Jenise Aminoff

Millie is hopeless at being a witch. She doesn't have any warts, she can't even enchant her own hat, and every potion she tries to brew somehow turns into food. Because, of course, cooking is what Millie is really gifted at. She wishes that everyone would just ignore her and let her cook, but at coven meetings, she's the laughingstock of the whole group. Then, at one fateful gathering, her grandmother, the leader of the coven, decrees that Millie is to attend school. The Enchanted Forest School has been urging all of the different magical beings to send their progeny, but witches have always kept to themselves, each witch training her own daughters. Will school help Millie discover if she has any magical talents beyond cooking? Or will she be a laughingstock there, too?

I think I would have really liked this book if it had been around when I was a kid. The interactions between the children in the book feel authentic, and I would have eaten up the details about the Enchanted Forest and the school. Plus, Millie's cooking sounds amazing (when it doesn't involve frogs or lizards). As an adult, the pacing lagged, and there were some awkward bits of writing. I can still see recommending this to kids who enjoy lighthearted fantasy, but I probably won't continue with the series.… (mer)

I was enchanted by this sweet and funny book, about a young witch who thinks she has no ability at witchcraft. Her apparent failings only hide her true talents, however! Along with being entertained (it was a hard-to-stop-for-the-night read), I was also appreciative of a more serious core that underpinned the story without intruding itself--it really spoke to me about finding and appreciating who we really are. But the overall feel of the book is light and fun, the characters are well-drawn, and the reading pace is quick. I'll be delighted to introduce some of the young readers at the school library to it! Highly recommended for both young and adult fantasy lovers.… (mer)

**I received a copy of this upcoming book from Dreaming Robot Press via NetGalley in exhange for a fair, honest review.**


Ludmilla, who prefers to be called Millie, is a terrible witch. She would much prefer to spend her days cooking, but to make her mother happy she struggles to learn her spells, potions and incantations. But, every time she tries, the results are horrific. Millie's sleep potions become chamomile tea, and potions meant to turn enemies into toads turn into chocolate instead. Then she's offered a chance to attend school with others from the Enchanted Forest. She accepts the challenge. It's embarrassing for a witch to attend school with non-witches, but Millie figures that school will be better than staying at home being embarrassed by her lack of witch-skills. At school she makes friends with all sorts of magical kids -- pixies, leprechauns, elves, and others. As Millie gains confidence, her magical skills begin to appear. The only problem is that she has very little control over them. Millie finds herself still questioning whether she is really a witch. Her friends decide to help her by taking her to see her father in the Logical Realm, a land with no magic. Maybe a trip to Salem, MA will help her discover if she will ever be a real witch.

This middle-grade book was such a fun read! It was nice to see the main character learn and gain confidence in herself. She had to endure teasing, bullies and self-doubt over her problems with magic. This story has a great message for girls and boys alike. Be who you are! The book is well-written. The story pace was perfect. The book got its message across without getting preachy or too dry. Sanchez incorporates a lot of age-appropriate humor to make this a very enjoyable, middle-grade story.

As soon as I finished reading the galley of this book, I went online and pre-ordered a copy for my granddaughter. I think this book has an excellent lesson in it for girls. Be proud of what makes you unique and always be who you are!! Plus, I know she will giggle at all the silly jokes. :)

This is Dianna Sanchez's first book. What an excellent debut book!! A Witch's Kitchen releases September 25th! This would be a great Halloween read for 8-12 year olds! (And adults too! I loved it!!)… (mer)