The Spell Book of Listen Taylor

THE SPELL BOOK OF LISTEN TAYLOR: Jaclyn Moriarty: A.A. Levine: Young Adult: 479 pages

When seventh-grader Listen Taylor and her father move in with Marbie Zing, Listen discovers a book with instructions to cast unusual spells, including a spell to Make Someone Call a Taxi and a spell to Make Two People Have a Fight about Absolutely Nothing. Listen’s spells have unexpected results and lead her and her family into new activities that eventually reveal the Zing Family Secret.

I usually love Jaclyn Moriarty’s books, but this one does not have a clear audience. The writing style and tone are appropriate for a teen audience, but Listen, the 12-year-old title character, is only one member of an ensemble cast. Most of the characters are adults, many of whom are struggling with relationships and affairs. The storyline is interesting—despite spells being cast, the book is realistic fiction, not fantasy—and weaves together stories from each character in the past and present to solve the mystery of the Zing Family Secret. Adult fans of Moriarty’s books will probably enjoy this selection, but it’s unlikely to appeal to teens.

MBC