Special Magic: Evie Everyday Witch, Book 3 is a fantasy adventure novel for children and preteens written by Elena Paige. Something was definitely wrong with Wyndemere, and Evie was determined to find out what it was and take care of the situation on her own. Her parents and friends were not at all sure this was the right way to proceed, but Evie was adamant. Her first chore was ridding the cemetery of the plague of zombie squirrels that had mysteriously appeared. But Wyndemere’s issues went much further than zombie squirrel infestations. There was the dragoad in Mrs. Parker’s basement, and the flu epidemic that was sweeping through the town and the hobgoblin. There had to be a reason why everything was crazy and getting crazier by the minute, and Evie knew she could handle it -- on her own.

Elena Paige’s Special Magic is a fast-paced and action-packed story that delivers on so many levels. Although this is the third book in the Evie Everyday Witch series, the author includes enough background information for it to be enjoyed as a standalone story. While I could empathize with Evie’s desire to fix things on her own, I loved seeing how well she and her friends work as a team. Paige’s plot is fun and spooky all at once, and her characters are ingeniously contrived and utterly believable. I’m hoping to see future books in this engaging and fun series about coming of age as a young, everyday witch. Special Magic: Evie Everyday Witch, Book 3 is most highly recommended.

Special Magic is a work of children’s fiction in the fantasy, adventure, and social issues sub-genres, and was penned by author Elena Paige. Written as the third installment in the enchanting Evie Everyday Witch series, we find ourselves back with our central hero Evie as things take a dangerous turn in her hometown. But Evie is tired of everyone else swooping in and saving the day, and she wants to prove that she can be really successful this time. So begins a determined adventure filled with zombies, goblins, mystery and, of course, the Special Magic that Evie so dearly wants to master.

Author Elena Paige has crafted another charming middle-grade chapter book that transports readers back into the world of the weird and wonderful Evie, whose bright spirit continues to light up every page. Having experienced previous books in the series, it was a delight to see Evie facing another challenge, but this time looking deeper at her own qualities and asking important questions that reflect real social issues. This core journey is heightened by the magical, atmospheric writing of the author, who also continues to amaze with her inventive scenarios, well-described monsters, and the excellent pacing of the adventure plot. It makes for a wild ride, but one which really has a lot of heart. Overall, I would definitely recommend Special Magic and the series in general to those seeking children’s books with plenty of fun concepts, but also a helpful, productive, and pro-self-esteem message at their core.