Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Appealing tale of would-be witch has laughs, insights.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Ever since she was a baby, Cat Campbell desperately hoped she'd inherit her mother's magic gene. Her mother, Poppy, desperately hopes she didn't; Poppy hated magic, doesn't want it in her life, and hopes Cat will follow her path in the family bakery. By the time Cat turns 11, she hasn't shown a bit of magical talent, so she's all but lost hope of joining the glamorous, broomstick-riding young witches-in-training at Ruthersfield Academy. After some surprising events reveal that she does in fact have magical powers, she has a new sense of destiny. Unfortunately, Poppy is set against Cat's planned career -- and it's true that Cat's spells have a way of causing trouble. Which the town doesn't really need at the moment, as a long-imprisoned witch who once destroyed half of Italy is on the loose and bent on revenge.
Is It Any Good?
Kids determined to pursue a dream and getting a lot of discouragement will relate to Cat's plight as she faces one obstacle after another in her quest for a career in magic. Along the way, there are plenty of "be careful what you wish for" moments, as well-meant attempts at witchcraft cause scenes straight out of The Sorcerer's Apprentice -- which will be hysterically funny to some readers and a bit scary to others. There's a strong message, reinforced in various subplots, about why it's important to pursue your dreams and how nothing but harm will come of giving it up. (Young bakers also will love the recipes at the back of the book, which conveniently include substitutes for magic ingredients.)
As the central characters, Cat and her mom, Poppy (the subject of author Lowe's first book, The Power of Poppy Pendle), are appealing and complex enough to be interesting -- especially as one revelation follows another. Some of the supporting cast are a bit more cartoonish, often serving to advance the plot or add atmosphere. The story offers some interesting discussion points -- not only about pursuing your dreams but about how to handle it when things don't go your way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why stories about kids with magical powers are so popular. What's the appeal? What are some of your favorites?
Do you think you'd like to have magical powers? How would you feel if your spells, like Cat's, didn't turn out the way you planned and it was your friends who suffered?
Have you ever been in a position like Cat's, where you really, really want something, but things aren't going your way at all? What happened? How did you deal with it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : January 6, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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