Just a Pinch of Magic

August 15, 2023
Two 12-year-olds find the friendship they've craved and unite to save their magical town. Winifred has grown up in Honeycrisp Hill, Rhode Island, where her family is despised, thanks to her biological mother's curse. The only place she feels at home is the family bakery, but as the cost of enchanted ingredients rises, business is suffering. Wini's plan to help involves executing a slightly illegal love spell from her family's grimoire. Her first goal: finding her dad the perfect man. Meanwhile, Kaliope is from Boston, where she couldn't practice magic. She welcomes the move to Honeycrisp Hill, hoping it'll mean more time with her frequently absent father, but the grandfather she knew nothing about shows up to help them reopen the town's haunted bookstore. Next, an Enchantment Agency officer arrives to investigate "a wickedness that's been called to town." Despite a bumpy start, Wini and Kal become friends; together they try to banish the wickedness and even play matchmaker between their dads. YA author Dow's middle-grade debut is brimming with magic--and enticing recipes for readers to try. She holds space for the loneliness that both girls experience and for Kal's struggles with anxiety. Her superb worldbuilding and the authentic dialogue between the quirky, beguiling characters will draw readers in, while the heart-pounding tension and strong pacing will lead them to the satisfying conclusion. Wini and her family are Black; Kal's dad is white, and her birth mom is from Chile. An enchanting tale of love. (author's note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

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Starred review from October 9, 2023
Twelve-year-old magic user Winifred Mosley is an intuitive baker who lives in the enchanted town of Honeycomb Hill, R.I., with her family, who own a bakery. The reputation of Wini’s birth mother —whom she’s never met—as a curse worker repels customers, and the rising cost of magical ingredients has the business in dire straits. To save the store, Wini concocts a plan: Step one involves “captur some of the love floating around” to spread it through town. But Wini must be discreet; “taking emotions” is forbidden by the Enchantment Agency, which polices magic use. Meanwhile, Kaliope Clarke, a novice word enchanter, moves from Boston to Honeycomb Hill with her queer father and retired Enchantment Agent grandfather so that she can learn and practice magic safely. Upon arrival, her grandfather is called out by residents for bringing “wicked magic” into town. When Kali and Wini meet, the two bond over having single fathers and aid each other during magic lessons. Dow (A Song of Salvation) delivers a magical story about family, friendship, and love that is both beguiling and surprising. An unforgettably rendered magical world paired with delicious descriptions of impeccable baked goods will leave readers wanting more. Wini is Black, and Kali reads as white. Ages 8–12.

October 27, 2023

Gr 4-7-Winifred Moseley, age 12, lives in the magical town of Honeycrisp Hill, along with her father and aunt. The Moseleys are food enchanters and run a struggling bakery. Wini's mother experimented with strong magic and caused a curse to afflict the town. She is disgraced and gone, at least for now. The townspeople both fear and admire Wini for her strong magical power. Although all the town's inhabitants are unusual, they have rules about what kind of magic is acceptable and actively persecute creatures who do not fit into the established structure. Kaliope Clarke, the daughter of a word enchanter, has grown up in the nonmagical world. Both girls feel the weight of family secrets and are in need of a friend. To save the bakery, Wini attempts a high-level spell. Instead of her intended goal of making a bread that will draw in customers, she starts a process that may endanger the town even more. With the move to Honeycrisp Hill, Kali's grandfather suddenly wants to reconnect, and Kali's and Wini's fathers begin a tentative romantic relationship. Already coping with anxiety, Kali hopes that finally being able to learn magic will improve her mental health as she discovers more about her family and talents. Through an otherworldly setting, Dow explores themes of discrimination and judgment. VERDICT Like a fine confection, the story includes enough brininess to offset the sugar, creating a satisfyingly piquant dish to appeal to both baking and magic enthusiasts. Recipes are included.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst

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