Diary of An Accidental Witch: Classroom Chaos

CLASSROOM CHAOS is a delightful new installment in the DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WITCH chapter book series. The non-magical inspectors are coming back to the school, and as someone who used to live without magic, Bea is once again tapped for her knowledge of how to make the school appear non-magical. Meanwhile, Bea has unleashed the diary ghost of Minerva Moon into her house, and Bea needs to get her back into her own diary.

What I loved: Like other books in the series, this one starts off right where the last finished and leads into the next - it fits in the world and works best read in order. This series is perfect for kids who love chapter books with lots of magic and adventure! Bea is a charming character who is very sweet and relatable. She is trying to do what is best for her father, herself, and her friends, which isn't always easy. In this one, she has plenty of extra witchy complications to deal with as she tries to make it through school and her life without major hiccups, which she does with plenty of humor and good-heartedness.

There are lots of fantastic secondary characters who make appearances throughout, including Bea's frog and her friends, as well as the strong personalities of the teachers at the witchy school. The book includes plenty of humor and mishaps as Bea tries to teach magical folks how to appear non-magical (they clearly do not understand). The diary format works so well for all of this, with Bea having a unique voice and sharing her feelings and opinions as she recounts events.

The book also includes great illustrations throughout, helping to show the events and characters, as well as including some other paper information as if it were inserted into her diary. They are made to be like doodles in the book, but also help to break up the text for chapter book readers and add a lot of personality to the story.

While it does include a lead-in to the next book, many of the major threads are resolved in this one, and it is ultimately satisfying.

Final verdict: CLASSROOM CHAOS is a charming and relatable chapter book that is perfect for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys some (mild) magical mayhem!

Bea is a witch, living in Little Spellshire with her dad. She did a very naughty thing - she stole a diary - and now she is being haunted by the ghost of its former owner, Minerva Moon. While Bea is trying to deal with that, she is also worried about a school inspection. If the inspectors find out that the school is full of witches, it would be very bad for them all. So Bea offers to help hide the magical items at the school. Will she succeed in getting them a good mark in the inspection?
What I Liked: Bea is such a fun character. I like the diary style writing and it shows off her personality well. There is a lot of humorous moments which will have kids laughing. While this isn't the first book in the series, it is still easy to follow along with who the characters are without being confused. I love the elements of witchcraft throughout and how they try to hide magic at the school before the inspectors show up.
What Left Me Wanting More: I am not sure, but I assumed the book was set in England given the address of the Bea's house. It seems like an English town, yet they talk about being in sixth grade. I guess this could be for multiple audiences, it does not affect the enjoyment of the book.
Final Verdict: I enjoyed this book. It is well written, funny and has a lot going on. Kids who love fantasy books and magic will adore this series. Highly recommended.