Papademetriou, Lisa. The wizard, the witch & two girls from Jersey, a novel.

PAPADEMETRIOU, Lisa. The wizard, the witch & two girls from Jersey, a novel. Penguin, Razorbill. 273p. c2006. 1-59514-074-3. $8.99. JS*

This book is for fantasy readers who like a joke or two at their expense, or for readers who don't especially like fantasy but who do like action, adventure, and humor. The two girls from Jersey--Heather, a popular beauty-queen type, and Veronica, the bookworm daughter of a widowed mother--are assigned to do a book report on the same book. Naturally, the night before the report is due, only one copy remains in the bookstore. As they struggle for possession of that copy, a pricing wand misfires, and they wind up in the middle of the plot of the book. The first thing they do is cause the destruction of the real heroine; Heather must take over her queenly duties and save the day if they want to strengthen the wizard's magic enough to get them back to Jersey.

This story is like those unlikely sidekick cop movies (think Lethal Weapon heavily influenced by Janet Evanovich) where two dissimilar types must team up and become friends to beat the bad guys. In this case, the bad guys are Ookies, trolls, snotty elves, the Galag Nur (hot guys who are really demons), and witches like the Twilight Princess and the Fragile Hag. Both girls grow and change through their trials, come into their own and realize what they value in life. This is a good read for those who can take a few grains of salt with their fantasy. Myrna Marler, Assoc. Prof. of English, BYU, Provo, UT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.