Diary of an Accidental Witch by Perdita and Honor Cargill

Title: Diary of an Accidental Witch

Author: Perdita and Honor Cargill

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Published: 5^th October 2022

Format: Paperback

Pages: 224

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: A perfect potion of magic and mischief, Diary of an Accidental Witch is The Worst Witch meets Tom Gates.

Monday 20th September
I’M AT WITCH SCHOOL! Now would be a really good time to discover I can do magic…

Bea Black has just moved to Little Spellshire, a town with a magical secret. When her dad accidentally enrols her at the local witch school, she has to get to grips with some interesting new classes, like, NOW! Also on her to do list? Make friends, look after the grumpy class frog AND do everything humanly magically possible to stay on a broom…

But with the Halloween Ball on the horizon, will she be able to master her wand skills in time to WOW? And more importantly can she keep her newfound magical abilities a secret from dad?

~*~

When Bea Black moves to Little Spellshire with her father, she’s disappointed, but notices strange shops around the town that hint at something magical and hopes that her father has enrolled her in the shiny Academy so she can go to school with her new friend, Ash. But her father has enrolled her in The Spellshire School of Extraordinary Arts. And Bea is so disappointed – she’s not magical at all! So, together with her diary, to-do lists, and frog babysitting, Bea sets out to try to ft in, try to change schools, and get through the Halloween Ball – and to top it all off, she needs to keep her magic a secret from her father!

This book, which is the first in a new series (I hope so because there were hints at school rivalry, and I would love to see how that plays out) is fun, imaginative, and filled with heart and laughter. Kids of all ages eight and older will love Bea and find something about her that they can relate to. We can all relate to starting a new school, moving, starting a new job or something that takes us out of our comfort zone. Bea’s story is perfect to show people that we can all adapt. I loved the way Bea’s diary was set out, as it invited us into her life and mind and we got to understand the way she thought – there have been a few books written in this format lately for younger readers, and it is interesting to see how each author handles it – giving us a story whilst allowing us into the world of the character’s diary, for example.

I also loved the very English setting – it suited what Perdita and Honor set out to do and created a world that is easy to fall into and that I hope people will fall in love with. Beas unique voice is lovely as well and gives heart to the character. And the diary format is accessible, fun, and allows for some interesting and creative entries and voices. As this is told in first person, it is all Bea’s perception of what is happening to her, and I think that works well. It works because it shows readers – whatever their age – that it is okay to feel different, to be confused, and to feel like they don’t fit in. And we get to put this all into our diaries or journals. I also loved the journey Bea took at the school, making friends and fnding out what she could do. It is the kind of book that can help people find their confidence in themselves.

This delightful book was such fun to read as Bea’s worlds collided, and even though the subjects at the witch school were named as though they were ordinary subjects – they weren’t! Though maybe this is done to throw people off – to hide the magic from those that aren’t aware like Bea’s dad. Overall, I loved reading this book and think it makes a great introduction to the series. It is one that I think will find it enjoyable, as it is a fun romp that we all need right now.