Mischief Season

January 25, 2016
Marciano and Blackall, who previously collaborated on The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield, inaugurate the Witches of Benevento series by introducing twins Rosa and Emilio, who live in a small Italian village where demons, witches, and ghosts run rampant. The Janara are supernatural creatures that visit in the night and enact mischief; Rosa has long blamed her own mischief on the Janara, an excuse that has worn out. With the help of friends, the twins set out to find a solution to the increasing woes on the family farm. Marciano’s simple, fablelike sentences will be readily accessible to younger readers, though more complicated words and topics (tarot cards, outdated Italian currency) may prompt questions or investigation. Caldecott Medalist Blackall’s two-color illustrations aid in decoding some of the references, while adding a sweet, playful touch and occasionally calling to mind the work of Wanda Gág. An old-world atmosphere and prickly sibling rivalry make the book read like a classic fairy tale, while an undercurrent of mystery paves the way for future books. Available simultaneously: The All-Powerful Ring. Ages 7–9. Author’s agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Nancy Gallt, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

January 1, 2016
Of all the magical residents in an Italian town long renowned for its various sorts of witches, the mischievous Janara may be the most mysterious--and troublesome. By day disguised as neighbors or even relatives, the Janara become invisible with a spell (plus dabs of magic oil in the armpits) at night and set out to play such tricks as (ugh) feeding through a straw inserted up a sleeper's nose and down into his or her stomach. Thus, when bossy young Rosa wakes one morning itchy of schnoz and starving, it's time for her and her considerably less obnoxious twin, Emilio, to seek help. But all their efforts only result in further and more widespread "mischiefs," until town idler Amerigo Pegleg reluctantly admits that oregano is like catnip to the Janara (and he should know). Shrugging off Rosa's ill-tempered skepticism, Emilio rubs fistfuls of the herb around house and yard, and peace is soon restored. Loosely based on folklore and decorated with Blackall's two-color drawings of elfin figures in country dress on nearly every page, the comical tale kicks off a projected series set in the picturesque town. Appendices on spell casting and on Benevento's witchly history (not seen) will cap each episode. Volume 2, The All-Powerful Ring, publishes simultaneously. Witches never actually step into sight, but their offstage presence adds shivery hints of danger to this lightweight opener. (town map) (Fantasy. 8-10)

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February 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-In this, the first of a planned four-book collaboration between Marciano and Blackall, readers are introduced to Benevento, an ancient Italian town known for its witches. These aren't your run-of-the-mill witches; rather, they are spirits, fairies, ghosts, and demons, and lesser-known varieties including Manalonga, Clopper, and Janara. It is the Janara witches who come to Benevento, and they are impossible to spot because they can be anyone (even a neighbor or a relative). They transform at night by rubbing magical oil on themselves, which gives them powers including flight and weather transformation. Most of all, though, the Janara are mischief-makers, causing mayhem wherever they go. Five cousins, Primo, Emilio, Rosa, Maria Beppina, and Sergio, are hot on the trail of the Janara after Rosa is framed for masses of wicked mischief including the barn roof being torn off and all of the hay being tossed out of the barn. Twins Rosa and Emilio enlist the help of their cousins, and visit ornery fortune-teller and healer Zia Pia in hopes of finding a solution to their Janara puzzle. Blackall's distinctive illustrations are a charming blend of expressive drawings complemented with shades of blue. Marciano ends the story with a mysterious plot twist begging to be solved. VERDICT Magical spells and amusing characters with distinctive personalities, coupled with an engaging story with a twist, will captivate readers and leave them clamoring for future stories centered on the other cousins.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016
Grades 2-5 In Benevento, Italy, there are witches, but not the kind you might be used to. In this episodic starter to the Witches of Benevento series, Marciano tells tales of oddball spirits and mischief-makers based on Italian folklore. Something is wreaking havoc every night at Emilio and Rosa's farm. Their father is furious that food is disappearing, tools are left out in the rain, and someone left hay all over the barn. It would be easy to blame the twins, especially lazy Rosa, but it's the mischief season, which means the Janara are causing way more trouble than usual. Will the fortune-teller Zia Pia help them keep their farm safe? In this first of four novels about Benevento, Marciano builds a charming environment of magic and trickery using a pleasantly old-fashioned tone to tell gently scary stories of witches and spirits. Blackall's beautiful two-color illustrations, in shades of gray and blue, adorn almost every page and contribute significantly to the antique look of the whole package. This refreshingly unusual tale will appeal to kids in love with fairy tales.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)