VOYA
- Mandy R. Simon
Kendra found out she was a witch after surviving the infamous plague of 1666. So long as she can avoid being burned at the stake, she will live forever. She has spent the last few hundred years helping people fall in love, deal with real-life villains, achieve their dreams, and fulfill their wishes. The story focuses on present-day Emma, who has a great relationship with her stepfather, until her stepsister, Lisette, shows up. Very close in age, the two are initially friends until Emma realizes that Lisette is not what she seems. Kendra explains her perspective of Emma's story, aligning it with similar situations from her past: a love story on the Titanic, the courtship of King Louis of France, and The Little Mermaid, to name a few. Unpredictable and entertaining twists engage the reader in each side story and connect fantasy to the contemporary drama of Emma's real-life issues. Kendra is a wise and likable character, and no doubt Flinn's fans will be satisfied with Bewitching. Flinn weaves her interpretation of fairy tales, a good dose of historical fiction, and contemporary high school drama into an intriguing and relatable novel. Fans of fairy tale adaptations, fantasy, and teen romance will love this book. It is recommended for middle school and up. Reviewer: Mandy R. Simon
School Library Journal
Gr 8–10—Flinn's latest fairy-tale mash-up revisits the witch from Beastly (HarperTeen, 2007). The story jumps right in with Kendra explaining how she came to be a witch. In 1666, she fled her plague-ridden village in England with her little brother (and only surviving family member). The young witch was unaware of the full extent of her powers and near starving when she wandered lost in a vast forest with Charlie. The two stumbled upon a cottage that was constructed of sweet-smelling gingerbread, but as soon as the first delicious bite was swallowed, a witch captured them and declared her intention to "bake" them into cookies. Kendra harnessed her own newfound witchy powers and honed her wits to fool the elder witch and break free. She then went on to live as an eternal teenager, causing mischief in her attempts to "help" those in need. In addition to this "Hansel and Gretel" retelling, Bewitching visits "The Princess and the Pea" and "The Little Mermaid," but the main focus is on stepsisters Emma and Lisette. Emma takes over narrating the story of how beautiful and manipulative Lisette comes to live with her. Through lies and machinations she takes over Emma's life. Average-looking Emma is left with almost nothing until she starts a romance with fellow bookworm Warner. But when Lisette manages to even steal her boyfriend, Emma turns to Kendra for help. With hints of "Cinderella" and a sprinkling of valuable life lessons for teens ("beautiful on the outside does not mean beautiful on the inside" and "accept your own shape and size"), Emma's story will leave readers cheering. Bewitching is a humorous and engaging read that will appeal to those who love classic tales.—Tara Kehoe, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ
Kirkus Reviews
This entertaining twist on "Cinderella" centers on a centuries-old witch who sometimes helps her friends. Kendra's family died in the plague in 1666, the year she discovered she was a witch. Throughout the centuries, Kendra occasionally uses her powers to aid people, but not always to good effect. So Kendra hesitates when she meets Emma, a girl tormented by her new stepsister, Lisette. Lisette, the Cinderella character in the story, turns out to be the evil one, with dorky, bookish Emma the victim. Gorgeous, talented Lisette cares for no one but herself and successfully, it seems, steals Emma's beloved stepfather's affections, her jewelry, her clothes, her room and her car, and she seems to have her sights set on Emma's new boyfriend. Kendra, however, recounts several stories of magic gone bad, and isn't sure she ought to intervene. When finally she does, the story takes a delightfully surprising twist. Flinn throws in retellings of "Hansel and Gretel," "The Little Mermaid" and "The Princess and the Pea," along with the overriding Cinderella scenario, and she keeps the narrative moving along in sprightly fashion. It all adds up to plenty of fun that should appeal to many readers, particularly those who will delight in seeing the familiar tales in their new clothes. It's often touching, with an undercurrent of wry comedy, some history and a bit of a moral thrown in, as in any good fairy tale. Clever and enjoyable. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)
