I read this book while sick, it was easy to read and not very complicated. Its a great book for the tween crowd, no sex, no death, no boyfriends - just a group of good friends on a mission.

This book, like most magic books aimed at kids, glosses over many of the details, such as how is magic "paid" for. It also has a very simplistic plot, Beatrice needs to go on a quest to confirm her Maximum Magic Level. Like most books of this sort, Beatrice goes with minor parent protest. She takes her three friends to help. The quest goes without a hitch, the evil sorcerer is unveiled, the good witch is free, and the book ends very suddenly.

It hard not to compare this book with Harry Potter - its almost like the author turned the Harry Potter World upside down - Instead of wizardry school, you get a witch after school program. Beatrice has parents, there's a magical world, outside of the normal world that includes people with overly fancy names (Leopold Meadowmouse is an example) There is magical themeparks, magical food, and most things in this world seem to take a page out of the Harry Potter Universe.

The writing is solid, but nothing special. I think older teens will find it too easy, but younger kids will love it. ( )