The Witching Wind

Roxie, 11, is looking forward to starting 6th grade. She’s to meet the other 6th graders at a pool party, but she has an incident that puts her in the crosshairs of a mean girl. Everyone has to join a club, and Roxie meets Grayson, a special girl, and a group of kids who become good friends. The Witching Winds are particularly bad this year, and Roxie’s beloved grandmother disappears in the wind. Grayson’s sister is also gone. The kids in the club aim to help Roxie and Grayson find their loved ones, but can this group of kids do what needs to be done?

Natalie Lloyd has written a real page-turner of a magical mystery. Told from the points of view of Roxie and Grayson in alternating chapters, the voices are pitch-perfect for sixth graders. There is plenty of friend drama to make this of interest to middle-grade readers. The characters are all well-rounded and believable. There are supportive adults who give the kids enough freedom to make their own way, and all the kid characters are true to life and interesting. A little fantasy and romance add more interest. Don’t miss this stellar book.