Zimmerman, Virginia. The Rosemary Spell.

Zimmerman, Virginia.  The Rosemary Spell.  Houghton Mifflin/Clarion     2015  273p  $16.99  ISBN 978-0-544-44537-6      ms      Fantasy     E-BN 

Best friends forever, Rosemary and Adam have agreed on absolutely everything, including the importance of books and words.  Most of Rosemary’s favorite books are recommendations from Adam’s older sister Shelby.  When the two teens discover a very old book in an old locked cupboard, it leads them into a magical world.  They follow up on the book’s history and, when they take it to their island and read a “spell” from Shakespeare’s sonnets, Shelby disappears, as do many of their memories of her.  It will take all of their ingenuity to save Shelby from the void of forgotten memories.  This is engaging, suspenseful, well-written fiction with excellent characterizations and a well-paced plot.  It will draw its readers into a world that mixes the power of friendship, Shakespeare’s magic, and the power found in words. 

Summary: This is engaging, suspenseful, well-written fiction with excellent characterizations and a well-paced plot.  It will draw its readers into a world that mixes the power of friendship, Shakespeare’s magic, and the power found in words.      

Shakespeare, Magic-Fiction                                  --Susan Ogintz