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Just Add Magic #2
Potion Problems Lib/E
MP3 CD Format Now an Amazon Streaming Series
Kelly Quinn and her friends must figure out a way to save a beloved local store and find their infamous Secret Recipe Book , which has gone missing in this sequel to Just Add Magic .
Kelly Quinn and her best friends, Darbie and Hannah, are having the worst day ever! Their Secret Recipe Book accidentally gets included in frenemy Charlotte's used book drive. Not good. As if that's not enough, the girls find out that their cooking program is on the chopping block at school, thanks to big budget cuts.
Kelly & Company decide to take matters into their own hands and apply for famous TV chef Felice Foudini's Recipe Challenge. The prize? $10,000 and webisodes on Felice's site. With the Book and the special ingredients from their beloved mentor Senora Perez's store LaCucina, the girls are sure to win. But when they turn to Senora Perez, for help, they discover La Cucina is in danger of closing!
Then Kelly gets a mysterious delivery—a package with the missing Secret Recipe Book with a "From KE." KE is one of the Book's authors, but who is KE exactly?
It's up to Kelly, Darbie, and Hannah to get to the bottom of the mystery, save the cooking program, and help Senora P. keep her store!
Kelly Quinn and her friends must figure out a way to save a beloved local store and find their infamous Secret Recipe Book , which has gone missing in this sequel to Just Add Magic .
Kelly Quinn and her best friends, Darbie and Hannah, are having the worst day ever! Their Secret Recipe Book accidentally gets included in frenemy Charlotte's used book drive. Not good. As if that's not enough, the girls find out that their cooking program is on the chopping block at school, thanks to big budget cuts.
Kelly & Company decide to take matters into their own hands and apply for famous TV chef Felice Foudini's Recipe Challenge. The prize? $10,000 and webisodes on Felice's site. With the Book and the special ingredients from their beloved mentor Senora Perez's store LaCucina, the girls are sure to win. But when they turn to Senora Perez, for help, they discover La Cucina is in danger of closing!
Then Kelly gets a mysterious delivery—a package with the missing Secret Recipe Book with a "From KE." KE is one of the Book's authors, but who is KE exactly?
It's up to Kelly, Darbie, and Hannah to get to the bottom of the mystery, save the cooking program, and help Senora P. keep her store!
Audio CD
Published May 26, 2020
63 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Callaghan
15books176followersCindy Callaghan is an award-winning and producer. She's best knows for Just Add Magic and Just Add Magic 2: Potion Problems which were developed into an Emmy-nominated Amazon Original series distributed worldwide via Nickelodeon. She has also published five mega-popular Lost in books: London, Ireland, Paris, Rome, and Hollywood, and two stand-alones: the award-winning Sydney MacKenzie Knocks ‘Em Dead and Saltwater Secrets. Saltwater Secrets is set up with a major studio.
The Girl Who Ruined Christmas has been an Instagram sensation.
Be on the lookout for My Big Heart-Shaped Fail this fall.
When asked what it is about her books that tweens love, she chuckles and says, “The funny! Without a doubt, it’s the funny situations, characters and dialogue.�
In addition to writing, Cindy’s passions include animal advocacy, running, movie-going, reading, podcasts, wine and girlfriends, all of which take a backseat to her three children, husband and menagerie of rescued-pets.
Cindy holds an MA and MBA, and has over twenty years of business experience. The Delawarian (by way of Los Angeles (USC)) is a Jersey girl at heart. She lives in Wilmington, and escapes to her PA mountain retreat whenever time will allow.
The Girl Who Ruined Christmas has been an Instagram sensation.
Be on the lookout for My Big Heart-Shaped Fail this fall.
When asked what it is about her books that tweens love, she chuckles and says, “The funny! Without a doubt, it’s the funny situations, characters and dialogue.�
In addition to writing, Cindy’s passions include animal advocacy, running, movie-going, reading, podcasts, wine and girlfriends, all of which take a backseat to her three children, husband and menagerie of rescued-pets.
Cindy holds an MA and MBA, and has over twenty years of business experience. The Delawarian (by way of Los Angeles (USC)) is a Jersey girl at heart. She lives in Wilmington, and escapes to her PA mountain retreat whenever time will allow.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 23, 2024
Plot: 3/5
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Characters: 2.5/5
General Enjoyment: 3/5
Average: 2.8 stars
This was... okay. Maybe I'm just being cynical after loving the TV show so much, and I definitely am older than the target audience, but this was definitely not my favorite kid's book. It wasn't awful (hence the three-star rating), but it was just... meh.
PLOT:
The plot, even more than the first one, was all over the place. All of the different threads were resolved, and it wasn't very predictable, but there were just so many elements that it felt super choppy and disjointed.
PACING:
The pacing, like the plot, was all over the place. I wasn't ever on the edge of my seat, but I wasn't ever completely bored either.
WRITING:
Once again, the writing was... okay. It was pretty choppy at times, and some of the dialogue didn't feel very realistic for the age of the characters- sometimes it felt like they were 18, sometimes it felt like they were 8. It told the story well enough,
CHARACTERS:
The characters were pretty stereotypical: There was the smart friend, the goofy friend, the mean girl, the cute guy(s), the quirky teacher, and the main character who... honestly didn't have a lot of personality. There weren't any noteworthy characters, and they all seemed to have their one personality trait that they stuck with the whole book. The only character that really grew at all was Charlotte, and in her case, the character development really didn't feel deserved; it sprung up out of nowhere. They were distinct from one another, and all played their role in the story well enough, but just didn't have much depth.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Overall, I think I could have done without reading the Just Add Magic books, but I'm glad I satisfied my curiosity.
Pacing: 3/5
Writing: 2.5/5
Characters: 2.5/5
General Enjoyment: 3/5
Average: 2.8 stars
This was... okay. Maybe I'm just being cynical after loving the TV show so much, and I definitely am older than the target audience, but this was definitely not my favorite kid's book. It wasn't awful (hence the three-star rating), but it was just... meh.
PLOT:
The plot, even more than the first one, was all over the place. All of the different threads were resolved, and it wasn't very predictable, but there were just so many elements that it felt super choppy and disjointed.
PACING:
The pacing, like the plot, was all over the place. I wasn't ever on the edge of my seat, but I wasn't ever completely bored either.
WRITING:
Once again, the writing was... okay. It was pretty choppy at times, and some of the dialogue didn't feel very realistic for the age of the characters- sometimes it felt like they were 18, sometimes it felt like they were 8. It told the story well enough,
CHARACTERS:
The characters were pretty stereotypical: There was the smart friend, the goofy friend, the mean girl, the cute guy(s), the quirky teacher, and the main character who... honestly didn't have a lot of personality. There weren't any noteworthy characters, and they all seemed to have their one personality trait that they stuck with the whole book. The only character that really grew at all was Charlotte, and in her case, the character development really didn't feel deserved; it sprung up out of nowhere. They were distinct from one another, and all played their role in the story well enough, but just didn't have much depth.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Overall, I think I could have done without reading the Just Add Magic books, but I'm glad I satisfied my curiosity.
April 15, 2019
I was sadly disappointed with this book. I suppose I thought it would be more like the fun Amazon Prime movie that came out a few years ago. It was not.
The writer is good at keeping the interest in the reader, but I didn’t like the “modern teenager� approach that I think she was trying to achieve. I thought the girls were kind of mean sometimes, and Kelly was rude to her mother a few times.
I also do not appreciate the usage of the Lords name in vain, or the derivatives of it. There were a couple of these.
Also, the movie is not very much like the book in other ways- people, the way magic happens, etc. I guess this is to be expected, as the book was written before the show was made.
So, in spite of the way the writer keeps you interested in the story, I really didn’t have that “feel good� feeling after reading it. Not sure if I would recommend it to my granddaughters.
Watch the sho- it’s TONS better!!!
The writer is good at keeping the interest in the reader, but I didn’t like the “modern teenager� approach that I think she was trying to achieve. I thought the girls were kind of mean sometimes, and Kelly was rude to her mother a few times.
I also do not appreciate the usage of the Lords name in vain, or the derivatives of it. There were a couple of these.
Also, the movie is not very much like the book in other ways- people, the way magic happens, etc. I guess this is to be expected, as the book was written before the show was made.
So, in spite of the way the writer keeps you interested in the story, I really didn’t have that “feel good� feeling after reading it. Not sure if I would recommend it to my granddaughters.
Watch the sho- it’s TONS better!!!
September 20, 2023
Was fun reading to kids but it was a little jumpy for me. We all wish there was more to the story, definitely could of been a bigger series.
March 13, 2019
In Just Add Magic: Potion Problems 2 the three best friends, Kelly, Darbie, and Hannah, are back but they have a big problem - their magic cookbook is missing. Their problems continue to grow as their soccer coach seems to have gone mad with works outs to make the girls win in their soccer games, their favorite cooking class at school is about to be canceled, and their friend's shop may close because of ridiculously high rental rate hikes. Whew! That's a lot for three girls to handle.
It's fun to see how the girls work together and their distinct personalities. Each brings something unique to the (cooking) table as they work through each problem. The girls are having so much fun that others want to be included. They bring on the Rusamano twins, an ice cream shop employee, Kelly's aunt, and even Charlotte. It's great to see how the girls' attitudes change toward Charlotte and gain a new perspective on their own behavior.
A key aspect of this volume in the series is the element of mystery. They need to discover who the altruistic KE is to understand the magic of the book. By searching for the true identity of KE, they end up going down false trails until the surprise is revealed. By discovering more about the nature of the magic cookbook, Kelly gains insight into herself which helps her solve all the other problems, even though she could never do it alone.
The dialogue is snappy and funny, there are pop-culture references, and yummy treats (including recipes in the back) which all mix to make a fun and witty book perfect for middle grade. I highly recommend this book!
It's fun to see how the girls work together and their distinct personalities. Each brings something unique to the (cooking) table as they work through each problem. The girls are having so much fun that others want to be included. They bring on the Rusamano twins, an ice cream shop employee, Kelly's aunt, and even Charlotte. It's great to see how the girls' attitudes change toward Charlotte and gain a new perspective on their own behavior.
A key aspect of this volume in the series is the element of mystery. They need to discover who the altruistic KE is to understand the magic of the book. By searching for the true identity of KE, they end up going down false trails until the surprise is revealed. By discovering more about the nature of the magic cookbook, Kelly gains insight into herself which helps her solve all the other problems, even though she could never do it alone.
The dialogue is snappy and funny, there are pop-culture references, and yummy treats (including recipes in the back) which all mix to make a fun and witty book perfect for middle grade. I highly recommend this book!
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September 26, 2024Potion Problems
Kelly looks for the recipe book in her secret hiding spot but finds it missing. Darby says she had the book but it wasn’t where she keeps her collection stack of things she has no place for yet. She says come to think of it the stack was shorter. Charlotte -their friendemy-comes by to collect used books for the book drive. (She’s on the student council). They all realize Darby’s mom must have donated the book. Charlotte and Darby make a bet that she can’t tell the difference in taste of the different colored M N M’s. If she does know she gets to be captain of the soccor team. Darby wins. Kelly asks where the unused books for the drive will go and Charlotte says the recycling bin. Kelly says she’s going there so she can pick up Charlotte’s recycled things. Charlotte says that’s nice of her but if she’s looking for a secret recipe book stuff in an encyclopedia she thinks she’ll keep that.
On the bus the next morning, beiefly they talk about how Kelly and Mrs. Silver are getting along better. S Kelly shows them a flier for a recipe contest. She says Mrs. Silver loves her chili so much she thinks she should enter it. Then they start talking about how to get the book back. Kelly has an idea. She shows them a medallion and says Mrs. P at La Cocina can teach them how to use it.
Kelly knows there’s something wrong in Family and Consumer class when there’s no recipe set out. Mr. Douglas tells them that the class will be no more. There was a budget meeting and the board said the class was obsolete. Then he tells them to make the saddest recipe they can think of using what’s in the cabnets and leaves the room crying. So, they decide to use onions, broccoli, brussel sprouts, pine nuts, coffee grounds, and stinky cheese (gorganzolla). Then they’ll also toss in some blue cranberries. Kelly also adds some sea salt. Hannah notices the prize for the cooking contest is ten thousand dollars. That will be enough to save the class. But they don’t have the book. Still Hannah handles this quickly and sets it up so Kelly will be cooking lunch for the seventh grade. Then they’ll pick her best recipe and she’ll enter it in the contest. For her best recipes they choose the veleety, Red Carpet Cake, her slow cooked fetticino, and her Veggi Enchaladidas.
They go to Senior P’s after socor pratice, but when they get to her shop there’s a sign in the window that says she’s gone to Mexico. So, they decide if they can find the other authors of the book. They know how IP is but not RS or K Charlotte sends them a selfie of her holding the book. In class, Kelly gets delivered a wold book encyclopedia from “K�. Charlotte looks up and knows from their expressions they have the book back.
The day of the voting comes. Kellie has also added her chili to the menu. The Slow Cooked Fetticini recipe wins. Kelly taste her Fetticini and thinks she can do better. She’s going to go through the old cookbooks inher attic and go with something tried and tested. Charlotte says she’s been watching them and she knows everything. What could Charlotte want? Charlotte wants to be in the club. They have to find a recipe to make her forget what she knows and about the evidence she has. Hanna has a bottle of something blue and sticky that they say they can use as an ingredient. They find a recipe for Eraser Lollipops Coicendently the magical ingredient is the one Hanna has. They give the lollipop to Misty who gives it to Charlotte at the soccoro game. She starts to chock but she’s ok. When she seems to have forgotten how to play the game, they know it worked. Darby takes the retribution for the Law of Returns and forgets how to shut the car door.
Hannah also tries to use the potion on an apple for the Coach whose been angry with the Coach from their rival team. But it doesn’t seem to work. That night Kelly texts Darby a “Good Deed� to reverse the return. “Help someone with their homework� This will be hard because Darby doesn’t even do her own. The next day, Darby helps (Buddy) with is homework. On the way from there, Kelly stops to help Mrs. Silver clean up after her dog. She notices Mrs. Silver has a herb garden. Then they head to the library. Kelly has the book with her and Darby notices the paeges that are in the secret recipe pages are printed on the stationary for the Willmington Library. It says the library is on Main Street. The librian says before the renovations the entrance used to face Main Street. The librians say they only show the renovated parts but there are old hallways and rooms used to store books no longer used. So, while Darby distracts Mrs. Sullivan, Hannah and Kelly go look for a room that might have a book that can tell them why the apple didn’t work (and K and R).
In the records room, they find encyclopedias with the T missing. Darby has meet them in the room (fed up listening to the librian ramble on about history). They can’t find out who took it tho because Hannah tells them you can’t check out reference books. Tony and Frankie stop by with canoli after they finish their reports. Kelly tells tem about he idea to spiece up her idea by serving her Fetticini in a cauldron. Tony tells her that might be a problem. The entry is due today. Since they can’t enter the contest they decide maybe they can potion the school board. Even though their low on potions until Seniora P returns.
The girls notice one of the women in a school picture with Seniora P and head to the school’s library. The school’s librarian Mrs. Eagle has known all along.Shd 1) got the book back 2) sent it to Kelly in an envelope 3) sent Ralph to give them the secret ingredant 4) know Charlotte was going to expose them 4) wrote the lollipop recipe. She and Mrs. Sullivan are friends. She tells them about how she and Mrs. P and her other friend became friends. Then she tells them the story of the boy they cursed. They take pity on Charlotte in class and blow Moon Hond Drop dust on her. But as soon as she’s “Freed� she annouonces that Hannah, Darby, and Kelly have a secret magic book and have been casting spells on people for weeks. The class has a good laugh over this and so does the Coach. Kelly whispers that if she doesn’t keep her trap shut she’ll turn her into a frog. When Charlotte announces this to the class they all just think she’s lost it.
A motorcade pulls into the school. Then an announcement is made for all the students to report to the auditorium. Mr. Douglas announces the famous tv chef Felice FFoudnil is there to tell the winners of the contest. It’s Kelly, Hannah, and Darby. She presents them with the check and says they had an electronic submission. She also tells them she wants them to do a segment on her show the rest of the year. Tony and Mrs. Eagle were the ones who sent in the submission. For their first segment Kelly wants to do the Zombie noodles and have a Halloween theme with all of them dressed up. Mrs. P returns and says she went to Mexico to visit her family and get more spices. Unfortunately she’s gotten a letter from the landloard that the rent will be raised. Since she can’t afford that and no ones buying her spieces she’ll have to close her shop and moved back to Mexico. Not that she wants to.
Even with the help of Senora P, the pretzel they give Coach doesn’t keep him from being affected by the vial Coach. Charlotte threatens to tell him they’ve been spelling him and this time she has the pictures of the pages of the cookbook to back it up. She even threatens to post them on social media. She says maybe then La Cocina will become popular and then it’ll be able to pay the rent. Still, they tell her the club isn’t open to new members. They go to Senora P and tell her the lavender didn’t work. She says R knew the most about the potion but she kept a secret from them. She said many summers ago R hid the scret in the cemetary of her oldest relative. But the thing is Senora P won’t tell them who R’s is. She made a promise. Charlotte then sends a text they have 24 hours to make her a member or the recipes go viral, but Mrs. P says she knows Memory Maker Part 2 (she created that one). It will put her into a walking trance. They can control her actions. Seniora P gives them some seeds to drive away any hostility the Coach has. At practice, they poke Coach with the clove but ptraitce is just as demanding as its always been. But the bug spray they pretend to spray Charlotte with does work. One morning, Kelly discovers some mail for her neighbor Regina Silver. RS. Then it all makes sense. Because her house flooded they have a lot of her stuff in their attic. She tells the others and they tell her subconsciously she must have known all along. D Since Darby took the retribution for the spell, this time her phone won’t work. She liked having uncontrollable gass better (which was her last one). Kelly gives her the Good Deed “Do Something Nice for An Elderly Person�.
With the help of Frank and Tony, the girls search the cemetary. Before they find anything they find out that they’ve been locked in. Luckily Frankie knows a guy names Pete that has ladders. The boys want to know what’s really doing on so they tell them every single detail. They say they should have just ASKED Mrs. Silver. They just decide to get Mrs.Silver to walk up the street by telling her a certain CD is good to listen to while walking. Then they’ll walk to La Cocina. Hannah and Darby will invite them in and they’ll see if Mrs. P and Mrs. Silvers know each other. If they do they don’t let on. They do seem to know Kelly asks if they went to the same pool as kids. They both remember the pool but then Mrs. Silver says she needs to go. Darby’s phone begain to work again. Mrs. Silvers gives Kelly some mail for her mom because they have the same intials. RS. Even though her mom’s name is Becky Quinn, it’s short for Rebecca Smalls (her maiden name). RS.
Kelly’s mom will be going to a reunion and its decided that Kelly, Darby, and Hannah will stay with her aunt in Salem for Halloween. They invite Charlotte over and tell her to delte the videos and texts. Then they give her a Moon Honey drop. Kelly’s mom invites Charlotte to come and she accepts. .Later Kelly realizes that her mother’s birthdate doesn’t match what RS’s would be. (Somehow the boys are also joinging them on this trip). The guy at the ice cream place totally forgets he’s WORKING, closes the store, and goes to the cemetary with some customers he JUST meet because he likes the ice cream creations they TOOK over and made. So they go to the cemetary, They come to the name SMYTHE at the crypt and Kelly finds the letter. It’s Kelly’s grandmother. The secret is the recipes only work when the 3 of them do together (The Power of Three).
Aggie shows Kellie the names of the real witches from the Salem Witch Traisl and their ancerstors. She gets it all the Rebecca Samantha’s have special abilities. Kelly wonders if she should tell her friends. She likes the thought of being special but knows it’ll be a big responsibility. The next morning Aggie leaves the last part of the recipe for Memory Maker. It lets you give someone an alternate memory. Kelly decides to take the return. She then explains to her friends she’s the ancestor of witches. Even though the powers have faded over time she might have a little “spark� when needed. The boys go to get Charlotte for breakfast and then discover she’s gone!
When back, Darby says Mr. Barny should run for mayor. He says he’s been thinking about it. Darby says it would be a shame if they got on air with Felice and told everyone that he was kicking out a tenant. Hannah says that the candidates can come on air and cook with them so they could get to know them. But they might not have time. Mr. Barny says he won’t raise the rent if they allow Charlotte to be on the show. He says all she really wanted was to be their friend. They started a cooking club and didn’t even invite her to join. The other condition is he’ll be the first candidate on the show.
Kelly goes over to Charlotte’s and offers her friendship. Charlotte apologizes for running her ninth bday. For their television segment Kelly and her cooking club (including Frank, Tony, and Charlotte) make “Brew Stew�.
My Thoughts
This was kind of rushed in some places. For example, it was rushed to jump from thinking RS was Mrs. Silvers to thinking it was Kelly’s mom and then jumping to the thought of well since we’re in Salem let’s go to the cemetary and look at the graves of my (Kelly’s) ancestor’s. There were times when it jumped to the next chapter with a new idea that really wasn’t explained how it got there so I felt like I’d skipped something in the story.
Some of the actions of the characters were also rushed. For instance, just meeting someone in an ice cream store and then inviting them with you to the cemetary. Also closing up the ice cream shop when your supposed to be working to join a bunch of random strangers that walk into the ice cream shop just because (and who does this) they start taking over because you don’t have the flavor of ice cream they won’t (rather toppings) and star creating there own. Which I found far fetched and an unnecessary chapter. (The flavors weren’t even all that appeasing. Dinner Feast?)
Speaking of unnecessary, I didn’t particulary think the part about the Coache’s was necessary either. Even though it did lead to finding o ut about the Power of Three. Maybe that’s just me. So, what I did like tho was at the end all the recipes were included for the ones mentioned in the story. I’d try the Fetticini. I’m not the biggest Red Velvet Cake fan but I’d also try that one. I also got a little excited when I saw they’d be going to Salem. I wish they’d have spend some more time there and visited some more places other than the graveyard (which and the ice cream shop. It mentioned several places. It mentioned some haunted houses but since Darby didn’t want to go there they weren’t given any detail. I also liked that the theme of the first segment of the show was for Halloween. I liked that the spirit of it was also there in Salem. It reminded me of when I visisted Altanta one October at you could feel it all in the streets at night! LOVED IT!
Rating: 6
Kelly looks for the recipe book in her secret hiding spot but finds it missing. Darby says she had the book but it wasn’t where she keeps her collection stack of things she has no place for yet. She says come to think of it the stack was shorter. Charlotte -their friendemy-comes by to collect used books for the book drive. (She’s on the student council). They all realize Darby’s mom must have donated the book. Charlotte and Darby make a bet that she can’t tell the difference in taste of the different colored M N M’s. If she does know she gets to be captain of the soccor team. Darby wins. Kelly asks where the unused books for the drive will go and Charlotte says the recycling bin. Kelly says she’s going there so she can pick up Charlotte’s recycled things. Charlotte says that’s nice of her but if she’s looking for a secret recipe book stuff in an encyclopedia she thinks she’ll keep that.
On the bus the next morning, beiefly they talk about how Kelly and Mrs. Silver are getting along better. S Kelly shows them a flier for a recipe contest. She says Mrs. Silver loves her chili so much she thinks she should enter it. Then they start talking about how to get the book back. Kelly has an idea. She shows them a medallion and says Mrs. P at La Cocina can teach them how to use it.
Kelly knows there’s something wrong in Family and Consumer class when there’s no recipe set out. Mr. Douglas tells them that the class will be no more. There was a budget meeting and the board said the class was obsolete. Then he tells them to make the saddest recipe they can think of using what’s in the cabnets and leaves the room crying. So, they decide to use onions, broccoli, brussel sprouts, pine nuts, coffee grounds, and stinky cheese (gorganzolla). Then they’ll also toss in some blue cranberries. Kelly also adds some sea salt. Hannah notices the prize for the cooking contest is ten thousand dollars. That will be enough to save the class. But they don’t have the book. Still Hannah handles this quickly and sets it up so Kelly will be cooking lunch for the seventh grade. Then they’ll pick her best recipe and she’ll enter it in the contest. For her best recipes they choose the veleety, Red Carpet Cake, her slow cooked fetticino, and her Veggi Enchaladidas.
They go to Senior P’s after socor pratice, but when they get to her shop there’s a sign in the window that says she’s gone to Mexico. So, they decide if they can find the other authors of the book. They know how IP is but not RS or K Charlotte sends them a selfie of her holding the book. In class, Kelly gets delivered a wold book encyclopedia from “K�. Charlotte looks up and knows from their expressions they have the book back.
The day of the voting comes. Kellie has also added her chili to the menu. The Slow Cooked Fetticini recipe wins. Kelly taste her Fetticini and thinks she can do better. She’s going to go through the old cookbooks inher attic and go with something tried and tested. Charlotte says she’s been watching them and she knows everything. What could Charlotte want? Charlotte wants to be in the club. They have to find a recipe to make her forget what she knows and about the evidence she has. Hanna has a bottle of something blue and sticky that they say they can use as an ingredient. They find a recipe for Eraser Lollipops Coicendently the magical ingredient is the one Hanna has. They give the lollipop to Misty who gives it to Charlotte at the soccoro game. She starts to chock but she’s ok. When she seems to have forgotten how to play the game, they know it worked. Darby takes the retribution for the Law of Returns and forgets how to shut the car door.
Hannah also tries to use the potion on an apple for the Coach whose been angry with the Coach from their rival team. But it doesn’t seem to work. That night Kelly texts Darby a “Good Deed� to reverse the return. “Help someone with their homework� This will be hard because Darby doesn’t even do her own. The next day, Darby helps (Buddy) with is homework. On the way from there, Kelly stops to help Mrs. Silver clean up after her dog. She notices Mrs. Silver has a herb garden. Then they head to the library. Kelly has the book with her and Darby notices the paeges that are in the secret recipe pages are printed on the stationary for the Willmington Library. It says the library is on Main Street. The librian says before the renovations the entrance used to face Main Street. The librians say they only show the renovated parts but there are old hallways and rooms used to store books no longer used. So, while Darby distracts Mrs. Sullivan, Hannah and Kelly go look for a room that might have a book that can tell them why the apple didn’t work (and K and R).
In the records room, they find encyclopedias with the T missing. Darby has meet them in the room (fed up listening to the librian ramble on about history). They can’t find out who took it tho because Hannah tells them you can’t check out reference books. Tony and Frankie stop by with canoli after they finish their reports. Kelly tells tem about he idea to spiece up her idea by serving her Fetticini in a cauldron. Tony tells her that might be a problem. The entry is due today. Since they can’t enter the contest they decide maybe they can potion the school board. Even though their low on potions until Seniora P returns.
The girls notice one of the women in a school picture with Seniora P and head to the school’s library. The school’s librarian Mrs. Eagle has known all along.Shd 1) got the book back 2) sent it to Kelly in an envelope 3) sent Ralph to give them the secret ingredant 4) know Charlotte was going to expose them 4) wrote the lollipop recipe. She and Mrs. Sullivan are friends. She tells them about how she and Mrs. P and her other friend became friends. Then she tells them the story of the boy they cursed. They take pity on Charlotte in class and blow Moon Hond Drop dust on her. But as soon as she’s “Freed� she annouonces that Hannah, Darby, and Kelly have a secret magic book and have been casting spells on people for weeks. The class has a good laugh over this and so does the Coach. Kelly whispers that if she doesn’t keep her trap shut she’ll turn her into a frog. When Charlotte announces this to the class they all just think she’s lost it.
A motorcade pulls into the school. Then an announcement is made for all the students to report to the auditorium. Mr. Douglas announces the famous tv chef Felice FFoudnil is there to tell the winners of the contest. It’s Kelly, Hannah, and Darby. She presents them with the check and says they had an electronic submission. She also tells them she wants them to do a segment on her show the rest of the year. Tony and Mrs. Eagle were the ones who sent in the submission. For their first segment Kelly wants to do the Zombie noodles and have a Halloween theme with all of them dressed up. Mrs. P returns and says she went to Mexico to visit her family and get more spices. Unfortunately she’s gotten a letter from the landloard that the rent will be raised. Since she can’t afford that and no ones buying her spieces she’ll have to close her shop and moved back to Mexico. Not that she wants to.
Even with the help of Senora P, the pretzel they give Coach doesn’t keep him from being affected by the vial Coach. Charlotte threatens to tell him they’ve been spelling him and this time she has the pictures of the pages of the cookbook to back it up. She even threatens to post them on social media. She says maybe then La Cocina will become popular and then it’ll be able to pay the rent. Still, they tell her the club isn’t open to new members. They go to Senora P and tell her the lavender didn’t work. She says R knew the most about the potion but she kept a secret from them. She said many summers ago R hid the scret in the cemetary of her oldest relative. But the thing is Senora P won’t tell them who R’s is. She made a promise. Charlotte then sends a text they have 24 hours to make her a member or the recipes go viral, but Mrs. P says she knows Memory Maker Part 2 (she created that one). It will put her into a walking trance. They can control her actions. Seniora P gives them some seeds to drive away any hostility the Coach has. At practice, they poke Coach with the clove but ptraitce is just as demanding as its always been. But the bug spray they pretend to spray Charlotte with does work. One morning, Kelly discovers some mail for her neighbor Regina Silver. RS. Then it all makes sense. Because her house flooded they have a lot of her stuff in their attic. She tells the others and they tell her subconsciously she must have known all along. D Since Darby took the retribution for the spell, this time her phone won’t work. She liked having uncontrollable gass better (which was her last one). Kelly gives her the Good Deed “Do Something Nice for An Elderly Person�.
With the help of Frank and Tony, the girls search the cemetary. Before they find anything they find out that they’ve been locked in. Luckily Frankie knows a guy names Pete that has ladders. The boys want to know what’s really doing on so they tell them every single detail. They say they should have just ASKED Mrs. Silver. They just decide to get Mrs.Silver to walk up the street by telling her a certain CD is good to listen to while walking. Then they’ll walk to La Cocina. Hannah and Darby will invite them in and they’ll see if Mrs. P and Mrs. Silvers know each other. If they do they don’t let on. They do seem to know Kelly asks if they went to the same pool as kids. They both remember the pool but then Mrs. Silver says she needs to go. Darby’s phone begain to work again. Mrs. Silvers gives Kelly some mail for her mom because they have the same intials. RS. Even though her mom’s name is Becky Quinn, it’s short for Rebecca Smalls (her maiden name). RS.
Kelly’s mom will be going to a reunion and its decided that Kelly, Darby, and Hannah will stay with her aunt in Salem for Halloween. They invite Charlotte over and tell her to delte the videos and texts. Then they give her a Moon Honey drop. Kelly’s mom invites Charlotte to come and she accepts. .Later Kelly realizes that her mother’s birthdate doesn’t match what RS’s would be. (Somehow the boys are also joinging them on this trip). The guy at the ice cream place totally forgets he’s WORKING, closes the store, and goes to the cemetary with some customers he JUST meet because he likes the ice cream creations they TOOK over and made. So they go to the cemetary, They come to the name SMYTHE at the crypt and Kelly finds the letter. It’s Kelly’s grandmother. The secret is the recipes only work when the 3 of them do together (The Power of Three).
Aggie shows Kellie the names of the real witches from the Salem Witch Traisl and their ancerstors. She gets it all the Rebecca Samantha’s have special abilities. Kelly wonders if she should tell her friends. She likes the thought of being special but knows it’ll be a big responsibility. The next morning Aggie leaves the last part of the recipe for Memory Maker. It lets you give someone an alternate memory. Kelly decides to take the return. She then explains to her friends she’s the ancestor of witches. Even though the powers have faded over time she might have a little “spark� when needed. The boys go to get Charlotte for breakfast and then discover she’s gone!
When back, Darby says Mr. Barny should run for mayor. He says he’s been thinking about it. Darby says it would be a shame if they got on air with Felice and told everyone that he was kicking out a tenant. Hannah says that the candidates can come on air and cook with them so they could get to know them. But they might not have time. Mr. Barny says he won’t raise the rent if they allow Charlotte to be on the show. He says all she really wanted was to be their friend. They started a cooking club and didn’t even invite her to join. The other condition is he’ll be the first candidate on the show.
Kelly goes over to Charlotte’s and offers her friendship. Charlotte apologizes for running her ninth bday. For their television segment Kelly and her cooking club (including Frank, Tony, and Charlotte) make “Brew Stew�.
My Thoughts
This was kind of rushed in some places. For example, it was rushed to jump from thinking RS was Mrs. Silvers to thinking it was Kelly’s mom and then jumping to the thought of well since we’re in Salem let’s go to the cemetary and look at the graves of my (Kelly’s) ancestor’s. There were times when it jumped to the next chapter with a new idea that really wasn’t explained how it got there so I felt like I’d skipped something in the story.
Some of the actions of the characters were also rushed. For instance, just meeting someone in an ice cream store and then inviting them with you to the cemetary. Also closing up the ice cream shop when your supposed to be working to join a bunch of random strangers that walk into the ice cream shop just because (and who does this) they start taking over because you don’t have the flavor of ice cream they won’t (rather toppings) and star creating there own. Which I found far fetched and an unnecessary chapter. (The flavors weren’t even all that appeasing. Dinner Feast?)
Speaking of unnecessary, I didn’t particulary think the part about the Coache’s was necessary either. Even though it did lead to finding o ut about the Power of Three. Maybe that’s just me. So, what I did like tho was at the end all the recipes were included for the ones mentioned in the story. I’d try the Fetticini. I’m not the biggest Red Velvet Cake fan but I’d also try that one. I also got a little excited when I saw they’d be going to Salem. I wish they’d have spend some more time there and visited some more places other than the graveyard (which and the ice cream shop. It mentioned several places. It mentioned some haunted houses but since Darby didn’t want to go there they weren’t given any detail. I also liked that the theme of the first segment of the show was for Halloween. I liked that the spirit of it was also there in Salem. It reminded me of when I visisted Altanta one October at you could feel it all in the streets at night! LOVED IT!
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2018
Potion Problems (Just Add Magic #2) by Cindy Callaghan, 201 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2018. $18.
Content: G
BUYING RECOMMENDATION: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Kelly and her friends love their potion-making recipe book. But then Charlotte, Kelly’s evil next door neighbor gets her hands on the book and threatens to expose them. The trio needs the help of the original recipe crafters, but they have no idea how to find them! Plus, Charlotte’s dad is raising the rent on shop where they buy their special ingredients -- what will they do if Mrs. P. has to close the doors?
I wish this had stayed under the Mix imprint -- much more a paperback worthy book. Plus, now I’ll have two different bindings. Nothing special about the girls� problems. I keep wondering if they are ever going to get into serious trouble for playing with magic.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Content: G
BUYING RECOMMENDATION: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Kelly and her friends love their potion-making recipe book. But then Charlotte, Kelly’s evil next door neighbor gets her hands on the book and threatens to expose them. The trio needs the help of the original recipe crafters, but they have no idea how to find them! Plus, Charlotte’s dad is raising the rent on shop where they buy their special ingredients -- what will they do if Mrs. P. has to close the doors?
I wish this had stayed under the Mix imprint -- much more a paperback worthy book. Plus, now I’ll have two different bindings. Nothing special about the girls� problems. I keep wondering if they are ever going to get into serious trouble for playing with magic.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
July 16, 2018
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. So many things can go wrong when cooking and magic are involved. Just ask the three friends in this book. It seems it all starts when their magical cookbook goes missing and everything else just seems to be crumbling around them. La Cucina might be closing and where would they get their magical ingredients. But they only found out about that when going to get ingredients for a cooking contest that has a large cash prize. There is mystery and intrigue going on around. So will the solve the mystery of KE and find out who returned the book and win the contest? You will have to find out for yourself because I will not reveal the magic.
September 1, 2018
This second volume seems to be written after the series was aired. I like how the world’s a little different in the book than the Amazon show. The girls showing altruism and kindness by attempting to save the home ex program was great.
WOverall,though, I was disappointed in the book b3cause I’ve seen the series. Was I’m annoyed with myself that I pre purchased this book from Amazon. Next volume, it’s public library all the way.
WOverall,though, I was disappointed in the book b3cause I’ve seen the series. Was I’m annoyed with myself that I pre purchased this book from Amazon. Next volume, it’s public library all the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2020
Received my first ever thriftbooks read today.
It's a slightly battered used copy, but was perfectly readable. I know it's a mid grade kinda book, but I got sucked into the Amazon Prime series (I'm a big kid at heart) & wanted to see how the book differed from the televised version. It's 100% totally different! 🙆♀�
This book followed Kelly, Hannah & Darbie as they try getting their magical cookbook out of the hands of their arch enemy Charlotte 💫💥
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 🌟 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.
It's a slightly battered used copy, but was perfectly readable. I know it's a mid grade kinda book, but I got sucked into the Amazon Prime series (I'm a big kid at heart) & wanted to see how the book differed from the televised version. It's 100% totally different! 🙆♀�
This book followed Kelly, Hannah & Darbie as they try getting their magical cookbook out of the hands of their arch enemy Charlotte 💫💥
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 🌟 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.
December 2, 2019
My daughter and I started reading these after watching the show on Prime. Unfortunately this is one of the rare occasions the show is better than the books. The characters were lacking depth, were pretty mean to each other, and the general story was complicated with too many elements going on at once.
February 10, 2021
I seldom say this. However, I prefer the television series to the books. The novels are fair to good, but I miss Dee Wallace as grandmother.
Three pre-teens run across a cookbook with magical recipes, plus a shop that carries special spices. Of course, each spell carries a penalty to the people who use it. The tale ends up going into historical connections to the Salem Witch trials.
Three pre-teens run across a cookbook with magical recipes, plus a shop that carries special spices. Of course, each spell carries a penalty to the people who use it. The tale ends up going into historical connections to the Salem Witch trials.
February 25, 2019
Kelly and her two friends found a mysterious cookbook which had magical recipes. They are learning the rules and things don't always turn out the way they expect. It is a lighthearted story and an Agatha nominee. Sweet tale of friendship and food.
July 23, 2019
The book is most definitely different than the television series. I'm not sure whether I love the TV show or the book more as each has its own unique storyline.
One of the few difference is that Grandma Quinn is not in the book which is kinda sad.
One of the few difference is that Grandma Quinn is not in the book which is kinda sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2019
These are just such cute books! We loved the Amazon Original series and then got the 2 books and read them together with my daughters. Great read for 9-12 year old girls.
February 8, 2020
I'm in a light hearted story mood right now.
June 14, 2020
This book is more awesome than the first book.
July 13, 2020
I do like the books, but I like the Amazon Video series better.
July 20, 2020
A great follow up to the first book, I loved all the events and how the trio made amends with Charlotte.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2020
Second book is amazing, first is not that much
November 28, 2020
Watched the series. I Love it!
September 24, 2021
This book was such a great read that I had to check out the tv series! I've read several of Callaghan's books, and I'd definitely recommend her as an author. Check out her "Lost in..." series!
June 24, 2022
A fun read about friendships and making sure to include everyone.
October 12, 2022
If you have read the first part, this story will take you deeper into the magical world.
October 19, 2022
A lovely light read full of magic and friendship. I really enjoyed it.
May 2, 2023
This was much much better than the tv show, for me. It tried too hard to be spooky but instead should've followed the book's subtle demeanor.
May 13, 2023
The Cover looks amazing🤩 and
I'm guessing it's a great book
good luck, that book looks rlly Good
This inspired me to make my own book 😃😃😃
I'm 100% reading this
I'm guessing it's a great book
good luck, that book looks rlly Good
This inspired me to make my own book 😃😃😃
I'm 100% reading this
Want to read
July 30, 2024A
April 19, 2025
Same as my review for book 1. Good, the TV series is much better but still a really good book.
August 31, 2020
I think this book is better as the girls care more about the cookbook.But still,lack of magic.
Plot:
Cally and her friends have to get back their cookbook from their neighbour frenemy,before it's too late.Cally worries that when she firgures out how to use it,she'll turn her and her friends into frogs.But there's much more ahead of them.The main place where they sell the secret ingredients for the recipes is closing due to a lack of budget.Then,one day,the cookbook their frenemy has stolen came back to them with a marking K.E..HOW WILL CALLY AND HER FRIENDS SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF WHO IS OR...WHAT K.E. STANDS FOR AND PREVENT THE STORE FROM SHUTTING DOWN??
3.5 STARS
Plot:
Cally and her friends have to get back their cookbook from their neighbour frenemy,before it's too late.Cally worries that when she firgures out how to use it,she'll turn her and her friends into frogs.But there's much more ahead of them.The main place where they sell the secret ingredients for the recipes is closing due to a lack of budget.Then,one day,the cookbook their frenemy has stolen came back to them with a marking K.E..HOW WILL CALLY AND HER FRIENDS SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF WHO IS OR...WHAT K.E. STANDS FOR AND PREVENT THE STORE FROM SHUTTING DOWN??
3.5 STARS
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