The James Logan Courier

By Brandie Moore, Courier Book Editor

"As the box went down the line, Kate listened to the topics chosen by the other students. Suddenly they all seemed fascinating, and she wondered why she hadn't thought to write about the beheading of Anne Boleyn, Magellan's explorations, or the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth I. When the box was passed to her, she hesitated for a moment and then reached inside. Grabbing a piece of paper, she drew it out and opened it. The witchcraft persecutions, she read frowning."

What if a simple subject for a mid-term paper could change your whole world around in a instant? Would doing something you don't know much about really go as you planned it? Could you get all you wanted just but saying some words and lighting some candles? Kate Morgan is on a journey to find just that out.
Kate Morgan is a Sophomore in Beecher Falls High School. She is also on the girls basketball team and now on the Valentine's day dance committee. Well her friends are discussing what the theme should be Kate's attention is on none other then Scott Coogan. Scott is the one of the best players on the School's football team. When Kate's friends get her attention they start going on and on about how Kate and Scott will never happen.

As Kate gets up to leave from her friends cruel words she bumps in to Scott who quickly apologizes and leaves like she was never even there.

When Kate goes to history her teacher, Mr. Draper, asks them for their topics for their term papers. When he asks who had their idea only a few rose their hands. Expecting this Mr. Draper passes around a box with a whole bunch of topics in it.

As Kate listens she hears some good ideas, but when the box gets to her she frowns learning that she as to study up on witchcraft. After school she goes to the library to get some books for her report. While searching though the books Scott Coogan walks in to talk to a girl named Terri Fletcher, one of the most prettiest girls in the school. Since Kate doesn't want to see Scott flirting with another girl she grabs some books and leaves.

At home Kate opens the books and finds it more interesting then she thought. When she looks closely she looks closer she sees a book she doesn't remember grabbing. It was called Spells and Charms for the Modern Witch. Kate's curiosity gets the better of her and opens the book. Inside the books she sees a spell named Come to Me Love Spell. All she needed were several red candles, a red ribbon, a piece of red paper cut into a heart with her name on it, and something to represent the person to which she wants to come to her.

Kate grabs all the supplies that she needs. Since she does not have a picture of Scott or even a memento of his she grabs a Ken doll that looks kind of like him. Kate then does the spell. When she finishes she still feels the same and everything seems the same but the next day of school would prove other wise.

While at school the next day Kate feels like she's being watched by almost all the boys at her school. In chemistry it seemed on only Kate was noticing this but her friends as well.

The next period Kate and her friends put up Valentine's day dance posters all over the school. While putting up a poster someone comes up behind Kate and starts talking to her. Once she hears the voice she knows exactly who it is, Scott Coogan. To everyone's surprise Scott asks Kate to go to the dance with him and she quickly agrees.

When she gets home she decides to try another spell. This one is to improve her intelligence. The next day she takes her Chemistry mid term and is excited to learn the next day that she passed it with an "A." But Kate's good causes the grading curve to change making her friend fail and not be allowed to play basketball for two weeks.

That's when Kate realizes that her spells are not going right. Her friends aren't talking to her anymore. More boys than just Scott are noticing her and her A in chemistry caused many others to fail. Kate decides that she needs help to fix her problems.

Kate goes to the library and tells the librarian a lie so she could get the name of the last person who checked out her book. The name she got was an unexpected one, Annie Crandall, the quiet, goody-two-shoes, chemistry geek.

Kate asks Annie for help, but is disappointed to learn that Annie doesn't know much more than Kate does. Just as Kate found Annie thought the book, Annie decides to find the person who had it before her. That person ends up being none other than Cooper Rivers, the anti-social, doesn't-care-about-anything, girl who dies her hair random colors.

Will Annie, Cooper, and Kate be able to fix what Kate has started? If they do will Scott still be head over heals for Kate? And where will this leave the three girls relationships with each other when this is all over?

This book is fascinating. When I first saw it in the library, I looked right past it. It was a friend of mine who got me to try it out, and when I gave it a chance I just couldn't put it down. I instantly got caught up in Kate's tragic life.

This book is a very good read if you enjoy dark, mysterious, witchcraft books, which as you can guess, is on my list.

To all those who were following my with my Sweep journey, I WILL get back to that once I can get my hands on the next book, so just keep a look out for it.