a practicing Baptist. She goes into extensive detail about her young life in this book, and it can be described as quiet, safe, and without "malfunctions". Her introduction to the Craft came from a deck of tarot cards, and Sybil Leek's Diary of a Witch.
Silver has authored over twenty books on Wicca, pagan holidays, and various other Craft optics. She is the Black Forest Circle and Seminary, an organization that encompasses thirty-eight clans, each containing several covens. She is a mother of four, fifty-three years old, and lives with her husband in Pennsylvania.
•Genre
Non-Fiction
•Curriculum Ties
Comparative religion
•Booktalking Ideas
Religion, tolerance
•Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9-12/Ages 14-18
•Challenge Issues
While the language in this book is suitable for the age group, many parents might object to the topic alone, believing that by showing an interest in Wicca or the Craft, they are courting trouble or becoming involved in drugs, alcohol or satanic rituals. The first chapters of this book contain information about just these topics, and I would recommend going over them with the parents, as well as potentially supplementing the material with books and articles from reliable sources written for adults. Ex: The Truth About Witchcraft Today and Wicca 101, both by Scott Cunningham, and articles available on The Witches' Voice website.
•Why did you include this book in you’re the titles you selected?
As a long time practitioner, I decided to pick up this book several years ago in order to educate my daughter. I am not Wiccan, but many of the elements were parallel to my own. Until now, she has been too young to really instruct, and she has only recently become interested in the topic, so I had not read the entire manual.
