Howl's House Moving Castle pg 1-100

The first 100 pages of this book was really good.
I enjoy fantasy books so i think i'll really enjoy this book.
So, the first 100 pages were about a girl named Sophie.
Her sisters are sent away from home, after her father dies (by Fanny-their mother).
Sophie ends up being the apprentice of the hat shop. Later Sophie gets sick of her dull life,
and goes around 'looking for trouble' (thats the way i saw it). Soon, the Witch of the Waste, comes into the hat shop, and Sophie not knowing who the witch was said some thing offending (?) to her, and ended up being cursed by the witch (witch turned her old). Now, Sophie does not want to stay at the hat shop no longer and roams around the town. She decides to go to Howl's House Moving Castle. There she acts as a maid. She also ends up making a contract with a fire demon (who is bound to the fireplace at Howl's House Moving Castle because of a contract).
Some things i didn't understand was...what's up with the scarecrow?

:) this is a very good book so far!