Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel

Gr 6–10-This work reimagines the now-classic 1993 Disney film and also presents a sequel. Max Dennison is unhappy with his family's recent move to Salem, MA, and spends most of his days isolating himself at school. He becomes even more annoyed as Halloween approaches and everyone in Salem becomes obsessed with the story of the three Sanderson sisters, witches from 1693. When Max agrees to take his sister Dani trick-or-treating, he's eager to impress classmate Allison, so he lights a bewitched candle at the Sanderson house, setting off a series of unforgettable events. Twenty-five years later, readers follow Max and Allison's 17-year-old daughter, Poppy. The teen has grown up knowing the story of her parents and aunt Dani's Halloween encounter with the Sanderson sisters but isn't convinced the story is true. Poppy, dismayed by the Halloween party her parents have planned, takes her best friend and her crush, Isabella, to the Sanderson house. They succeed in bringing back the Sanderson sisters for another night of adventures and thrills. Both stories have lots of action and excitement. Character development is excellent, keeping readers invested in the protagonists in both parts. The detailed description of the witches, as well as the eerie setting, captures the Halloween feeling and will provide hours of enjoyment for lovers of the holiday. Reading both sections sequentially leads to some unnecessary repetition, which would have been less apparent if they were individual books.