Twitches (novel series)
T*Witches is an American children's fantasy novel series by H. B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld published between 2001 and 2004.[1] The cover art and design is by David Loew and Joyce White. The books were published by Scholastic Press, a subsidiary of the Scholastic Corporation, who also published the British Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and the Canadian Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Author | H. B. Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld |
---|---|
Cover artist | David Loew and Joyce White |
Country | U.S. |
Language | English |
Publisher | Scholastic Press |
Published | 2001–2004 |
Media type | Paperback |
Preceded by | Clueless |
The Disney Channel produced two television film adaptations in 2005 and 2007 based on the first book, The Power of Two.
The 10-book series focuses on long lost twin sisters who discover that they are witches of Coventry Island. Camryn "Cam" Alicia Barnes, also known as Apolla DuBaer, is a popular and preppy teen with a Sun amulet. Alexandra "Alex" Nicole Fielding, also known as Artemis DuBaer, is a gothic teen who constantly changes the color of her hair, and wears the matching amulet of the Moon. The twins were separated on October 31, 1986. Years later, the two meet up as schoolgirls with ESP; Cam can see the future and Alex can read people's minds. Their legal guardians are the young witch Ileana and the mischievous, aging warlock Karsh. The twins' birth parents are Coventry Island's witch and warlock, Miranda and Aron DuBaer. The twins' birth was foretold by one of their ancestors years ago. The prophecy is called the La Prophetic Aux Yeux Gris (The Prophecy of the Gray Eyes). The two lived completely different lives miles away from each other, not knowing of their powers until they met in The Power of Two.
Novels
- The Power of Two ISBN 0-439-24070-0
- Building a Mystery ISBN 0-439-24071-9
- Seeing is Deceiving ISBN 0-439-24072-7
- Dead Wrong ISBN 0-439-24073-5
- Don't Think Twice ISBN 0-439-24074-3
- Double Jeopardy ISBN 0-439-24075-1
- Kindred Spirits ISBN 0-439-47219-9
- The Witch Hunters ISBN 0-439-49227-0
- Split Decision ISBN 0-439-49230-0
- Destiny's Twins ISBN 0-439-49232-7
- International
- Germany and France: Witches Hexengirls
- United Kingdom and Canada: T*Witches
Characters
Witches and Warlocks
- Camryn Alicia Barnes/Apolla DuBaer is the younger of the twins. She was born as the sun was rising on October 31, 1986. She wears the sun amulet. Apollo, whom Cam was named after, was the Greek mythological sun god, and Artemis' twin brother. Cam is the preppy, popular twin with an upbeat personality. She grew up in suburban Marble Bay, Massachusetts. She is an alumna of Marble Bay High School's Class of 2004. She is part of a social circle of six, and her boyfriends throughout the series are Shane Antayus Wright and Jason Weissman. Her specialized supernatural abilities include exceptionally strong empathy, telepathy, clairvoyance, hyperactive sight, blinding people temporarily, premonition, and pyrokinesis.
- Alexandra Nicole Fielding/Artemis DuBaer is the older of the twins. She was born as the moon was setting on October 31, 1986. She wears the moon amulet. Artemis, whom Alex was named after, was the Greek mythological moon goddess, and Apollo's twin sister. Alex is the spunky twin with a cynical personality. She grew up in Crow Creek, Montana and is an alumna of Crow Creek Regional High School's Class of 2004. Her closest friends are Lucinda and Evan, and her boyfriends throughout the series are Cade Richman and Andy Yatz. Her uniquely supernatural abilities consist of incredibly strong telekinesis, empathy, telepathy, hyperactive sense of smell and hearing, remote viewing, cold manipulation, and precognition.
- Miranda Martine-DuBaer is the twins' birth mother. She wears a sun and moon amulet. After the birth of the twins and her husband's death, she lost almost all of her magical abilities and she disappeared. No one knew where she was except Thantos. She thought her daughters were dead too, until fourteen years later when Thantos decided to tell her they were alive. After she met them for the first time, she went back to Coventry Island and tried to connect to her home again. She did not know that Thantos was using her until he paralyzed her and Ileana trying to get Cam on his side. Her magical abilities include extremely powerful telekinesis, empathy, telepathy, precognition, astral projection, postcognition, and remote viewing.
- Thantos DuBaer is Ileana's father and an uncle to the twins. He owns a multimillion, multinational business and is extremely powerful in both worlds. He practices dark magic and was always jealous of his brother, Aron. He has tried to kill the twins numerous times, but failed. He is in love with Miranda, and never gotten over that it was Aron, she married. Toward the end of the series he asked Miranda to marry him, but she said no. In Book 10, he was to be ignored by everyone on Coventry Island at the end of the twins' initiation. His known powers are cold and ice manipulation, telepathy, hyperactive sight, smell, and hearing, and blinding people temporarily.
- Aron DuBaer is the twins' father and the middle brother of Thantos and Fredo. From what we know, he was very powerful and was a generous wizard. His younger brother, Fredo, killed him, trying to please Thantos the day his twin daughters were born. The twins were then passed into Karsh and Ileana's care, who delegated the task to human foster parents. His known powers are telepathy, remote viewing, hyperactive sight, smell, and hearing, clairvoyance, and shape-shifting.
- Karsh Antayus is the guardian of Ileana DuBaer and a mentor to the twins. He guided many witches and wizards and saved the twins lives many times which resulted in his death. He had separated the twins at birth by Ileana's command, but 14 years later brought them together.
- Fredo DuBaer is the younger brother of Thantos and Aron. He has little power and is in the Coventry Island jail for killing his brother, Aron. He has lived in the shadows of Thantos most of his life and even tried to kill the twins for Thantos. He has two sons, Vey and Tsuris DuBaer. His known powers are telepathy and shape-shifting.
- Ileana DuBaer is a cousin to the twins, and their guardian. Her parents are Thantos DuBaer and Beatrice Hazlitt. After her mother died giving birth to her and Thantos abandoned her, Karsh Antayus, a distant relative of her mother, and close friend to her uncle Aron and grandfather Nathanial, reared her. Her mother had little or no power, though her mothers ancestors were quite powerful as is Ileana. Ileana herself is a very powerful witch until she finds out who her father is. Soon, Ileana recovers her powers and remains a powerful witch. Ileana is sometimes self-centered and has a temper but she is caring and dependable, and at heart pure, unlike her father. Her boyfriend is Brice Stanley. Her specialized powers are telekinesis, precognition, hyperactive sight, levitation, shape-shifting, telepathy.
- Vey and Tsuris DuBaer are the sons of Fredo and cousins to the twins. They are only half-warlock; their mother, Coco Lopez, is human. They killed Karsh but have not been tried for his death. They were raised by their mother and are not very bright. Their known powers: They can trust their powers to get through a porthole.
- Brice Stanley A movie star who is also a warlock.
Humans
- David Barnes is a lawyer. He knew since Cam was a baby that she was a witch. Dave is known as a sensitive (a person with powers who is not a witch or warlock) and when he adopted Camryn he became a Protector. David had psychokinesis and precognition but hasn't used any of his other powers since he adopted Cam.
- Emily Barnes is an interior designer and had no idea that the twins are witches because she is a mortal. She finds out Camryn is a witch after Cam and Alex meet. She is very fun and easygoing, and is very supportive of Camryn.
- Dylan Michael Barnes is the younger adoptive brother of Cam and the biological child of David and Emily. He and Alex hit it off right from the beginning. Karsh hinted to Dave in Book 2 that Dylan may be a Sensitive like his father once was. Karsh is quoted as saying "That inept but good hearted boy of yours, David. Dylan the boy has possibilities".
- Sara Fielding is Alex's adoptive mother and a Protector who eventually dies of lung cancer. Sara was Alex's Protector and mother until she died when Alex was 14. Her powers are unknown. However, it is noted through her friend Mrs. Bass that Sara[2] did dabble in the craft.
- Isaac Fielding: The adoptive father of Alexandra. Isaac left Alex and Sara when Alex was almost 8 years old. In Book 4, we find out why. Isaac had found out that Alex had powers and wanted to use her to receive some illegal money, so Sara threw him out. In anger over it he stole Sara's savings and left her with huge debts. Sara told Alex that he left them[3] in the hopes that Alex would never seek Isaac out. He showed up 4 months after Sara died trying to get Alex back, but was killed by Fredo.
- Evan Fretts is one of Alexandra's best friends.
- Lucinda Carmelson is one of Alexandra's best friends.
- Elizabeth Fish is Camryn's best friend in her six pack.
- Marleigh Cooper is a celebrated teenage pop singer who is friends with Camryn's social circle. Marleigh and Cam share a different kind of friendship and silently agree that they cannot be friends at first sight. Cam's classmate, Tonya Gladstone, wants to use Marleigh for profit. When Marleigh disappears, Alex helps Cam find her. Cam and Alex rescue her when she is alone and in danger of losing herself and her place in society.
Settings
- Marble Bay, Massachusetts: Music & More Store, Marble Bay High School, Cambridge, Boston University, Endicott Drive, Webster Road, Barneses residence, Gladstone residence, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Pie in the Sky pizzeria
- Crow Creek, Montana: Crow Creek Regional High School, Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Fielding trailer park
- Coventry Island: Off the coast of Wisconsin, in Lake Superior[4]
References
- H. B. Gilmour at Fantastic Fiction
- Book 2 Building a Mystery
- Book 4 Dead Wrong
- Book 3 Seeing is Deceiving