Salem Witch Tryouts

Prudence Stewart just received the worst news she's ever heard. Just when she had it all: straight A's, a hot crush, and picked as captain of the cheerleading squad her parents announce they're moving from their posh Beverly Hills home to Salem, Massachusetts. Pru's annoying little brother, otherwise known as Dorklock, is going through growing pains with a twist. He can't control is magic around mortals so the family is forced to leave. Now Pru is miserable and if you can believe it she's stuck in remedial magic classes since she was never allowed to practice her magic in Beverly Hills. Worst of all, even the cheerleaders bring a special "spirit" to their routine. As in, triple-back-somersault-with-a-twist kind of spirit. It's time for Pru to cast a spell and prove she's just as enchanting as the next girl. I thought this book was great. It reminded me of my younger years glued to the screen watching Bewitched. Pru is portrayed as a typical teen with the requisite annoying little brother and the characters are very real. I also loved the storyline and how different it is from other teen reads. I've already started book two, Competition's a Witch and recommend this book to all teens and adults who love YA books.

This was very witch like. It's very different from other witch books. It's a likable read and I would really recommend it to people who really are interested in to these type of books.

I hate spoiler reviews so just know that if you buy this book, you will not be disappointed. It's adorable. I'm looking forward to the sequel! :)

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!

Sixteen-year-old Prudence "Pru" Stewart knows Beverly Hills, California like the back of her hand. After all, she's lived there since birth, and, even though she's not allowed to practice the magic she was born with, she's always had everything. At least in the bubble of Beverly Hills High, where she was not only popular and smart, but about to be named the youngest captain of the varsity cheerleading squad in Beverly Hills High history. But all that changes when her pesky little brother, the Dorklock, begins having trouble containing his magic. Suddenly, Pru is uprooted from her privileged, posh life, and forced to grow accustomed to Salem, Massachusetts, where her and her little bro are forced to attend Agatha's Day School for Witches. The Dorklock doesn't mind, of course, considering he's been placed in the gifted and talented classes at school. But things are much different for Pru. The fact that she's hardly used magic in the last sixteen-years of her life has left her behind the curve, and suddenly she finds herself in a long list of remedial classes, struggling to keep up with witches half her age. As if that weren't bad enough, cheerleading is practically out of the question. Instead of doing routines on solid ground, the squad at Agatha's is completely magic-driven, leaving Pru on the outs, once again. But that doesn't stop her from heading off to tryouts, and attempting to compete against the best of the best. After all, Pru has been a cheerleader long enough to realize that practice makes perfect. And if she wants to make it at Agatha's, she's going to have to practice 'til smoke comes out of her ears. The cover illustration of THE SALEM WITCH TRYOUTS is eye-catching enough to grab your attention, but it's Kelly McClymer's fabulous storyline that will keep you reading long into the night. Pru is the girl you'd love to hate, but her sweet personality makes that near-impossible; while her adjustments to leaving Beverly Hills and growing accustomed to Salem, Massachusetts keep you sympathizing with the peppy little witch. From spells gone awry, to in-the-air cheerleading, McClymer keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end, leaving them with a cliff-hanger that will surely have them scrambling after the next book in the series. Mixing a touch of "Bewitched" and a dash of "Legally Blonde," McClymer has created a character who will touch your heart, and keep you rooting for her from beginning to end. Erika Sorocco Freelance Reviewer