by James Patterson & Ned Rust
Little, Brown Books For Young Readers, $17.99, 341 pages
Whit and Wisty Allgood are back! So is the New Order. And all are stronger than ever. James Patterson and Ned Rust leap into the action right away in Witch & Wizard: The Gift.
Picking up where the first book left off, the sister/brother witch/wizard team are still searching for their parents while getting more involved in the Resistance movement. Friends from the first book have returned, including Celia, Jamilla, Janine, and Feffer the dog. And whether you love him or hate him, Byron Traitor Suck-Up P. Weasel Swain is right in the middle of the action. The New Order is up to the same wicked tricks. Agents are destroying music, art, books, and imaginations. The One Who Is The One has almost everything he needs to confront his citizens. The last ingredients are the Gifts of Whit and Wisty.
The story is much darker than the first. The One will stop at nothing to get these Gifts. Readers will enjoy an increased use of magic, some new characters, and more escape scenes. The drum stick and journal are back in action. Treat yourself to a book that you will not want to put down.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Franklin