July 20, 2020
In the remote towns of North Coast, Calif., best friends and high school sophomores Daniela and Elisabeth find an unassuming black book containing “A Spell for the Making of Naive Witches.” Underestimating the forces at play, Liss and Dan inadvertently summon a creature that steals Liss’s boyfriend, Johnny Su, leaving their friendship shattered—and entangling them in a dangerous game that spans decades. Nearly 10 months later, shortly before another teen disappears, Liss makes contact with Johnny, who’s been kept captive underground by a devious supernatural entity, and enlists Dan’s help to rescue him. Unbeknownst to Liss and Dan, Dan’s new friend Alexa is contending with her own magical awakening and its fallout. With magic and mystery at the fore, Laurens hooks readers’ attention while thoughtfully developing each of the three protagonists, all of whom have secrets beyond their magic: Dan hides her depression and self-harm; Liss’s self-hatred, compulsions, and insecurity drive her to make reckless, self-sabotaging choices; and Alexa’s trauma and fear of abandonment leave her feeling alone and afraid to seek help. Deftly plotted, with engaging, realistic characters, this paranormal debut has appreciable depth. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jennifer Udden, Barry Goldblatt Literary.