About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is grappling with the green-eyed monster of sibling comparison or the frustration of feeling like the only 'normal' person in a chaotic house. It is a perfect choice for girls navigating the social hierarchies of eighth grade who need to see that even with magic, life is still messy and complicated. Fourteen-year-old Rachel is the only one in her family without magical powers, a fact that stings when her younger sister Miri starts casting spells to fix her own life but refuses to help Rachel with her social standing or her crush. The story balances lighthearted humor with more grounded themes of navigating a father's remarriage and learning that shortcuts rarely lead to genuine confidence. It is a breezy, relatable read for ages 11 to 14 that validates the emotional highs and lows of early adolescence.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss the ethics of 'shortcuts' and consent. Rachel repeatedly asks her sister to use magic to manipulate other people's feelings or abilities (like making her a better dancer or making a boy like her). This provides an opening to talk about why earning skills and respecting others' autonomy matters. Additionally, the depiction of the father's fiancée as a 'Step-Monster' is a common trope that may require a conversation about how to constructively handle feelings about blended families.
Ideal Reader
A 12-year-old girl who feels overshadowed by a sibling or who is highly focused on school social status and first crushes.
Parent Prep
Be prepared to discuss the ethics of consent regarding Rachel's use of magic to influence others, as well as constructive ways to navigate the 'Step-Monster' trope and feelings regarding blended families. A child expressing intense jealousy over a sibling's talents or complaining that their life is 'unfair' compared to their peers.
Age Experience
Younger readers (10-11) will focus on the wish-fulfillment aspect of the magic. Older readers (13-14) will likely resonate more with the social anxieties, the romantic tension, and the complex feelings regarding a parent's remarriage.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many fantasy novels where the protagonist is the 'chosen one,' this book focuses on the person left behind, making it a unique study of sibling envy within a magical framework.
Read plot summary
Rachel Weinstein discovers her mother and younger sister, Miri, are witches. Rachel, who has no powers, tries to convince Miri to use magic to help her join the popular A-list at school, improve her dancing for a fundraiser, and win over her crush, Raf. Parallel to the magical hijinks, the girls are dealing with their father's upcoming wedding to a woman they dislike, whom they nickname the Soon To Be Step-Monster.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Rachel spends a lot of time wanting what Miri has. If you could have one magical power but couldn't use it for yourself, how would that change how you felt about it?
2
Why do you think Rachel is so determined to join the 'A-list' at school, even if it means using magic to get there?
3
How does the nickname 'STB' (Soon To Be Step-Monster) affect how the sisters treat their father's fiancée, and do you think they give her a fair chance?
4
By the end of the book, Rachel sees the downsides of magic. Which 'spell' do you think had the worst unintended consequence?
5
Miri has a strong sense of 'witch ethics.' Do you agree with her rules about when magic should and shouldn't be used?
