"...effectively spooky without being too scary." -School Library Journal (starred review)
"A delightfully spooky page-turner for middle-grade readers." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"This atmospheric debut is a nail-biting story of local history, sinister magic, and what it means to be a true friend. With narrow escapes, rising tension, and secrets aplenty, good luck trying to put this one down!" -Diane Magras, The Mad Wolf's Daughter (New York Times Editors' Choice)
"... a delightfully spooky, action-packed adventure full of heart, friendship, and page-turning suspense! With vibes similar to Goosebumps and Roald Dahl's The Witches, it's the perfect for readers who love to read under the covers with a flashlight! A truly magical debut!" -Kim Chance, Keeper & Seeker
"A spellbinding story of friendship, teamwork, and the perils of coming of age in a modern-day coven." -Kurt Kirchmeier, The Absence of Sparrows
"Fans of Harry Potter have a new series to fall head-over-broomstick in love with." -Darby Karchut, Del Toro Moon (Colorado Book Award Winner)
"A fun, thrilling read that will leave you wanting to spend a lot more time in the magical world of Willow Cove." -SpookyKidLit.com (starred review)
08/01/2020
Gr 5 Up—On a spooky outing with her best friend Robby, Abby makes a startling discovery—she can fly! And not just that; she finds out the very next day that magic really does exist, and that she's a witch…and not the only one in the school! On their 13th birthdays, six girls discover that they all have powers. The new substitute teacher, Miss Winters, promises to mentor them, but Abby isn't totally sure Miss Winters can be trusted. If that wasn't enough for the girls and their friends, townspeople are going missing, including Robby's stepmother. Something's definitely going on in Willow Cove, and it's up to the kids to unlock the mystery. This well-written middle grade book walks the fine line of being effectively spooky without being too scary. The kids come from a variety of backgrounds and family units, but they band together, magical and non-magical alike. The novel dives right into the action, and will definitely keep readers interested. The book may be written for middle grade, but the exciting narrative could appeal to young adults.VERDICT A first tier purchase for public and school library middle grade collections.—Amanda Toth, Lane Lib., Hamilton, OH
★ 2020-06-23
Award-winning travel writer Roberts spins an engrossing tale of magic, mystery, and friendship in his debut middle-grade novel.
In the quaint Massachusetts town of Willow Cove, 13-year-old Abby Shepherd and her best friend, Robby O’Reilly, discover that’s she’s a witch—when Amethyst Jones, another young witch, reveals the news. A mysterious and powerful magic user named Miss Winters has arrived in town, embroiling the unsuspecting teens in a web of intrigue that stretches all the way back to the Salem witch trials. As Abby meets other young witches and learns how to harness her magic under the tutelage of Miss Winters, Robby is thrust into a missing person case and starts a romance with the new girl at school. Abby and Robby, who used to be inseparable, find themselves increasingly at odds as secrets and resentments come between them. But what they don’t know is that the mysteries of Willow Cove go far deeper than they ever imagined and that no one is exactly what they seem. Roberts perfectly balances small-town drama, preteen hijinks, and paranormal thriller action in an engaging novel with a vibrant cast of characters. The strength of Abby and Robby’s platonic relationship is a key element of the story, and the witches of Abby’s coven are each dynamic and unique in their own ways. The setting of Willow Cove is also commendably well developed, offering plenty of quirkiness and local color. It convincingly feels like a living entity with a vast history—one that Abby and her friends only begin to uncover in this book; more revelations may follow in a planned sequel, The Curse of Willow Cove.
A delightfully spooky page-turner for middle-grade readers.
