Even the Sanchez story is okay for middle school. This was sent over to my school from the high school, where they thought it was too young. Weaknesses: Short story collections are a tough sell. The stories should make students feel that really, there are so many different types of 13-year-olds that any way they are is okay. The girls taste freedom and power for the first time, but what starts out as innocent fun turns sinister when one of the spells has an unexpected-and deadly.

Strengths : It was interesting to read the biographical notes and see pictures of all of the authors at 13. Bonded in sisterhood, they cast spells-cursing their headmistress with laryngitis, brewing potions to bolster their courage before dances, and conjuring beautiful dresses out of old rags. All of the story revolve around the concept of personal identity, and how difficult it is to be 13. Carolyn Mackler relates the tale of a girl who sets off a frenzy in her school by stealing a picture out of someone’s locker. Alex Sanchez explores what it is like to be attracted to another boy. Meg Cabot discusses friends who grow apart as the grow older. 13: Thirteen Stories that Capture the Agony and the Ecstasy of Being Thirteen.Ī variety of authors and experiences are represented in this compilation. Select the department you want to search in Search Amazon.in. Think I read a Private novel, but can’t really remember. Weaknesses : Since this is a prequel, I got the distinct impression that I was somehow missing something. The cover is similar to others in this genre, so it will be picked up quickly. It will be popular with the girls who like paranormal romances. Strengths: Love Kate Brian’s realistic novels like Lucky T and The Princess and the Pauper, so this was a little different.

Magic isn’t as good an idea as the girls originally thought. They have fun with this for a while, until one of the outings into the woods leads to tragedy. But there are other things afoot at the school-the girls find a Book of Spells, establish a coven, and start to learn magic. She finds a friend in Catherine, who also likes to read, but runs a bit afoul of Theresa Billings when she sets her eye on Theresa’s fiancé. When Eliza is sent to The Billings School for Girls in 1915, she is glad to be away from her overbearing mother, and plans to read what she like and dress how she pleases.

The book of spells a private prequel