School Library JournalGr 4–6—To her parents' great mortification, Poppy is unexpectedly born in a French bakery; she couldn't possibly have had a less auspicious birth. As she grows, though, it becomes obvious that she has the rare gift of magic, and her parents couldn't be more pleased. They purchase a state-of-the-art wand and broom and enter her in the Ruthersfield Academy for Witches. While Poppy is an excellent witch, all she really wants to do is bake. When she announces to her parents that she hates magic and just wants to make treats, her parents go to the extreme to stop her, pushing her into the blackest of magic. In this sweet story about true friendship, Poppy is a likable main character. While the accompanying cast is a little flat and an evil-witch story line seems to be dropped altogether, children will like dark-side Poppy and the satisfying ending.
