Synopsis: "The half-learned magic of apprentices goes awry during The Three's inspection of the Academy for Young Witches." --summary, library records of the 1st US edition "one of those light, innocuous witch-school concoctions, complete with such token expressions of backward morality ... There is nothing remotely sinister about this close community of little girls named for spices (Tarragon, Marjoram, Chervil) and their mother-hen principal Belladonna--all of whom bustle about preparing wine-glass summoning and tablecloth-removing tricks in preparation for the trio's visit." --Kirkus Reviews (contemporary, undated online, negative)