This is one of those stories written for children that's also suitable for adults. This adult liked it, anyway.

Despite the title, this isn’t a supernatural tale. Rather, it’s set when people were superstitious about anyone who’s different to the norm. The ‘witch’ is a wise woman who people are a little afraid of but they seek her help for cures to ailments.

The ‘brat' is the wise woman’s grandson. He’s also humpbacked and lame, which really earns people’s distrust. After his grandmother dies early in the novel, the boy loses his protection and is persecuted.

The plot is set over several years during the first quarter of the twelfth century. Monks and monasteries are the main settings.

I like the first two-thirds of the book much more than the final third when we have a change of scenery. This involves a lot of static description regarding the main character’s journey on foot to London. Once he reaches London, my interest wanes a little. It’s not terrible or boring, but it’s lacking something that’s present earlier in the story.

Overall, though, it’s worth a read. ( )

Excellent. Sutcliff always has good, solid, realistic characters - this one is no exception. It's set a good deal later than her usual Roman Britain ones - around the death of Prince Hal in the White Ship (which is a somewhat important event in the story). The setting is very solid and realistic as well; she tells us who is a historical character and who isn't, but weaves the story so nicely that they _could_ have been real. I was crying at several points, and laughing at others. It's a skinny little book and presented as a children's book, but she's definitely not talking down to children!
Reread - still excellent. And worth rereading many times more. ( )

"You will be one of the menders of this world; not the makers, nor yet the breakers; just one of the menders. . . . When the time comes, you'll know."

-- Rosemary Sutcliff, The Witch's Brat

The best of several profound and very beautiful quotes from this book. I aspire to be "one of the menders," both physically and spiritually, as the main character is.qq ( )

Verhaal, spelend in Engeland, in de Middeleeuwen, waar een kleine verschoppeling in een klooster terecht komt. Daar ontdekt hij zijn gave om mensen en dieren te kunnen genezen.

A sweet tale of a crippled boy forced from his home village who first finds a home among the Benedictine monks at Winchester and then among the Augustinians at Smithfield outside London. As usual, Sutcliff keeps anachronisms from marring historical narrative. ( )