I’m so excited to share the news that THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE has received not one but two starred reviews!
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Award-winning travel writer Roberts spins an engrossing tale of magic, mystery, and friendship in his debut middle-grade novel.
In the quaint Massachusetts town of Willow Cove, 13-year-old Abby Shepherd and her best friend, Robby O’Reilly, discover that’s she’s a witch—when another young witch, Amethyst Jones, reveals the news. A mysterious and powerful magic user named Miss Winters has arrived in town, embroiling the unsuspecting teens in a web of intrigue that stretches all the way back to the Salem witch trials. As Abby meets other young witches and learns how to harness her magic under the tutelage of Miss Winters, Robby is thrust into a missing-person case and starts a romance with the new girl at school. Abby and Robby, who used to be inseparable, find themselves increasingly at odds as secrets and resentments come between them.
But what they don’t know is that the mysteries of Willow Cove go far deeper than they ever imagined, and that no one is exactly what they seem. Roberts perfectly balances small-town drama, preteen hijinks, and paranormal thriller action in an engaging novel with a vibrant cast of characters. The strength of Abby and Robby’s platonic relationship is a key element of the story, and the witches of Abby’s coven are each dynamic and unique in their own ways. The setting of Willow Cove is also commendably well developed, offering plenty of quirkiness and local color. It convincingly feels like a living entity with a vast history—one that Abby and her friends only begin to uncover in this book; more revelations may follow in a planned sequel, The Curse of Willow Cove.
A delightfully spooky page-turner for middle-grade readers.
School Library Journal, starred review
Gr 5 Up–On a spooky outing with her best friend Robby, Abby makes a startling discovery—she can fly! And not just that; she finds out the very next day that magic really does exist, and that she’s a witch…and not the only one in the school! On their 13th birthdays, six girls discover that they all have powers. The new substitute teacher, Miss Winters, promises to mentor them, but Abby isn’t totally sure Miss Winters can be trusted.
If that wasn’t enough for the girls and their friends, townspeople are going missing, including Robby’s stepmother. Something’s definitely going on in Willow Cove, and it’s up to the kids to unlock the mystery.
This well-written middle grade book walks the fine line of being effectively spooky without being too scary. The kids come from a variety of backgrounds and family units, but they band together, magical and non-magical alike. The novel dives right into the action, and will definitely keep readers interested. The book may be written for middle grade, but the exciting narrative could appeal to young adults.
VERDICT A first tier purchase for public and school library middle grade collections.