Nola's not much of a witch--she can work only a few useless spells, like the one that lets her spy on people. But there's no spell for keeping her crazy mother--who hears voices and is a magnet for witch-hunters--out of trouble. The two flee from town to town until the day Nola magically witnesses a murder. Which is bad enough, but worse is that the murderer may frame Nola and her mother for the crime. And then no amount of magic will save her.
And you think your teenage years are tough. . . .
Nola and her mother have unusual abilities that have always set them apart from others, but when Nola sees a murder using her power to call up images using water and a person's hair, she finds herself in the worst danger ever.
Vivian Vande Velde is the author of thirteen novels for young readers, and her short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. She lives in Rochester, New York.
Vande Velde's (The Rumpelstiltskin Problem, reviewed above) fairy tale-like novel set once upon a time features two witches, 17-year-old Nola and her mother. The pair works for hire at odd jobs, and Nola hides her magic, knowing they could be killed if suspected of witchcraft. Occasionally Nola tosses a hair in a bucket of water to read "shadowforms" images of what the hair's owner is doing at that moment. Such a spell is in progress when a silversmith fires her and her mother. In her rushed departure, Nola neglects to break the spell; so she bespells another bucket to see if the first one has been discovered. Thus she witnesses the silversmith's murder. Afraid that she may be implicated in the murder, Nola returns to the silversmith's house. She continues to cast spells to protect her ruse, each time creating more trouble for herself but more fun and suspense for readers. Although they may be overwhelmed by the detailed plot points, readers will be rewarded with a solid mystery and a handful of memorable characters, especially Nola's mother, an eccentric woman possessed by spirits, who makes funny asides (e.g., "Never underestimate someone who's willing to hold your head while you're being sick"). The investigator's acceptance of Nola's witchcraft, however, feels too sudden, and their romance unnecessary. The impractical conclusion is a letdown from an otherwise entertaining read. Ages 12-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Gr 6-8-Vande Velde's offering throws murder, witchcraft, and romance into the brew. Nola and her mother, both witches, exist in a kind of Middle Ages netherworld where they travel from town to town looking for odd jobs. Inevitably, Nola's childlike, blabbermouth mother exposes their witchy ways and the pair must move on. Wise Nola uses her powers to their advantage; with just a human hair, she is able to "see" figures and scenes in a bucket of water. In this way, she is able to check on suspicious people and keep abreast of their activities. It's a good plan,unless you leave the water in mid-spell for the villains to find. Through her magic and ingenuity, Nola manages to reveal a murderer, save her mother and herself, and find true love. The well-developed characters provide entertaining reading, but Nola's constant internal monologues and insecure second-guessing sometimes slow the pace. The conclusion wraps up nicely and neatly-perhaps a little too much so. Most likely to cast a spell on Vande Velde's fans.-Laura Glaser, Euless Junior High School, TX Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
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