Review Detail

How to Succeed in Witchcraft follows Shay Johnson, a Junior at the T.K. Anderson Magical Magnet School. Shay is determined to win a prestigious scholarship to the magical equivalent of an Ivy League university, not only because she is ambitious but mostly because her family is not well off financially. She needs to beat her main competitor, Ana Alvarez, who she sees as her nemesis and rival. She is persuaded to join the school musical by Mr. B, the drama teacher and head of the scholarship committee, who hints that participating will help her chances of winning the scholarship.
I loved Shay, who could be awkward and clueless at times, but is bright, responsible, determined, and a loyal friend with a strong sense of justice. The romance between Shay and Ana was a delight to read, with lots of tension and witty banter.
Mr. B is a popular teacher who dangles the reward of the scholarship to groom and sexually harass vulnerable female students. Shay learns to trust her feelings of discomfort and recognize that his behavior is highly inappropriate. This issue was handled skilfully and was one of the major storylines.
The author has created a fast-paced coming-of-age story in a magical world with potions classes and flying trains but also where teens deal with real-life issues such as racism, homophobia, microaggressions, economic disparity, the pressure to succeed, and predatory adults. How to Succeed in Witchcraft is a captivating combination of YA fantasy and contemporary. I could not put it down. Thank you to BookishFirst for a copy to review.