Helen Oyeyemi's White Is for Witching is lauded for its gothic atmosphere, innovative narrative structure, and lyrical prose. Critics praise its exploration of family and identity. However, some find the plot convoluted and the pacing uneven. Overall, the novel is celebrated for its eerie, haunting quality and rich thematic depth.

Fans of eerie, literary fiction with a unique narrative style will appreciate Helen Oyeyemi's White Is for Witching. Ideal for readers who enjoyed Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle or Toni Morrison's Beloved, this novel blends gothic elements, family secrets, and psychological depth.

White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi is a horror novel about Miranda Silver, who struggles with disordered eating and loneliness after her family moves to a haunted house in Dover, inherited from her mother. The house, filled with malevolent spirits of the Silver women, narrates part of the story and targets those who threaten its white, traditionalist view. Miranda's twin brother Eliot, her girlfriend Ore, and the house itself narrate overlapping and fragmented pieces of her life, leading to an eerie exploration of racism and historical trauma. The novel depicts suicide, self-harm, disordered eating, and racist and xenophobic content.

Mysterious / Unnerving / Dark / Fantastical / Contemplative

Helen Oyeyemi

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore White Is for Witching and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

White Is for Witching Summary and Study Guide

Background

White Is for Witching Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Curiouser”

Prologue and Part 1, Chapters 1-2

White Is for Witching Prologue and Part 1, Chapters 1-2 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 3-4

White Is for Witching Part 1, Chapters 3-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapter 5: "Jennifer Silver”

Part 1, Chapter 5

White Is for Witching Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “And Curiouser”

Part 2, Chapters 6-7

White Is for Witching Part 2, Chapters 6-7 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 8-10

White Is for Witching Part 2, Chapters 8-10 Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

White Is for Witching Character Analysis

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Themes

White Is for Witching Themes

Symbols & Motifs

White Is for Witching Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

White Is for Witching Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

White Is for Witching Essay Topics

White Is for Witching

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read White Is for Witching?

Reading Age

Book Details