Something Wicked This Way Comes is the story of Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway, two boys on the cusp of growing up when Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show, a mysterious carnival, rolls into town in the middle of summer. The two boys must face the carnival's frightening and mystical owners while also confronting the harsh truths of adulthood and the end of the metaphorical summer of their childhoods. It dwells on themes of magic, innocence, and filial love.
Boasting the largest collection of book summaries, BookRags is the best option for titles you can't find elsewhere. They offer all of the basics (quotes, chapter summary, characters, historical context, literary criticism) but also walk through a few major topics that recur throughout the book, which can be particularly useful for essay writing.
The most popular website for book notes. SparkNotes was created by students for students, and their summaries are accessible and extremely well-written. Besides the usual plot overview, chapter summaries, and character analysis, SparkNotes differentiates itself with a section discussing themes, motifs, and symbols.
The original provider of professionally-written study guides, Cliffs Notes were available in print form before the Internet even existed. Their content is very comprehensive and includes an analysis of characters, detailed chapter by chapter summaries, critical essays, essay topics, and many other sections.
Their book summaries aren't as good as other providers, but PinkMonkey often has interesting insights that aren't mentioned elsewhere on the Internet. For example, they go over literary elements (like setting, conflict, and mood), compare and contrast, and symbolism/motifs. It's a good site if you want to find a unique fact or angle that other students don't know about.
You won't get any frills with GradeSaver -- just the content you expect. Their study guides include a full plot summary, themes and character analysis, study questions, and the e-text of the book. One hidden gem is their collection of literature essays, but you'll have to pay for it.
If you're bored by traditional book notes, try Shmoop! They write their summaries in an approachable, entertaining style. Their comprehensive offering includes chapter by chapter summaries, themes, quotes, character analysis, study quizzes, and even flash cards and infographics.
Includes the standard sections found in most book notes, including a book synopsis, chapter by chapter analysis, author biography, character list, essay topics, book report ideas, and study questions. This website is less comprehensive than other book notes sites, but could be useful if you're looking for a quick review.