Witchlings - by Claribel A Ortega

About the Book

"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 never be able to perform powerful 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 ... "]cFrom publisher's description.

Book Synopsis

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Perfect for fans of Wicked and KPop Demon Hunters. This is a page-turning adventure about fitting in, standing out, and the magical power of friendship.

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.

Review Quotes

Praise for Witchlings:

Instant New York Times Bestseller!

#1 Indie Bestseller!

USA TODAY Bestseller!

An Amazon Best Book of the Month

A Kids' Indie Next List Selection

A B&N Most Anticipated Book

"Enchanting. Ortega's inventive story has a cozy, lived-in feel and a mystery that will keep kids guessing." -- Entertainment Weekly

"Magic, friendship, and humor-an enchanting read." -- Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series

"Inventive. Magical. Enchanting. An absolutely charming tale with its heart rooted in the friendships we make and keep." -- J.C. Cervantes, bestselling author of The Storm Runner series

"A gorgeous tale of determination and magic." -- Booklist

"Energetic and intelligent; invites readers to question their assumptions and the status quo." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Centering three resourceful, sympathetic protagonists and considering issues of exploitation and privilege, Witchlings interweaves Spanish phrases, contemporary elements, and well-grounded magical worldbuilding." -- Publishers Weekly

"A magic-filled quest of friendship and power." -- School Library Journal

About the Author

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 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.