Play as Varsha as you try to revive your grandparent's store, avoid scrutiny by the authorities, and find love—all in one summer. Me: "Yeah let's prank him with magic! Make a bird shite on him, douse him in water, scare the life out of him!" They slipped farther down the lane, rounding the corner. Beneath the mask, Betty grinned triumphantly, her heart racing. They were really going to do it! They would finally get to see what life beyond Crowstone was like, and all because of her. What if Granny finds out?” Charlie whispered, half gleeful and half afraid. “We’ll be in for it then!”

Play as Varsha as you try to revive your grandparent's store, avoid scrutiny by the authorities, and find love—all in one summer. Features Charlie gave a mischievous, gappy grin between chews. She nodded, her pigtails bobbing. “What kind of adventure?” The boat lurched again as a familiar figure loomed over the two girls. Betty gave a squeak of surprise as someone pushed their face to hers, almost nose to nose. Siblings can be annoying, a responsibility, and the best person to team up with – or all of those things at once! These thrilling books are all about brothers and sisters.

Betty didn’t respond, fighting to appear calm for her sister’s sake. Perhaps Granny hadn’t been too cautious. Perhaps she was right to be afraid ...

I still haven't forgotten the last time you tried to sweet-talk me like this. I ended up having to molest Shikibe-senpai's naked body in the girl's bath."

A Pinch of Magic is an easy read, with plenty of interest for a range of ages in the MG genre. How Betty’s adventure would pan out developed into plenty of suspense, although from a long way out (well, about 42% through) I had three-quarters of the solution. Granny stamped over. She stamped everywhere instead of walking, slammed doors instead of closing them, and mostly shouted rather than talked. Michelle Harrison's magical fantasy series has been enthralling middle grade readers since the first adventure, A Pinch of Magic was published in 2019. In a modern fairy tale of witches, sorcery and exciting escapades, the Widdershins sisters use their cunning and magic in a good v evil adventure. Stories guaranteed to keep them reading after lights out.

Michelle's path to becoming a writer was inspired by stories told by her sisters as she was growing up, one of which was so vivid it prompted her to dig in the garden looking for evidence of a dead fairy. (She didn't find anything.) Since becoming a published author she still does strange things like asking people to shut her in the boots of their cars – all in the name of research, of course – like Alice.Will there be more adventures for the Widdershins sisters? (We hope so!) I hope so, too! I’ve given my publisher two ideas for my next book. One’s a Widdershins, the other is something new. Whatever happens, I don’t want it to be the end for the sisters. Loved by girls who want to adventure, light fantasy in a realistic setting – magical realism I suppose - healthy sibling rivalry, children as problem solvers and adults with feet of clay.

Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments A Pinch of Magic is new release, which I received from the publisher via Net-Galley. The blurb looked interesting, although I disliked all the gushing quotes from other authors included on Goodreads – which I have left out here. For good reason, as it turns out. This book was amazing! It's a chilling thrilling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.This story touches on some uncomfortable ideas – how to behave when you feel you are not the special one, what it feels like to unexpectedly be the villain of a story, how to deal with embarrassing family members – and shows how the three different sisters navigate these challenges. It’s a lovely rehearsal for some of the classic teen worries. Three sisters trapped by an ancient curse. Three magical objects with the power to change their fate. Will they be enough to break the curse? Or will they lead the sisters even deeper into danger? ... I know what I said.” Betty shepherded Charlie in front. “But you and I are about to have a little adventure, which is why I need you to keep this our secret. Can you do that?” Take three sisters, add the cruelest of curses and a pinch of magic, and you'll have a tantalising tale you cannot put down' Tamsyn Murray, author of Completely Cassidy Oh!” Charlie grinned and pulled her witch’s hat lower on her head, clearly enjoying being up to no good.