by Benjamin Dickson (Author) Rachael Smith (Illustrator)
Elizabethan England is a time of superstition and strange goings on. If you have a problem, it's common to go to a witch for help. And Queen Elizabeth I is no different...
When Daisy -- a precocious young witch -- learns of the death of the Queen's Royal Witch, she flies to London to audition as her replacement. But Daisy is from a poor family, and they don't let just anyone into the Royal Court. The only way into the palace is to take a job as a cleaner.
As Daisy cleans the palace, she draws the attention of Elizabeth's doctor (and arch-heretic) John Dee, who places her into the auditions -- much to the chagrin of her more well-to-do competitors. But Dee knows how dangerous the corridors of power have become, with dark forces manipulating events for their own ends. To him, Daisy represents a wild card -- one that may decide the fate of many.
With so many wanting her to fail, Daisy will need all her grit and determination to make it through these auditions -- not to mention a sense of daring and adventure...
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Gr 3-6-Daisy, a young witch who hasn't seen much of the world, yearns for excitement, but her mother would rather keep her safe. When Daisy learns that the position of Royal Witch is open, she flies to London to audition over her mother's protests. She is immediately rejected because she isn't from a "good" family, but taking a job as a maid helps her get her foot in the door at the royal court. As she enters this fierce and dangerous competition, she makes allies and enemies and gradually learns to develop her own powers. This is a cute, funny, and exciting story, mixing historical characters like Elizabeth I and Dr. John Dee into the story of a witch who finds her way. With the energy and humor of stories like Nimona and Kiki's Delivery Service, Smith's art is bright and colorful, featuring characters with wide, expressive eyes. Characters are mostly white. VERDICT For kids, teens, and even grown-ups who delight in historical fantasy about witches, palace intrigue, and girls learning to trust their own power.
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