Witches Protection Program

Starred review from November 15, 2019
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* This book is recommended by BlueInk Review, a fee-based review service devoted exclusively to self-published books. Booklist is happy to partner with BlueInk to bring you the best self-published titles for adults and youth. Stars reflect the decisions of BlueInk reviewers and editors.In Okon's YA novel, federal agent Wes Rockville has accidentally screwed up the transportation of a prisoner, and his boss?his father?gives him one more chance with a reassignment to the Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass program (DUMBO). Wes learns that DUMBO is a black-ops government program in which agents protect good witches, called Davinas, investigate bad witches, known as the Willa, and sometimes even protect the Davinas from the Willa. Wes is charged with protecting Junie "Baby Fat" Meadows from her nefarious boss at Pendragon Cosmetics, a CEO who is trying, along with her minions, to take over the world. Okon almost magically weaves the potentially corny premise into a believable world filled with both transcendent and silly characters. The dialogue is snappy and often humorous. While some readers might be offended by a female CEO villain who can seem like an angry feminist caricature, the good witches are all strong female characters. Overall, this is an action-packed story, one highly recommended for fans of the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, and of Jessica Day George's Tuesdays at the Castle (2011).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)