Abbie Adams has all the problems of most 5th graders—a strict teacher, a lot of homework, and a pesky little brother, Munch (short for Munchkin). Since she’s a witch, she also has other tribulations. Take the time she notices Munch sprout hair and large teeth. He was about to chomp down on his first grade teacher when Abbie rushed from her classroom, froze time, and saved Mr. Merkelson from a horrible fate.
Rhonda Hayter’s The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams is a fun book with plenty of fascinating characters and magical scenes. Abbie’s dad is a witch doctor and her powerful witch mother is studying to become a real estate agent. Her successful and famous actress Aunt Sophie motivates Abbie to try out for the school play, and Abbie gets the lead role. Her biggest problem seems to be lying to best friend Callie because she has to hide her witchy identity.
But problems really start festering after Abbie’s dad gives her a surprise kitten named Benjamin. Then her father’s mentor, Dr. March Hall (Abbie calls him March Hare) begins to come by for dinner every night boring Abbie to death over the kitchen table.
With the magical power to turn teachers to toads, to stop time, and even travel into the past, Abbie’s life sure is fascinating. With Hyter’s fluid writing style and cinematographic action, elementary and middle grade students will fall under Abbie’s spell for 34 fun-filled chapters.
