The Headless Cupid
| Industry | Children's literature |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Zilpha Keatley Snyder |
| Products | Children's book |
The Headless Cupid is a children's book authored by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, initially released in 1971. It earned a Newbery Honor in 1972 and was also a contender for the Hans Christian Andersen Award that same year. This novel serves as the opening installment in a quartet of stories centered around the Stanley family, succeeded by The Famous Stanley Kidnapping Case, Blair’s Nightmare, and Janie’s Private Eyes.
Plot
Following his university professor father's remarriage, eleven-year-old David Stanley faces the challenges of adapting to a new stepmother, relocating to a rural residence, and meeting his twelve-year-old stepsister, Amanda. Troubled by her mother's divorce and their move from the city, Amanda professes to be an active witch, appearing in ritualistic attire accompanied by occult literature and a caged crow she refers to as her familiar. She invites David and his younger siblings—Janie, Esther, and Blair—to learn about her supernatural practices. Although doubtful, David chooses to engage with Amanda's claims to preserve harmony and safeguard his siblings. Contrary to Amanda's contrived witchcraft displays, David and Blair seem to possess authentic psychic talents which they keep concealed.
The Stanley residence carries the legacy of a disruptive poltergeist responsible for decapitating a wooden cupid carving embedded in the staircase. When David’s father is absent, poltergeist phenomena reoccur, creating disorder. David grows suspicious of Amanda and ultimately discovers her collaborating with Blair to stage these events. Nevertheless, when a container of stones along with the missing cupid's head tumble down the stairs without Amanda's involvement, she confesses to fabricating earlier disturbances and renounces her witch persona. While David restores the cupid carving, he learns that four-year-old Blair accidentally dropped the box. Blair recounts being led by a ghostly girl to the location but retains few details, leaving David uncertain about whether genuine supernatural entities inhabit their home.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews describes the novel as "a thoroughly satisfying and thoughtfully realistic ghost story."
From 1990 to 2000, it appeared on the American Library Association's list of 100 most frequently challenged books due to its portrayal of children engaging in witchcraft.