The Everyday Witch: A Tale of Magic and High Adventure! (Beatrice Bailey's Magical Adventures)
Grade 5-7-In this first book in a projected series, Beatrice Bailey is an average middle-school student who just happens to be a witch. She is anxiously anticipating her 12th birthday when she will receive her magic rating-either "Everyday" or the more prestigious "Classical." However, the Witches' Executive Council can't agree on the appropriate classification. To test her abilities, they assign Beatrice to a Noble Quest. With her three best friends, she will travel to the enchanted country of Bailiwick to rescue a famous sorcerer and his daughters, long imprisoned by an evil rival. The five captives are confined in scattered sections of the land, each guarded by a different monster. This book deals with the questers' initial task-conquering the frozen region of Winter Wood, where the first daughter is trapped behind a wall of thorns warded by a fire-breathing dragon. This is standard magical-quest fare with all the expected elements. There is a wizards' village, a magical hierarchy with unusual names, a villain who seems to survive death on a regular basis-even rhyming spells and magic tricks played on mortal bullies. While the plot isn't particularly original, Beatrice and her companions are a cohesive group and there is a nice emphasis on cooperation and individual efforts. Not a first purchase, but worth considering where there is a strong demand for magical series fiction.Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, ILCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.