Switching Well
#7083.82 adjusted 3.92 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Complete 1993 Reading commitment Low Peni R. Griffin Last reviewed 2026-11-01
Overview
Switching Well is a standalone time-slip fantasy by Peni R. Griffin, first published by Margaret K. McElderry Books in 1993. It is set in San Antonio, Texas. In 1891 Ada Bauer wishes she lived a hundred years in the future, and in 1991 Amber Burak wishes the reverse; a magical well swaps the two girls across a century. The chapters alternate between them as each adjusts to the other's era and looks for a way home. The author's earlier novel Hobkin (1992) is a separate story with a different supernatural premise, and no sequel to Switching Well is listed.
Portal fantasy · For Middle grade
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
Switching Well Peni R. Griffin
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Switching Well | 1993 | 1 | core | 3.82 (253 ratings) |
A standalone novel in which a wish at a well swaps two San Antonio girls between 1891 and 1991.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Switching Well? Switching Well's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is Switching Well finished? Complete (1993).
- How much reading does Switching Well take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book).
- How is Switching Well ranked? #708 in this site's official ranking, based on 253 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #708?
Ranked #708 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.82 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (253 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.10 behind #707, Magic of the Lost.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Rated · 1 book · Complete · 253 ratings · Ranks #708 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment portal fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
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Suggestions computed from what Switching Well and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
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- The Village Beyond the Mist Portal fantasy / Cozy fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 3.86
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.82 across 253 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: 27 universes; 5 candidates ruled out; older open items closed accepted 2026-11-01
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Kirkus Reviews: Switching Well Tier 2
- Publishers Weekly: Switching Well Tier 2
- Encyclopedia.com: Griffin, Peni R(ae) Tier 2
- Kirkus Reviews: Hobkin Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-01
Rule: Core Canon = Switching Well (1993).