A RELUCTANT WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGIC

Twelve-year-old Willa Birdwhistle does not want to be a witch.

Warring witches’ covens aim spells at each other that often misfire, causing Ordinary Folk to hate them. One errant spell turned Willa’s parents into clouds, leaving her to deal with her untamed wildness that often results in unexplained magic. Eventually she is accused of witchcraft, punished, and banished to the palace, where she will be tutored in proper magic. On her 13th birthday she will have to choose to join either the Silverclaw or Irontongue coven—or explode. Willa finds herself involved in intrigue, danger, and fast-paced, heart-stopping adventures, with loads of twists and turns, ever escalating spells and counterspells, magical books, an army of cats, mysterious unseen characters, ghosts, powerful enemies, and a rogue witch who may cause total destruction. New friends Gish and Marceline assuage her loneliness and help her in her quest for answers. Willa is often confused and frightened but also caring and brave. She digs deep seeking self-awareness and often arrives at profound and mature conclusions. Plozza makes this most complicated, improbable scenario seem completely believable by carefully maintaining its established worldbuilding. Playful language and syntax provide a bit of comic relief in the names of some spells, instructions, and character names; the titles of the magic books are hilarious. The climax leaves important questions unanswered and begs for a sequel. Willa is not physically described but lives in a racially diverse world.

Exciting and highly imaginative.