Author: Virginia Zimmerman
Publisher: Clarion
Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Rating:
Best friends Rosie and Adam find an old book with blank pages that fill with handwriting before their eyes. Something about this magical book has the power to make people vanish, even from memory. The power lies in a poem—a spell. When Adam's older sister, Shelby, disappears, they struggle to retain their memories of her as they race against time to bring her back from the void, risking their own lives in the process.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: The Rosemary Spell by Virginia Zimmerman
The Rosemary Spell by Virginia Zimmerman really drew me in and refused to let go. This book has such an amazing and creative concept, and a mystery all rolled into one. Mystery is a genre that I have been loving recently and this book did not disappoint. Geared for a middle grade audience, The Rosemary Spell is quite enjoyable and makes for a quick read.
❀ An Interesting Concept
The Rosemary Spell has such an interesting concept! There is witchcraft, an old book filled with secrets, and so many more magical elements. In a nutshell, the main characters, Adam and Rosie, find a book that is seemingly blank, but soon fill with writing. The book is very powerful and has the ability to make their friend, Shelby, go missing. It was so much fun following Adam and Rosie as they try and bring Shelby back into our world.
❀ A Page-Turner
The mysterious nature of The Rosemary Spell is what hooks the reader from the onset. It is sort of like a puzzle with plenty of mystery to whet your appetite. The reader can solve the pixel of the old book and Shelby’s disappearance along with the characters. This book is a real enjoyable thrill as the characters struggle to remember who Shelby is, and keeps the reader flipping pages madly.
❀ A Simplistic Story
Although I really loved The Rosemary Spell, I would say that this story is definitely quite simplistic. The puzzle inside isn’t overly complex, and there is definitely no major plot twist at the end. Also, I found the book to be pretty predictable, however it certainly did not lessen my enjoyment for it. Middle graders, though, will most likely enjoy the fun and fast paced adventure.
❀ Fun Story
The Rosemary Spell by Virginia Zimmerman is such a magical novel that is filled with puzzles. It is quite fun to solve the mysteries along with the character! I am certain that 11 year old readers will fall in love with story and its wonderful cast of characters. I recommend this book to someone who is looking for a quick mystery to read.
About Virginia Zimmerman
Virginia Zimmerman writes novels for young readers and teaches literature at Bucknell University to somewhat older readers. She loves chocolate, cheese, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, reading aloud to her children and getting lost in a good book. She hopes readers young and old will get lost in her first novel, THE ROSEMARY SPELL, forthcoming from Clarion Books.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.