“Howl’s Moving Castle” by Diana Wynne Jones follows a young Sophie Hatter, who’s considered plain and unnoticeable. After getting wrapped up in a feud between a powerful wizard and a dangerous witch, she finds herself cursed into an old woman, and left to break the spell herself. 

“Howl’s Moving Castle” is a beautiful story of growth, self-love and finding confidence. The book captures Sophie’s progression from having poor self esteem to believing she’s a beautiful woman worth loving. As well as portraying a meaningful message, the book is also interesting and well-written, and the world is amazingly built. The entire story, though a bit nonsensical, feels coherent and complete. However, “Howl’s Moving Castle” has one downfall– it’s a tad confusing to understand, especially if the reader isn’t scouring the pages for connections. Some things aren’t explained as well as others, while other details are focused on for far too long. 

All in all, “Howl’s Moving Castle” is a delightful read, and I highly recommend it. The rest of the trilogy, “Castle in the Air” and “House of Many Ways,” both complete the story in a moving and beautifully-worded manner that leaves readers satisfied.