Story Summary: Laura is a sensitive 14-year-old girl, in more ways than one. She adores her younger brother Jacko, and loves her unorganized mother Kate. She is still trying to come to terms with her parent’s divorce as well as her father’s new wife. Laura is sensitive to changes in the world around her, she has warnings, or gets a sense when something bad is about to happen, and can recognize one of her schoolmates as a witch. Sorry, a male upperclassman is a witch. Laura doesn’t know how, because witches are generally female, or why she knows. However, she does know and exchanges glances with him regularly, because he seems to know that she has recognized him. One day Jacko is made very ill by a supernatural creature that is draining his life force. Laura seeks help from Sorry, but gets more than she bargains for. In her efforts to save her brother’s life Laura undergoes a changeover, and becomes a witch herself and finds herself drawn into a romantic relationship with Sorry. While she is dealing with all the normal pressure and doubts that go along with puberty, Laura is faced with her magical change, saving her brother’s life, dealing with Sorry who is emotionally detached from just about everyone, her mother’s new boyfriend and her father trying to become a part of her life again.
Laura faces her problems head on, with support mainly from Sorry and his family. Laura’s mother is there for her, in the background, but is overwhelmed by the changes in her own life and the possibility of loosing her son. She grows up a lot and begins to face life with more awareness of how her actions affect everyone else and how the world is all connected.
Remarks: This book is the coming of age story for Laura. She learns to handle her own emotions in awkward, and potentially dangerous, situations. She learns to see beyond herself. She faces her challenges with some ‘why me’ but generally with some pluck and the knowledge that she really has no other choice. She learns how to deal with adult emotions and shows commitment to her family, while realizing that she still has a bit more to learn. The book has enough magic to make fantasy fans interest, but enough romance and potential family tragedy to keep romance and drama readers interested in the book as well.