{"id":40681,"date":"2023-02-11T19:19:15","date_gmt":"2023-02-12T00:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40681"},"modified":"2023-02-11T19:19:15","modified_gmt":"2023-02-12T00:19:15","slug":"review-of-bad-witch-burning-by-jessica-lewis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40681","title":{"rendered":"Review of Bad Witch Burning, by Jessica Lewis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Bad Witch Burning<\/em><\/p>\n

by Jessica Lewis<\/p>\n

Delacorte Press, 2021. 340 pages.
\nReview written January 17, 2022, from a library book
\nStarred Review
\n2021 Cybils Finalist<\/a>, Young Adult Speculative Fiction<\/a>
\n2022 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #6 Paranormal Teen Fiction<\/p>\n

This book is so, so creepy!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not usually a fan of creepy books, and if I hadn\u2019t been reading it as a Cybils Finalist, I might have quit. I\u2019m so glad I finished \u2013 this book is amazing.<\/p>\n

The set-up is that sixteen-year-old Katrell has discovered she can help people communicate with their dead loved ones. All she has to do is write them a letter. The letter will catch on fire, and the loved one will appear. Okay, it gives Trell a headache, but she can make money that way. And she needs money, because her mother lost her job and her mother\u2019s boyfriend Gerald likes to eat, and it\u2019s up to Trell to pay the rent.<\/p>\n

But then Gerald shoots Trell\u2019s beloved dog Conrad \u2013 and in her anguish, Trell writes Conrad a letter, asking him to come back \u2013 and he does! Will this same thing work on humans? There\u2019s a whole lot more money in resurrection than there was in simple communication with the dead.<\/p>\n

No surprise, though \u2013 there are awful consequences to bringing people back to life.<\/p>\n

This book is full of suspense and tension and horror \u2013 in the best possible way. Normally, when my time reading a book is full of mentally screaming to the main character, \u201cDon\u2019t do that! Don\u2019t do that!\u201d \u2013 normally, I would think it was either unrealistic or the character is just stupid. In this case, although maybe Katrell didn\u2019t exercise the best judgment, the author made me understand how strong her motivation was to continue. Never having had enough money makes money a pull, and being threatened by a powerful drug dealer is strong motivation, too.<\/p>\n

I found myself completely caring for Katrell, and wanting her to get a break, to trust the people who care about her \u2013 and not be killed by the out-of-control Revenants she\u2019d brought back from death.<\/p>\n

Amazing that this is a debut novel. Can\u2019t wait to read more from this author!<\/p>\n

authorjessicalewis.com<\/a>
\nGetUnderlined.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Teens\/bad_witch_burning.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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