Take three outsiders—the easy girl, the ethnic one and the new girl in school. Stir in one extremely unsuitable boy, the sudden reappearance of a long-gone mother and one awkwardly blended family. Add a pinch of peer pressure, a hint of angst and a dash of humor. Mix well with smooth writing and a few unexpected plot twists. End result? A surprisingly cohesive and engaging look at friendship and family in contemporary California. Sure, there are overtones of the typical teen friendship story, but Easton works hard to make her quirky characters come to life. Even the bad boy gets to tell his side of story, and the plot offers plenty of chances to ponder the possible outcomes of personal choices. The spells that precede some chapters may not be real magic, but they provide plenty of insight and some of them are surprisingly practical. And while it seems that nothing much happens, the ending manages to be both satisfying and believable: Easton’s characters grow and change—just like in real life. (Fiction. 12-16)