This was a bedtime story for my 14 and 11 (nearly 12) year old sons. I liked how it started. Jinx (12, I think) is led to the woods by his guardian, to a place where everyone from his Clearing knows is not safe...off the path. What struck me about Jinx is that he sees emotions as a color around a person's face. He never learned to recognize facial cues, body language or tone of voice as aids to interpersonal relationships, since he could tell how someone is feeling by the color they emit. What a nifty idea! 
 Yet then the book started to drag. I recall about page 70 asking my sons if we could quit reading this slow, plodding book that was putting me to sleep as I read it aloud every night. They didn't want to quit after reading that many pages, so I kept on. I also kept on asking if we could quit, for the entire middle of the book. 
 Then things picked up again in the last third, and I was better able to stay awake while reading. The characters are well-crafted and interesting, and how the whole book gets resolved kept me entertained. I enjoyed Simon (he kinda reminded me of Snape, a bit), and the idea of witches riding on butter churns just rocks. 
 Overall, I liked the book okay. I did end up finishing it, and liking parts of it. I have no desire to read any sequel, should there be one, however. Witches, wizards, sentient trees and magic abound here, along with a friendship of three. Oh, and my 11 year old gives it 4 stars, for he really enjoys fantasy novels.