Discovering Pig Magic Book

Discovering Pig Magic follows the exploits of Mattie (or Miss M, or just M) and her friends Ariel and Nicki as they attempt to overcome the problems that plague their 13-year-old lives. After finding a book of spells, the three girls perform a ritual that will grant each the object of her desire. This requires that they each bury a special object. Ariel buries a tiny antique spoon; Nicki puts in a thumb-sized leather mother-and-child doll; and Miss M contributes a small ceramic pig with real gold inlays. When the magic starts to take effect, the girls' longed-for wishes carry unintended, and unwelcome, consequences. Breaking the spell before something really bad happens becomes crucial, but doing so may be too much even for these resourceful friends. Julie Crabtree's wonderfully funny novel captures the everyday lives of three quirky, engaging girls, and shows that some wishes may be better left unfulfilled.

KLIATT

Mattie, known by friends and family as M, adventures through the age of 13 with hopes, fears, and two best friends, Ariel and Nicki. While M is busy with a collection of pig memorabilia and a mom who won't leave the house, Ariel is determined to become the next Rachel Ray and Nicki deals with a host of family secrets. Just when they need a plan to help them in their struggles, they stumble across an old book of magic spells. After performing a ritual that promises to bring luck to their lives, the three friends look for any signs that the spell might be working. But things don't go quite as well as expected—Nickie's brother has an even smaller chance of surviving his heart surgery; M is humiliated with more piggy collector's items, while her mother's phobia about leaving the house grows worse; and Ariel wins a cooking contest with a stolen recipe. The trio finally realizes that things are spinning out of control. Before it's too late, can they break the mystical forces that are directing their lives—and keep their friendship? The three girls learn that their actions permanently affect their futures; and the value of friendship and honest emotions permeate this novel, as the characters discover who they are and how they can be there for their friends. Reviewer: Ashleigh Larsen