THE SALEM WITCH TRYOUTS by Kelly McClymer
Category: Paranormal
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 8/22/06
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
Rating: 5 Stars
For Prudence Stewart, sixteen, leaving behind her home and school in Beverly Hills to move to Salem, Massachusetts, is
more than just an inconvenience. She's worked for years to get where she is--which is near the top of the Beverly Hills High
School popularity list. Right before she was to be named the youngest head cheerleader ever, her parents announced the
move to Salem. It seems that Pru's younger brother, Dorklock (or, if you prefer, Tobias), needs to attend school in Salem,
where he can get a handle on his powers. Yes, powers. Oh, did I forget to mention that Pru and Dorklock are the
half-mortal, half-witch children of their four-hundred-year-old mother, Patience?
Yes, Patience Stewart is a witch. And although her husband is a mortal and still freaks at the thought of magic, he's realized
that his children need to be in a place where they can attend schools that are specifically designed for witches. So off the
family drives to Salem (much to Pru's disbelief; after all, her mom zapped their furniture to their new home, but they have to
drive?), where Pru quickly realizes that her former popularity and academic excellence don't mean much at Agatha's Day
School for Witches.
It's bad enough that for her sixteen years back in Beverly Hills her mother had discouraged her from using magic. Now she's
changed her tune--use magic for this, practice your magic on that. But Pru is woefully lacking in the magic department. She's
been put in remedial classes (remedial? the horror!), the students at Agatha's stare at her as if she's some type of mutant
freak, she still hasn't manifested a Talent, and she has to actually try out for the cheerleading squad. Try out. Her, Miss
Was-Going-To-Be-The-Youngest-Head-Cheerleader-In-History. Yes, Salem is turning out to be a real pain.
I loved THE SALEM WITCH TRYOUTS! A truly original twist on being the new kid in a brand new school, it's fun and
interesting to watch Prudence develop her powers, interact with students who think mortals are a new type of abnormality,
and learn what it means to be a cheerleader on a squad that uses magic in their routines. I really hope there are more books
planned in this series--and if the pimple-inducing spell at the end of the book is any indication, there will be!
Category: Paranormal
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 8/22/06
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
Rating: 5 Stars
For Prudence Stewart, sixteen, leaving behind her home and school in Beverly Hills to move to Salem, Massachusetts, is
more than just an inconvenience. She's worked for years to get where she is--which is near the top of the Beverly Hills High
School popularity list. Right before she was to be named the youngest head cheerleader ever, her parents announced the
move to Salem. It seems that Pru's younger brother, Dorklock (or, if you prefer, Tobias), needs to attend school in Salem,
where he can get a handle on his powers. Yes, powers. Oh, did I forget to mention that Pru and Dorklock are the
half-mortal, half-witch children of their four-hundred-year-old mother, Patience?
Yes, Patience Stewart is a witch. And although her husband is a mortal and still freaks at the thought of magic, he's realized
that his children need to be in a place where they can attend schools that are specifically designed for witches. So off the
family drives to Salem (much to Pru's disbelief; after all, her mom zapped their furniture to their new home, but they have to
drive?), where Pru quickly realizes that her former popularity and academic excellence don't mean much at Agatha's Day
School for Witches.
It's bad enough that for her sixteen years back in Beverly Hills her mother had discouraged her from using magic. Now she's
changed her tune--use magic for this, practice your magic on that. But Pru is woefully lacking in the magic department. She's
been put in remedial classes (remedial? the horror!), the students at Agatha's stare at her as if she's some type of mutant
freak, she still hasn't manifested a Talent, and she has to actually try out for the cheerleading squad. Try out. Her, Miss
Was-Going-To-Be-The-Youngest-Head-Cheerleader-In-History. Yes, Salem is turning out to be a real pain.
I loved THE SALEM WITCH TRYOUTS! A truly original twist on being the new kid in a brand new school, it's fun and
interesting to watch Prudence develop her powers, interact with students who think mortals are a new type of abnormality,
and learn what it means to be a cheerleader on a squad that uses magic in their routines. I really hope there are more books
planned in this series--and if the pimple-inducing spell at the end of the book is any indication, there will be!
The Salem Witch Tryouts
by Kelly McClymer
by Kelly McClymer