Love Potion Commotion by Kristen Aguilar

The second I saw today's read, I had to pick it up and take a peek. The girl on the front looks so determined and doesn't give me the impression that she's completely sure of what she's doing. Add that a love potion in middle grade promises tons of havoc and no serious romance...and I'm excited to see what this one holds. Oh and as an extra bonus, it clocks in at less than 75 pages, and that with illustrations. I'm hoping that it's great for reluctant readers as well.

So, let's get that magic going and see what spells these pages hold!

Also, it's Monday, which means it's time for the weekly MMGM list. Middle grade literature fans and knowers get together to give their recommendations for the weeks or other thoughts on the middle grade realm. So, if you're looking for reads for this age group, head on over HERE and see what's what on that front!

LOVE POTION COMMOTION

The Magical Morrisons #4

by Kristen Aguilar

Illustrated by George Ermos

Stone Arch Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

72 pages

ages 8 to 11

COMING JANUARY 1st!!!

Being a witch doesn't mean you're immune to boy problems, as Nina learns when it comes to her crush on David, a new boy at school. Despite David's friendly behavior, Nina finds herself too nervous to talk to him, let alone ask him to the upcoming school dance. That is, until she comes up with a solution--a love potion. Nina is sure the spell will solve her problems, but things quickly spiral out of control, with some unintended consequences. Can Nina figure out a solution before the commotion gets worse?

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Humor meets middle school issues with a hint of magic to create a fun read with unexpected situations.

Nina is a witch and takes afterschool classes with her younger brother to learn all sorts of magical things, but of course, that doesn't mean she gets out of normal school. Instead, she has to keep her family's special attributes a secret. When a new boy enters the classroom, Nina finds him more than a little cute, but when she learns he lives next door to her, her nerves switch into high gear. Worse yet, her friends are expecting her to ask him to join them to attend the school's dance. It shouldn't be a big deal, but Nina's scared he won't like her. So, there's only one thing she can do—create a love potion. Not that her parents would ever allow her to do that if they knew, but some things just need to be done.

This is the fourth in a series, and while I haven't read the other ones, it was absolutely no problem to dive into this one first. It appears that these are simply separate stories about Nina and her family, and can be read in any order.

At under 75-pages, this is a quick, easy read, which makes it nice to pick up and enjoy without much thought. The atmosphere is whimsical and light, keeping the plot fun with silly moments. Still, it hits upon familiar problems middle graders will recognize. In this case, first crushes. Nina's awkwardness is understandable as she finds herself unsure how she should talk to the boy. Yet, the drama doesn't grow too thick, either. Her friends support her, but in a way which skims across the situation. So, this is by no means a romance, but rather, centers more on how Nina handles things in a way she shouldn't. Of course, everything backfires to create inviting chaos and a read with friendship and family goodness.

This one fits well with the lower end of the middle grade audience. There's a slightly larger font, larger spacing, and enjoyable illustrations sprinkled in. At the end of the book, there's a glossary of words and their definitions to help struggling readers. There are also a few questions, which can be used to check those comprehension skills and dive a little deeper into some of the messaging. 

It's a fun read with enjoyable characters and is sure to delight magic and middle school spice-of-life fans.