This Wicked Game

Gr 8 Up—Claire Kincaid, 17, resents working in her family's voodoo supply shop. She has always eschewed her heritage-she's a descendant of Marie Leveau, a famed voodoo priestess in New Orleans. Claire finally turns to magic for answers once a series of break-ins threatens her friends, all firstborn children of prominent voodoo families. The action takes place in the weeks before the Priestesses' Ball, an exclusive promlike gathering. This post-Katrina mystery uncovers family secrets that have been festering for a generation. Fearing their parents' disapproval, Claire wants to keep her relationship with Xander, the son of prominent Guild leaders, secret. They arrange a series of break-ins of their own to discover what the mysterious woman purchasing dangerous magical items from their voodoo shops and exiled Guild member "Crazy Eddie" have been hiding. Using information obtained while in a dream state, and aided by some incredibly lucky coincidences, Claire ends up fighting off a ring of black-magic users who want to use her charmed blood for evil. Teens looking for mystery with a hint of the paranormal will enjoy this fast-paced story.—Madigan McGillicuddy, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Atlanta, GA