Prologue Summary

This book for young people tells three stories of granted wishes that result in troublesome consequences for those who made them. As each story chronicles the increasingly negative results of actions taken impulsively, the book as a whole explores themes relating to the value of forgiveness and the importance of being able to tell illusion from reality.

"The Strange Little Man"

The prologue, written in the first person, begins with a description of how the small rural community of Coven Tree has a history of experience with magic (see "Quotes", Prologue, p. 3). Witches, the narrator says in his chatty, informal way, have made their homes in the area for decades. The name of the town "comes from the huge twisted tree down at the crossroads where groups of witches ... used to meet." He also refers to how all kinds of "Satan's spawn" have...