OMG…Am I A Witch?!
Talia Aikens-Nuñez, author
Alicja Ignaczak, illustrator
Central Avenue Publishing/Pinwheel Books 8/06/2014
978-1-77168-025-7
148 pages Age 7+
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“April Appleton is s annoyed at her older brother that she searches the Internet for a spell to turn him into a dog. When it works, April realizes she has more power than she ever dreamed of! Now she has to figure out how to turn him back to normal before her parents find out.”
About the Story
April turns her older brother Austin into a little soft, poofy dog when he harasses her on the school bus. Yep, she is wearing huge red glasses and braces, but that does not give Austin the right to tease her. Now realizing she cannot keep Austin cute and cuddly forever—lest mom and dad will be unhappy—April tries in vain to turn Austin back into an annoying brother.
Things do not go well for April, who is getting better at opening and closing doors at will, but could not get the reversing spell to work. With the help of help best friend Grace and new friend Eve (her grand-mere is a witch doctor), April must perform some nasty tasks before the undo-spell might work. The Old Magic Book’s paper-thin pages are so dusty, reading might be difficult—and it is in French!
Review
First, I am not a fan of texting “terms” used in a story, and most definitely not in the title. I also do not like the double sign (?!), and because of this, think the title needs polished. The back cover preview (above), contains a sentence ending in a proposition. A few more are in the story. The expertly drawn black and white line drawings, at the onset of each chapter, help mark each new beginning, but do not add anything to the story.
With that out of the way, OMG . . . Am I a Witch is a cute story with energized dialogue. Read in one sitting, I found the story entertaining and it held my attention throughout. Most of April’s magic occurs as she thinks of what she would like, such as thinking her doggy-brother looks white and billowy as the clouds above, then he begins floating upward. April does a lot of thinking and worrying. The humor is light, which suits the urgency of the story.
“Austin is fluffy like those clouds. Ha ha. I could just imagine him floating off like a cloud . . . I just made him float. He floated like a cloud in my daydream. I am a witch. Wow. I am . . . a . . . witch.”
Girls will especially love the main character and her female sidekicks. OMG . . . Am I a Witch is a short 148 pages that can be read one chapter at a time or entirely in one sitting, making this a good story for younger middle grade kids. I believe this is Ms. Aikens-Nuñez’s first MG book. She has written a fine first foray into writing for the late elementary and middle grades. I would love to find out how April uses her newfound magic and how her friends will influence her choices. I loved all the characters. I think OMG . . . Am I a Witch would make a fine series, especially if April ages along the way.
OMG . . . AM I A WITCH?! Text copyright © 2014 by Talia Aikens-Nuñez. Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Alicja Ignaczak. Published by Central Avenue Publishing, British Columbia, CAN and Point Roberts, WA.
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Purchase OMG . . . Am I a Witch?! at Amazon 
Find out more about OMG . . . Am I a Witch?! HERE.
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Meet the author, Talia Aikens-Nuñez, at her website: http://talia-aikens-nunez.vpweb.com/
Meet the illustrator, Alicja Ignaczak, at her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/alicja.ignaczak.102
Learn more about the publisher, Central Avenue Publishing, at their website: centralavenuepublishing.com
Learn more about Pinwheel Books: http://pinwheelbooks.com/
Interview with Talia Aikens-Nuñez: HERE
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Copyright © 2015 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews
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Kids Lit Review 
A BIG thank you ❤ to everyone. I am not up to my normal 4 to 5 reviews a week (still using a wheelchair or hopping around), but soon all will be back to normal. No experience yet has made me appreciate the ability to stand and walk like a 6 month hip replacement! 🙂
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Wow! You’re back! Excellent!!!! I don’t know that texting lingo, but I do know that kids all know it and use it. I think seeing it on a cover is going to attract them. The times they are a’changing!
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OMG you may be right. LOL
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Yay! You’re back! 😀
I know what you mean about the text terms being used in books, but I know that some of my classmates (sometimes jokingly, sometimes not) say the text terms instead of ___________ insert whatever. 🙂 As I didn’t read the book, I can’t say 100%, but I just thought I’d let you know. 🙂
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Yay! I finally am, on a part-time basis. I have so much catching up to do. First, I need to figure out which of my books you have already reviewed . . . and then start with the others. 🙂
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It’s on! Part time! 😉
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“You’re going down.” I mean, alright! If you have already posted, I will connect to it by way of “Learn more about . . . HERE, with “HERE” being a link to your review. That should not happen very often. heehee 🙂
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“It’s a long way – to the top…” Sorry. That’s a song (AC/DC). 😉
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AC/DC? How old are you? 🙂
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🙂
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OMG! This can only mean one thing. You’re BACK!!! LOL Time to bring out the balloons, fireworks, and to celebrate with cake! Glad you and your laptop are all fixed up. 😀 Thanks for sharing a fun book that tween girls should enjoy reading. I’m afraid that texting acronyms are here to stay, in all aspects of our lives.
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I showed my review to a friend, who betrayed me by saying she liked the “OMG” title. I might be wrong, but sure hope not. I also hate it when books look like posts rather than using correct paragraphing. Maybe I am getting older? 😦
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OMG! Really?! Ha! JK (Just Kidding) See what I did there? I predict this trendy language will be more and more common, and will attract the eye of a lot of the MG audience. It’s a cute idea with great possibilities for sequels. Welcome home.
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OMG, I hope not! I get why these acronyms are being used more and more but I still am not a fan. I hope this becomes a series. Great characters.
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It sounds like a fun book, but agree that OMG doesn’t belong in a chapter book — especially the cover.
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Yeah, you agree. For a while I was feeling outnumbered.
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Glad to see you back, Sue. Hope you are feeling better,
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Feeling as well as a one-legged woman can feel on a two-legged day. 🙂 The Levono supervisor that made my machine well is my newest hero. In two days and returned it with all content in tack, right down to the tiniest document.
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It does sound like a cute story. I agree with you, texting lingo and sentences ending in a preposition need to be fixed.
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TG (thank God) another agreeable reader. I don’t even have a cell phone/smartphone, so for me all those letters generally do not register. Thanks to your mini grammar lessons I actually caught those—few—lonely prepositions. Two bows to the master-teacher!! 🙂
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Great review, Sue! Looks like a fun read. I didn’t think dangling prepositions were still a big no-no, but I could be wrong. Hope you’re feeling better.
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I had to find something wrong else how would this be a balanced review? Actually, I am surprised I even noticed. I hope there is a sequel. I am feeling better, thanks for asking. Still have rehab, maybe beginning in two weeks. One can only hope. 🙂
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Glad to hear your health better. Yay!
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Glad to hear your health IS better. Don’t know what happened to the verb. . .
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I understand. 🙂
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