Parties & Potions

November 15, 2008
Teen witch Rachel and her sister Miri discover more about their magical roots in this fluffy, style-conscious fourth installment of the Magic in Manhattan series. Newly aware of the magical community that exists parallel to their everyday lives, Rachel and Miri spend much of the book preparing for their Samsorta, a sort of witchy coming-of-age ceremony (perhaps most closely resembling a bat mitzvah). Subplots involving Rachel 's confusion over her feelings for two different boys and her fear of being outed as a witch to her father and nonmagical friends provide a bit of depth and will be relevant to teen girls. Details including a witch-specific social-networking site and popular teen text-speak may eventually date this title, but at the moment are right on the mark. Established fans of the series will find this a satisfying expansion of the story line, and it may well appeal to young teens looking for a fun, light read. However, the one-dimensional secondary characters and too-neat ending pull it down toward the mediocre. (Fantasy. 10-15)

(COPYRIGHT (2008) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

November 15, 2008
Grades 6-9 Mlynowskis fourth book featuring teenage witch sisters Miri and Rachel is just as funny and appealing as the first three. In this installment, Rachel is looking forward to sophomore year and her budding relationship with Raf. She definitely enjoys her new powers but is determined to keep her witchhood secret from her father, her friends, and especially from Raf. When Miri convinces her to undergo training for a Samsorta ceremony (a d'butante-slash-bat-mitzvah-slash-quinceaera witch party thing), Rachel meets dozens of teenage witches and warlocks and gains a new perspective on witchery. Mlynowski balances Miris delight at finally having a social life with Rachels very real fears of what will happen if her friends and father find out that she is different, as, of course, they do. But the story is clever, Rachel is a hoot, the girls concerns are valid, and, best of all, Mlynowski leaves the sledgehammer in the closet and handles the importance of being yourself theme with a light touch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)