Frogs & French Kisses (Magic In Manhattan)
Grade 6-8–In this sequel toBras & Broomsticks(Delacorte, 2005), Rachels younger sister, Miri, uses her magic to perform a safety spell on 50 about-to-be-slaughtered cows. Unfortunately, they are safely removed to the high school gym, causing $40,000 damage and ruining the venue for the prom. The administration thinks this was an obvious senior prank, but, of course, Miri and Rachel know better. Meanwhile, their mom, who has been a nonpracticing witch for years, has decided to resume her enchanted ways. She suddenly has more men to date than she can handle and replaces important mother/daughter time with magically zapped up ready-to-eat pizzas. Rachels first-person narration moves the story along, and subplots include her dealing with the school bully and falling in love with her crushs brother and Miris other accidentally misused magic. However, the part involving the girls father, who remarried, is a bit weak and contrived. While the story is predictable, its still enjoyable and will have a ready audience.–Kelly Czarnecki, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg, NCCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.