"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 lose their 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 ..."-- - (Baker & Taylor)

An instant New York Times Bestseller! Disney's The Owl House meets Nevermoor, in a brilliant adventure from Claribel A. Ortega!

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 lose their 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...

With action-packed adventure, a coven of quirky witchlings, Claribel A. Ortega's signature humor, and girl-power vibes, you won't be able to put down this middle-grade Latine witch story, perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers or Harry Potter.

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 eighties 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.

Booklist Reviews

Seven Salazar is a Witchling who is excited to be placed in a coven and come into her full powers during the approaching Black Moon Ceremony; so it's a devastating shock when the big day comes and Seven is instead made a "Spare" with two other girls. Determined to cast off this undesirable fate, the three girls undertake an impossible task so that they might become fully fledged witches in a coven of their own making—but they will have to work together if they are to succeed. Ortega (Ghost Squad, 2020) weaves a gorgeous tale of determination and magic in her sophomore novel. The story explores the importance of having understanding and supportive friends, especially while making personal discoveries and finding out what one is really made of. This touching tale blends fantastic and realistic moments to create a saga of sisterhood that will resonate with readers even as it charms. Pair this with Emma Steinkellner's The Okay Witch (2019) and Julie Abe's Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch (2020). Grades 4-7. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

Kirkus Reviews

It's the night of the Black Moon Ceremony, when Witchlings in Ravenskill are assigned to their covens, and the one thing 12-year-old Seven Salazar hopes to avoid is being made a Spare Witch. When her fears unfortunately come to pass, she's faced with two other leftover and unlikely new companions—not to mention a challenge that might just prove deadly. Alongside the other Spares, anxious Thorn La Roux and bully Valley Pepperhorn, Seven must embark on a dangerous quest to find and kill the rumored child-eating Nightbeast. Through their adventures, however, Seven learns about a lot more than just the mystery of the Nightbeast: She comes to see people—including herself—differently. She peers beneath her first assumptions and stands up for others even when that's not easy. When she fears a friend is experiencing parental abuse, she brings her concerns to an adult she trusts even though she's frightened it will make her friend angry. The story balances serious social themes with lighthearted friendship hijinks, and the plot is fast-paced and full of gratifying twists. Ortega invites readers in, combining familiar fantasy furnishings with a low-key, modern-inflected tone. Seven is cued as Latine, and many of the spells she invokes on her journey ring with Spanish roots, offering Spanish speakers the joy of recognition and others the excitement of new-forged understanding. Thorn and Valley read as White. Energetic and intelligent; invites readers to question their assumptions and the status quo. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus 2021 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Reviews

During magical Ravenskill's Black Moon Ceremony, every 12-year-old Witchling is sorted into one of five powerful covens, except those designated as Spares, a sixth group treated as a servant class by the others. Much to her surprise, aspiring journalist Seven Salazar, who has brown skin and reads as Latinx, is designated a Spare, along with wealthy mean girl Valley Pepperhorn, who is white with rose-hued hair, and amiable pale-skinned newcomer Thorn La Roux. But when the new Spares face losing their magic completely, and becoming Forever Witchlings without powers, Seven invokes the little-used Clause of the Impossible Task. Now the trio has three weeks to locate and defeat the deadly, wolflike Nightbeast, or be permanently transformed into toads. As they combine their skills—Seven's botanical expertise, Valley's hunting knowledge, and Thorn's enchanted tailoring—and develop a bond of friendship and loyalty, the quest reveals more about the Spares, and the Nightbeast's predations. Centering three resourceful, sympathetic protagonists and considering issues of exploitation and privilege, Ortega's (Ghost Squad) lively sophomore release interweaves Spanish phrases, contemporary elements, and well-grounded magical worldbuilding. Ages 8–12. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (Apr.)