HOW TO SUCCEED IN WITCHCRAFT

Determined to win a scholarship, a teenage witch auditions for the school musical.

At T.K. Anderson Magical Magnet School, one junior is awarded the annual Brockton Scholarship, granting them a full ride to the university of their choice. Talented biracial (Black and assumed White) Shayna Johnson, who has an impressive resume, is one of this year’s contenders, but she’ll have to beat fellow overachiever and sworn enemy, Cuban American Ana Álvarez. When drama teacher and scholarship committee head Mr. B (short for Brockton, of the wealthy family whose foundation funds the scholarship) encourages her to audition for Bronxtown Brooms—a Jane Austen–inspired musical with a predominantly Latine cast—Shay is confident the scholarship will be hers. Unfortunately, being in the play means spending time with Ana, who is cast as the other female lead. But through rehearsals, Shay starts to see Ana in a new light: Not only is Ana an amazing dancer, she’s also attractive—an unexpected realization that may lead Shay to stray from her goals. The lightly magical world with two queer leads that debut author Brophy creates closely mirrors ours, from social issues regarding race and gender to the dilemmas teenagers face in planning their futures. Shay is so focused on pleasing Mr. B that she nearly fails to recognize his unwanted advances as wrong; this subject is explored in the narrative. Many readers will also appreciate the humor woven throughout.

#MeToo with a magical twist.