Witchlings

Witchlings

By Author / Illustrator

Claribel A. Ortega

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

9+

Publisher

Scholastic US

ISBN

9781338745528

Format

Hardback

Published

02-06-2022

Synopsis

A middle grade witch story with action-packed adventure, a coven of quirky Witchlings, humour and girl-power vibes.  Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill, Witchlings who participate in the Black Moon Ceremony are placed into covens and come into their powers as full-fledged witches. And 12-year-old Seven Salazar can't wait to be placed in the most powerful coven with her best friend! But on the night of the ceremony, in front of the entire town, Seven isn't placed in one of the five covens. She's a Spare!


Spare covens have fewer witches, are less powerful, and are looked down on by everyone. Even worse, when Seven and the other two Spares perform the magic circle to seal their coven and cement themselves as sisters, it doesn't work! They're stuck as Witchlings - and will never be able to perform powerful magic. Seven invokes her only option: the impossible task. The three Spares will be assigned an impossible task: If they work together and succeed at it, their coven will be sealed and they'll gain their full powers. If they fail... Well, the last coven to make the attempt ended up being turned into toads. Forever. But maybe friendship can be the most powerful magic of all...


Perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, Nevermoor and Rainbow Grey The second novel from rising star Claribel A. Ortega. A just-right mix of spooky adventure and cosy friendships - this is set to be your new favourite

Reviews

Donna

Fans of any book which has students learning magic will find Witchlings extremely enjoyable. When witches reach a certain age they are put into a coven at a ritual lead by the Gran. Each witchling has an amulet that glows the colour of the House which they are put in. The Houses are: Hyacinth (Purple), Valiant, Virtuous, Powerful in all things; House of Stars (Aqua) Brilliant, beautiful, Generous to all; Moth House (Black) Mysterious, Morbid, Dependable Friend; Frog House (Emerald) Focused, Frugal, Truthful to the Heart; and then there are 'Spares' who have to fulfil 'The Impossible Task' by felling a Nightbeast!


Seven Salazar and her best friend Poppy have always been inseparable. They have always looked forward to being put into the same house (Hyacinth). However, things don't always turn out as planned. Other main characters include 'misfit' Thorn Laroux and Seven's 'bully', Valley Pepperhorn.


I love the way in which the author uses such impressive descriptive language to describe the Nightbeast and the Cucos. Her imagination for the Jellybean fish is just brilliant - they had 'clear insides that looked like hundreds of colourful jellybeans but if you bit into one they tasted like spoiled meat and they screamed like banshees'. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel 'The Golden Frog Game' publishing in 2023 so I can find out how 'little' brother Beefy is developing!!!!!!


352 pages / Reviewed by Donna Ritchie, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

 

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