Overview

  A middle grade Latine 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 twelve-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

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9781338745528

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Reviews

Early praise for Witchlings Magic, friendship, and downright funny--Witchlings has all the ingredients for an enchanting read. --Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series Inventive. Magical. Enchanting. An absolutely charming tale with its heart rooted in the friendships we make and keep. --J.C. Cervantes, bestselling author of The Storm Runner series Praise for Claribel A. Ortega's Ghost Squad: One of NPR's Best Books of 2020 A Good Morning America Summer Reading Squad pick Ghost Squad is a charming adventure full of girl power and heart. -- Zoraida Cordova, author of The Way to Rio Luna and the Brooklyn Brujas series Ghost Squad manages to be both creepy and heartwarming, fulfilling a need for stories that are both deeply relatable and culturally specific. Highly recommended for kids looking for a spooky read, a whole lot of feelings, and a story they'll not soon forget. -- Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift and The Insiders * A peppering of pop culture references add humor, but it's the personal touches, such as Lucely's opinionated, ever-present ancestors; her dedication to those she loves; and an emphasis on Latinx food, love, and folklore, that gives this debut its distinctive spirit. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review Dark humor, mystical vibes, and pop-culture references abound in this action-packed ghost hunt featuring... enchanted books, cryptic catacombs, and a coven of cats who are more than they appear. A feel-good, phantasmagorical adventure that readers won't want to miss. -- Booklist While it's undeniably a ghost story, Lucely's love for her family, both corporeal and spirit, carries the narrative, giving it warmth and depth. A warmly spooky middle-grade debut. -- Kirkus Reviews A fast-paced adventure rooted in Dominican mythology and packed with action, humor, and originality. Lucely and Syd's adventure gives readers paranormal thrills akin to Ghostbusters and The Goonies, from a refreshingly different cultural perspective. -- School Library Journal A high energy yarn, interwoven with Dominican culture and mythology, that is pleasantly spooky with a Ghostbusters vibe that rarely falters. Readers will appreciate this lively entree to supernatural literature. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Ortega takes Hispanic folk traditions and weaves them into an artful narrative set in modern times. A recommended read for those who like ghostly adventures. -- School Library Connection It's the Ghostbusters meets Jane the Virgin mashup we didn't know we needed. --Book Riot

Praise for Witchlings: Magic, friendship, and humor--an enchanting read. --Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series Inventive. Magical. Enchanting. An absolutely charming tale with its heart rooted in the friendships we make and keep. --J.C. Cervantes, bestselling author of The Storm Runner series A gorgeous tale of determination and magic. --Booklist Energetic and intelligent; invites readers to question their assumptions and the status quo. --Kirkus Reviews Centering three resourceful, sympathetic protagonists and considering issues of exploitation and privilege, Witchlings interweaves Spanish phrases, contemporary elements, and well-grounded magical worldbuilding. --Publishers Weekly Praise for Claribel A. Ortega's Ghost Squad: One of NPR's Best Books of 2020 A Good Morning America Summer Reading Squad pick Ghost Squad is a charming adventure full of girl power and heart. --Zoraida Cordova, author of The Way to Rio Luna and the Brooklyn Brujas series Ghost Squad manages to be both creepy and heartwarming, fulfilling a need for stories that are both deeply relatable and culturally specific. Highly recommended for kids looking for a spooky read, a whole lot of feelings, and a story they'll not soon forget. --Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift and The Insiders * A peppering of pop culture references add humor, but it's the personal touches, such as Lucely's opinionated, ever-present ancestors; her dedication to those she loves; and an emphasis on Latinx food, love, and folklore, that gives this debut its distinctive spirit. --Publishers Weekly, starred review Dark humor, mystical vibes, and pop-culture references abound in this action-packed ghost hunt. A feel-good, phantasmagorical adventure that readers won't want to miss. --Booklist While it's undeniably a ghost story, Lucely's love for her family, both corporeal and spirit, carries the narrative, giving it warmth and depth. A warmly spooky middle-grade debut. --Kirkus Reviews A fast-paced adventure rooted in Dominican mythology and packed with action, humor, and originality. Lucely and Syd's adventure gives readers paranormal thrills akin to Ghostbusters and The Goonies, from a refreshingly different cultural perspective. --School Library Journal A high energy yarn, interwoven with Dominican culture and mythology, that is pleasantly spooky with a Ghostbusters vibe. Readers will appreciate this lively entree to supernatural literature. --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Ortega takes Hispanic folk traditions and weaves them into an artful narrative set in modern times. A recommended read for those who like ghostly adventures. --School Library Connection It's the Ghostbusters meets Jane the Virgin mashup we didn't know we needed. --Book Riot

"Praise for Witchlings: An instant New York Times Bestseller! A #1 Indie Bestseller! An Amazon Best Book of the Month Winner of the 2023 Ignyte Award for Best Middle Grade ""Enchanting. Ortega's inventive story has a cozy, lived-in feel and a mystery that will keep kids guessing."" --Entertainment Weekly ""Magic, friendship, and humor--an enchanting read."" --Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series ""Inventive. Magical. Enchanting. An absolutely charming tale with its heart rooted in the friendships we make and keep."" --J.C. Cervantes, bestselling author of The Storm Runner series ""A gorgeous tale of determination and magic."" --Booklist ""Energetic and intelligent; invites readers to question their assumptions and the status quo."" --Kirkus Reviews ""Centering three resourceful, sympathetic protagonists and considering issues of exploitation and privilege, Witchlings interweaves Spanish phrases, contemporary elements, and well-grounded magical worldbuilding.""--Publishers Weekly ""A magic-filled quest of friendship and power."" --School Library Journal"

Praise for Claribel A. Ortega's Ghost Squad: One of NPR's Best Books of 2020 A Good Morning America Summer Reading Squad pick Ghost Squad is a charming adventure full of girl power and heart. Young readers will want to be best friends with Lucely, Syd, and Chunk! -- Zoraida Cordova, author of The Way to Rio Luna and the Brooklyn Brujas series Ghost Squad manages to be both creepy and heartwarming, fulfilling a need for stories that are both deeply relatable and culturally specific. Highly recommended for kids looking for a spooky read, a whole lot of feelings, and a story they'll not soon forget. -- Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift and The Insiders * A peppering of pop culture references--a nod to Ghostbusters, a clowder of cats named for Goonies characters--add humor, but it's the personal touches, such as Lucely's opinionated, ever-present ancestors; her dedication to those she loves; and an emphasis on Latinx food, love, and folklore, that gives this debut its distinctive spirit. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review Dark humor, mystical vibes, and pop-culture references abound in this action-packed ghost hunt featuring... enchanted books, cryptic catacombs, and a coven of cats who are more than they appear. Shoutouts to Harry Potter, Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, The Goonies, and the like crop up continually as debut author Ortega expertly weaves a feel-good, phantasmagorical adventure that readers won't want to miss. -- Booklist While it's undeniably a ghost story, Lucely's love for her family, both corporeal and spirit, carries the narrative, giving it warmth and depth. Readers will root for Lucely and Syd as they try to save St. Augustine and Lucely's cucuyos. A warmly spooky middle-grade debut. -- Kirkus Reviews A fast-paced adventure rooted in Dominican mythology and packed with action, humor, and originality. Lucely and Syd's adventure gives readers paranormal thrills akin to Ghostbusters and The Goonies, from a refreshingly different cultural perspective. -- School Library Journal A high energy yarn, interwoven with Dominican culture and mythology, that is pleasantly spooky with a Ghostbusters vibe that rarely falters. Readers will appreciate this lively entree to supernatural literature. -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Ortega takes Hispanic folk traditions and weaves them into an artful narrative set in modern times. A recommended read for those who like ghostly adventures. -- School Library Connection It's the Ghostbusters meets Jane the Virgin mashup we didn't know we needed. --Book Riot

Author Information

Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Squad and the Witchlings series, and Pura Belpre and Eisner Award-winning author of the graphic novel Frizzy, is a former reporter who writes middle grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she's co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club and coaching authors on how to navigate publishing. Claribel has been featured on BuzzFeed, NPR, Good Morning America, and Deadline. You can find her on social media at @Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com.

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