A TASTE OF MAGIC

A sixth grader discovers her magical abilities and must navigate her new world while holding on to what means the most.

Kyana Turner didn’t believe her mom when she said that she’ll get to learn the family secret now that she’s turned 12—not until her fingers sparked. Once Kyana learns that she’s a witch, life drastically changes, which means lying to her best friend, Nae. She begins attending Park Row Magick Academy, a secret school located at her hair salon, but normal life doesn’t stop, and Kyana juggles learning new spells and improving her math scores with keeping an eye on her Memaw, who has Alzheimer’s, to help ease Momma’s burdens. When financial pressures threaten to close her magic school, Kyana jumps into action by entering a baking contest that offers a $50,000 prize. However, her magic gets out of control as she’s baking, things go terribly wrong, and Kyana must work with unlikely allies and push past her fears if she wants to save her magical community. This fast-paced, heartfelt story deliciously blends realism with the whimsy of the mystical. Themes of inequity and self-worth are explored through Kyana’s narration as she rises to the additional responsibilities she receives, but they are balanced with sweet moments like time spent in the kitchen making Creole food with Memaw, who is from Louisiana. Kyana and the majority of the cast are Black.

A charming story of magic, love, and community.