November 1, 2007
Gr 5-8-When the substitute art teacher, Wanda Gibbs, intercepts a rude note written by eighth-grader Stewart, she responds by landing him with the nickname Wart. His father meets her at Open House and asks her out on a date, and, oddly enough, Martha, Dad's former girlfriend and a friend of Wanda's, doesn't seem to mind. Suddenly, Wanda seems to be taking over Stewart's life: his dad is totally besotted with her, his little sister is undergoing a personality change as a result of her influence, and Wanda's oddball son claims that she turns him into a frog when he misbehaves. Could she really be a witch? Stewart and his best friends, Ham and Rachel, are convinced that she is evil and needs to be stopped. But Stewart's attempt to puzzle out the mystery is complicated when her spells boost his popularity and basketball skills, and he enjoys the attention of a cute cheerleader. Deciding what matters moremaking it on his own and being loyal to his friends or having his dreams come trueis tough. Since his mother's death years earlier, Stewart has resisted any change at home, but suddenly Martha seems like a desirable and comfortable alternative to the twisted Wanda. The plot moves quickly and the characters are appealing and unique. Humorous implausibility vies with more serious issues as Myers provides a lighthearted look at common family and middle school concerns."Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library"
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