A lovely and intriguing tale of witchcraft. Eva Evergreen slots well into the genre of young witches having to make a name for themselves in an unfamiliar town and situation, but Abe brings a freshness to the story with lots of interesting details unique to Eva. I'm already hooked for book two.

Eva Evergreen is a young witch about to embark on her Novice Quest. As the daughter of one of the most renowned Grand Master witches, many would expect her to pass a Novice Quest easily. However, unlike her mother, Eva only has a pinch of magic. Using too much causes her to fall asleep or pass out. If she doesn't pass her Novice Quest, the Council of Witches and Wizards will have her magic removed completely. With increasing pressure, she journeys to Auteri, a coastal town known for its Festival of Lights, where she must "do good" for the length of one moon. In her case, doing good means protecting the whole town from a dangerous magical storm that could potentially hit them. With just a pinch of magic, a lot of cleverness, and several new friends, Eva will discover that her own power is perfect as is.

EVA EVERGREEN: SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH is one of the most heartwarming, utterly adorable middle grade fantasy books I've ever read. The comparison to Kiki's Delivery Service is perfection. EVA EVERGREEN is a story that will wrap you up in a warm hug and let you know it's okay to have a path that differs from what's expected or what's ideal.

Eva's journey is a perfect balance of character growth and intensifying external plot. Between the threats from the head of the Council to the horrifying Culling to the anxiety-inducing mayor, Eva is right in the middle of quite the pickle(s). However, Eva can't repair everything alone. An important theme in EVA EVERGREEN is the power of community. Eva has a rocky start with the townspeople, but she keeps going, eager to help and to fix any mistakes she makes, and always willing to keep trying. As she gains new friendships, it is their encouragement and belief in her that helps her believe in herself. When it comes time to prove herself at the end, it is only with the help of the whole community that she is able to do what needs to be done.

Brimming with magic, friendship, wonder, and a touch of whimsy, EVA EVERGREEN is an absolute delight that will capture the hearts of young readers and show them that you don't have to be the most magical or the most of anything. You only have to be yourself and be open to stepping outside the box.

This book with the lovely cover has gained recent popularity in our library. I remembered reading it a few years ago and looked here to see that I did not write a review. Give this to fans of magic and witches who are looking for a gentle and fun story.

I had a lot of fun with this one! Eva was such a fun and upbeat character, and I was definitely rooting for her the whole time. This felt like a modern take on Kiki's Delivery Service, and I'm excited for any sequels that may come out!

Eva Evergeen is my new favorite witch! Julie Abe has created a fantastic world with characters that leap off the page, and I love it!
Eva’s mother is a Grand Master, the highest rank of witches, while Eva seems to only have a pinch of magic. Feeling self-conscious about her small amount of magic, she nevertheless is willing to fight for it - and the chance to become a Novice Witch - with everything she has. As she begins her Novice Quest in the town of Auteri, she finds that a heart for helping others and a knack for resourceful thinking, plus the help of good friends, are just as powerful as a drop of magic.
I loved seeing the characters grow and develop through the story, most of all Eva. The relationships between characters are really the heart of the story, and readers will love Davy, Charlotte, Rin, and especially Ember! I love Eva’s resourcefulness, persistence, and clever solutions to helping the people of Auteri. I look forward to reading more about a Eva Evergreen!

this is a very sweet story about a girl with a pinch of magic in her that wants to prove herself as an aspiring witch. I loved it so much, the world was well-structured with its magic systems, the characters were all fully dimensional and Eva was a heroine worth rooting for! I especially loved her supportive cast of loved ones, from her parents to the friends she makes along her journey, each one felt real and familiar.

this! was! so! cute!

This book was an absolute ray of sunshine. It took me a little while to get through because of life but everytime I sat down to read it was a delight. It showcases the power of friendship, how much willpower and support can do and that we all have self-doubt that we sometimes need help to overcome.

An utterly adorable fantasy adventure about finding and playing to your strengths. This reminded me a lot of The Worst Witch (a series that my daughter really enjoys) because Eva’s magic often goes a bit awry. Except this book is set in a fantasy world with hints of Japanese culture (rather than having witches who live in the regular world like in TWW). Eva only has a pinch of magic, but she’s bound and determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a top-notch witch. One aspect of the book that I really loved is that it’s not about Eva suddenly discovering that she’s way more powerful than she originally thought, but instead Eva learns to lean on and trust in the strengths she’s had all along. While she’s at it, she makes some wonderfully unexpected friendships and finds a furry flame fox to love!! There were some interesting twists and turns when it came to The Culling, the magical weather disaster that has been plaguing their world, and I’m eager to see where the series will lead next!

**Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

With some help from her friends, an apprentice witch learns to believe in herself. Then her magic grows! This book provides a model for young girls who have wonder if they will ever be able to achieve their goals.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. It was so fun and engaging. It absolutely absorbed me, and I would recommend it to everyone I possibly can. It would be a perfect summer to fall read. The characters were wonderful, and the plot was spellbinding. I, obviously, gave the book five out of five stars.

Eva is a likable character who’s magic exhausts her whenever she uses it. To make things more difficult, her mother is a grand master witch Which makes Eva feel less successful. Eva’s mother, however, has nothing but love and support for her daughter. Connor, another witch, treats Eva poorly and does everything to discourage Eva. Eva is determined to succeed and gets her quest- to save the village of Auteri from the Culling- an apocalyptic-like storm. The ending was the most exciting for me, clearly leading to z sequel.

It can be a bit risky, pulling direct inspiration from a popular piece of media like Kiki's Delivery Service. If poorly done it comes off as a pale copy. But if, as in this case, it is well done you borrow the positive associations from our fondness for the source material and uses it to build a whole new world. In this book, Abe has resolve some of my complaints about the movie, namely that there was no clear conflict or point to the plot. Eva's world has a lot more complexity. There's clear rules to magic and a larger conspiracy afoot. Eva is not an exceptional witch. Her powers are such that she has to use extra creativity to solve her problems. She also genuinely wants to help people. Yes, she wants to prove herself, but helping her people takes precedence. The plot is compelling and the characters are pleasant and reasonably complex. One I would easily recommend.

4.75 stars

This is the first book in the Eva Evergreen series by Julie Abe.

Wow, how fun was this middle grade book. Loving this new series featuring a witch with only a pinch of magic. This reminds me a lot of Harry Potter. Oh, not in the storyline or anything but the type of person Harry is at his core. Eva is like that too. She has been looked down upon for her whole life. No one ever had her back. And now while on her novel quest, which she had to fight to receive, she learns to trust herself and what she can really do in the world.

This will be a great inspiration for young people. This will give them hope and courage. I can’t recommend this one enough. Looking forward to book two!

If you like middle grade books, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

In order to reach witch novice by her 13th birthday, 12-year-old, Eva Evergreen must take her Witch Novice Quest. But, she’s not the best witch and she falls asleep every time she casts a spell. And, the spells don’t always work. If she doesn’t pass, she’ll have her magic removed from her forever. As part of her test, she’ll have to help a town for a month a fly back home, but she doesn’t even know how to fly yet! When she lands in Auteri for her Magical Quest, the townspeople expect a full witch. They’re not too keen about having a semi-magical witch to help. With a major storm coming, it could destroy the whole town. Can she prove herself, learn to fly, and pass her Quest? Full of magic, adventure, and friendship, readers will enjoy the similar feel this book has to Kiki’s Delivery Service. The main character is charming and easy to relate to. The plot is well-written and engaging. Readers who like fantasy, magical adventures, and friendship will enjoy reading this book.

This was a really cute story that reminded me of Worst Witch. I had a little trouble reading the full Epub, which interfered with my understanding at first, but once I filled in the gaps the story was great! Can't wait to read the next one.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are so life-like and I couldn't help falling in love with Eva and Ember. I loved Eva's magical journey and how she uses her magic and intelligence to solve the problems she faces. I think what makes Eva's journey one that I would love to go on is her almost lack of magic. She has barely any magic, but will gladly use it to protect her friends. This book is perfect for readers 9-12

I loved, loved, loved this book so much. It ended on such a cliffhanger! I can't wait for the sequel. It's just a joy to read. It's about Eva and how she finds herself and where she needs to be. It's such a sweet and clever story. I really enjoyed reading it.

Eva Evergreen is a semi-magical witch. She manifested her powers late and while her mother is a Grand Master, Eva has only a drop of magic and often falls asleep or faints after her magical feats. However, that's not going to stop her from completing her Novice Quest. With the mission "do good", Eva finds herself in Auturi a sea town, far away from home. Her first days do not go well but with moxie, ingenuity, and the help of new found friends, Eva finds her footing. A cute, fun read perfect for fans of Kiki's Delivery Service, The Worst Witch, and Diana Wynn Jones.

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley and Little, Brown Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Eva Evergreen is the daughter of one of the most powerful witches in Rivelle Realm, but only recently have her powers manifested. In fact, she just has a “pinch of magic” and casting spells drains her to the point of collapse. Nevertheless, Eva has come of age to go on her Novice Witch quest. She must pass this quest or have her magic permanently drained from her. Eva travels by ship with a magical ticket that will tell her when to get off. After using her magic to help a fellow passenger, and promptly falling asleep, Eva wakes up at the end of the line in Auteri. Is this where she is supposed to be? The town mayor reluctantly accepts allows her to stay – she had wanted someone with more experience to prepare Auteri for “The Culling,” devastating magical storms that strike yearly. Eva soon makes a few friends and does her best to help the town. Will it be enough?
I had watched a webinar with author Julie Abe where she talked about her debut novel. Being a fan of middle-grade fantasy, I requested the e-ARC as soon as I saw it was available. She has seamlessly integrated parts of her Japanese heritage into the story. Abe has shown that you do not need to be perfect or all-powerful to make a difference. I would highly recommend this for readers in grade 4 and up.
#EvaEvergreenSemiMagicalWitch #NetGalley

Sometimes, a pinch of magic is all you need...

Eva Evergreen wants nothing more than to be an Elite Witch, like her mother. Unfortunately, ever since her magic manifested (late), Eva has struggled with her magic and always ends up falling asleep after doing spells. She is determined, however, to use what little magic she has to follow one of the main rules of magic "Do Good", and earn the title of Novice Witch. She is sent off on a quest to find a town without a witch that will take her in, and stay there for one moon. If she can succeed, she can earn the title. If not... well, the less said about that, the better. Now, Eva is in a small coastal town with a mayor who doesn't want to sign off on her paperwork, a trouble-making firefox pup, magic that seems to cause more problems than be a solution, and the looming threat of the Culling--a horrific and random weather phenomenon that ravages a different town every year. Will Eva and her pinch of magic be enough?

Perfect for fans of "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "The Worst Witch", "Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch" is spellbindingly delightful for readers of all ages. Eva's little bit of magic, big heart, quick ideas, and abundant determination prove that magic is ultimately in how you use your gifts and the friendships that you make. Cleverly written, adorably atmospheric, heartfelt, and charmingly illustrated, "Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch" is one of the best middle grade novels of the year!