I will never forget my 3rd grade teacher yelling at me to stop reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It was the first book that I couldn't put down. A boy with magic. Powerful witches and wizards. Dark forces. Supernatural creatures. It was all so whimsical. Now, as a teacher, I search for books that will give my students the same otherworldly feeling. Here is a list of 19 young adult witch books that readers can't put down.
1. The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
Elizabeth's favorite activity is witch-hunting until she's accused of being a witch herself. She gains the trust of the dangerous wizard, Nicholas, whom she thought was her enemy. He makes her a deal: break the curse and he will save her from the stake.
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2. Improbable Magic For Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa
Eleanor lives in Salem, the backdrop of witchcraft, but she does not believe in magical powers. After losing her best friend and childhood crush, she swears off romance until Pix, a real-life witch, enters her life under suspicious circumstances. Guided by a mysterious tarot, Eleanor opens her mind to magic and maybe to love again.
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3. Witch of Shadows by A. N. Sage
Magical authorities banish Billie to Shadowhurst Academy, where she is the only witch in a high school full of witch hunters. That's not her only problem, though: students keep turning up dead. Billie must find the killer all while hiding in plain sight.
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4. Stray Witch by Eva Alton
Suffering an awful divorce, stray witch, Alba, finds solace among The Vampires of Emberbury. Alba meets Clarence, a stoic vampire, and a forbidden romance begins. Alba must repair her self-confidence and start a new life.
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5. Thirteen Witches: The Memory Thief by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Rosie is in 6th grade when she discovers the Witch Hunter's Guide to the Universe. The book reveals that forces eager to corrupt the world are from 13 bad witches, including the Memory Thief, the witch who cursed Rosie's mother. Rosie must brave the black magic and save her mom.
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6. Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell
Lychford is a quiet town with dark secrets: the town lies on a portal full of dark magic. While some people in town welcome a new supermarket, Judith knows the truth--stop the supermarket from being built, or face the evil collective power that lies within the portal.
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7. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka lives in a town that borders the Wood full of black magic. Dragon, a powerful wizard, protects the town against the Wood for a price--a woman to serve him for 10 years. Agnieszka fears that Dragon will choose her best friend, but Agnieszka is very wrong.
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8. Of Sorrow and Such by Angela Slatter
Gideon is a witch hiding in a village as a healer. The authorities punish magic-users by death, and when a shapeshifter reveals herself, the authorities can no longer deny the supernatural. They capture Gideon, and she must decide if she should give away fellow witches or find another way to escape.
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9. Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
Eff is the unfortunate 13th child of her family, and her twin brother is the 7th son of a 7th son, destined for magical greatness. Her family moves to the frontier, where dark magic lurks in the regions of the far west. She and her entire family must learn to survive.
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10. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
The Waverley legacy lies in their garden, where the family has tended an enchanted tree for generations. Claire is the last of the Waverleys until her long-lost sister returns with unfinished business. The sisters must learn to reconnect to protect their family secrets.
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11. The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
It's 1893 in New Salem and witches no longer exist after the infamous witch trials until the estranged Eastwood sisters join the suffragette movement. The sisters rekindle their bond through long-forgotten witchcraft in order to bring power to all women, witch and non-witch, and protect the history of witches.
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12. The Coven by Lizzie Fry
Witches lived peacefully until the President declares that they must be imprisoned. The Sentinels begin rounding up witches, but Chloe discovers her powers and finds herself fighting the Man to protect the power of women.
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13. The Merciless by Danielle Vega
Sofia is new to the school and befriends popular girls Riley, Grace, and Alexis, but Sofia finds herself in a sinister predicament on a fateful night when her new friends perform a séance turned torture session.
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14. A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
Margaret, a sharpshooter, and Weston, a failed alchemist, are an unlikely duo who compete in the Halfmoon Hunt. They must fight the hala in order to earn fame and uncover a magical secret.
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15. Violet Made Of Thorns by Gina Chen
Violet is the kingdom's not-so-honest prophet, but once Prince Cyrus is crowned, he will strip Violet of her role. She falsely reads Cyrus' prophesy, awakening a curse and starting a chain of events that threaten the kingdom.
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16. Wild Is The Witch by Rachel Griffin
Iris is an exiled witch who spends her time at a wildlife retreat, which is perfect if not for Pike, a witch-hater who works there. When Iris is about to curse Pike, a bird steals the curse. Now Iris must rely on Pike to help her track the bird to save everyone.
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17. Circe by Madeline Miller
Circe is the daughter of Helios. Not accepted by her immortal father, she seeks the company of mortals. Zeus banishes her after discovering her witchcraft, and Circe must choose between the life of the gods or the love of the mortals.
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18. This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
Alessa kills every suitor she touches, and she must find a suitor before demons invade. Alessa hires Dante to protect her, but he has dark secrets, and she must decide if he's the only one who can help her master her gift.
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19. Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Luli lives in Hollywood where roles for Chinese-Americans are minimal. The studios make deals in dark magic and human sacrifice. If she survives and becomes famous, it will come at a price.
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