Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

12-year-old Listen Taylor, whose friends have decided to ditch her at the beginning of junior high, finds a spell book that claims it will mend her broken heart. Her father's girlfriend, Marbie Zing, struggles with her fears of losing her happiness and makes a terrible mistake. Marbie's sister, Fancy, speculates about her marriage as she works with Marbie to maintain their family secret. And Cath, a young teacher, falls for a married co-worker and discovers her life has a lot more to it than she ever suspected.

These four stories intertwine in THE SPELL BOOK OF LISTEN TAYLOR. Jaclyn Moriarty skillfully weaves together the narratives over the course of a school year, drawing the characters closer and closer together, and closer to a climax that is both surprising and inevitable. With each new strand, events that seemed unimportant in one narrative take on new significance. Each character's story adds to the others, creating a bigger picture that is far more satisfying than any one story would have been on its own.

Each of the characters are well-developed in their own right. Teen readers will likely sympathize most with Listen, who must overcome the unspoken rules of popularity and friendships, and Cath, who is young enough to still be uncertain of her place in the world. They may have more trouble relating to Marbie and Cath, who are dealing with issues of settling down and marital satisfaction, subjects which rarely affect teens. However, this also means the book will appeal to adults as well as children, and perhaps give teens a glimpse into the lives of their parents and teachers.

Despite the title and the spell book Listen finds, the spells which provide some framework for the story, THE SPELL BOOK OF LISTEN TAYLOR is mainly a realistic novel, with a light shading of magic. Readers expecting sorcery and special powers may be disappointed. But the hints of magic, in many ways, are far more enjoyable than if this book were outright supernatural or fantasy. They suggest that the extraordinary is possible in everyday life, even if you're not a witch or a wizard.

If you're looking for a quiet, thoughtful, but still suspenseful read, with a magic anyone can believe in, run out and grab THE SPELL BOOK OF LISTEN TAYLOR. It is one of the most unique books I've read this year, and one I never wanted to put down. ( )

his is an unusual book that delights both adolescents and adults. A great Mommy-daughter read. Moriarty is an intelligent writer that has an unusual way of looking at the world. Her use of language is refreshing. Highly recommend. ( )

This book was great. It was told through quite a few different points of view of a bunch of different characters. I always love Jaclyn Moriarty books because they are all set in Australia, where they all take place. ( )

Way too long!
It took a looooong time to figure out what the heck was going on in the oddly written book with different perspectives by Jaclyn Moriarty. I love her other 3 young adult books - she brings a fresh interesting twist, but this was a little too "suspend belief" for me.
Story of an add austrian blended- family, and how they keep tabs on a long lost half sister.
Odd, but still looking forward to more "conventional" by Ms Moriarty. ( )

This was strange. Apparently a rewrite of an adult book (I have a bed made of buttermilk pancakes) to give it a more young adult focus. Listen Taylor finds a spell book and starts performing spells, which affect the people around her. She and her father have just moved in with Marbie Zing, and the book is also told from the povs of Marbie, her sister Fancy, and Fancy's daughter's primary school teacher. The time jumps were confusing as each section was a particular point in time but it would repeat it from the different characters pov. The only part of the book that felt real to me was Listen's loneliness and way of pretending she had friends.

This is an unsuccessful rewrite of the adult novel, "I have a bed made of Buttermilk Pancakes". There is not enough in it about Listen Taylor herself and too much of the book is dedicated to the musings of Marbie Zing, Fancy Zing and Cath Murphy ( the Grade school teacher) who are all having ( or contemplating having) extra-martial affairs. Listen's contribution to the book is minimal except that she is eventually the catalyst for the family Zing's secret ( that Cath Murphy is actually Fancy and Marbie's half sister through their mother's affair with a famous actor)being revealed. Can't say whether I like it or not - it kept me engaged but it is essentially an adult book.

Listen Taylor starts 7th grade-friends dump her. Finds spell book and begins to practice spells not realizing the spells are actually effecting the people in her life. Father's girlfriend is a member of the Zing family-have a big secret that involves Cath Murphy, a local 2nd grade teacher. A little on the long side. ( )