Title: Bras & Broomsticks
Author: Sarah Mlynowski
ISBN: 0385731841
Release Date: February 22, 2005
Pages: 320
Challenge: Countdown Challenge, A to Z Challenge
Genre: Teen, Chick Lit
Series: Magic in Manhattan #1
Rating: 4 out of 5

From the back cover:

Rachel can't believe it. Her younger sister, Miri, is a witch! How come Miri inherited the supernatural skills that could have turned Rachel into a teenage superstar?

Just as Rachel suspects, magical powers are wasted on the young. Miri refuses to use them for Rachel's benefit. And Rachel is desperate! Not only does she need to learn some serious dance moves, she's got to win her best friend back, stop her father's wedding, and snag a cute guy's heart.

Maybe Rachel will discover she's got magical powers of her own. Or maybe, just maybe, she can find a way to change Miri's mind...

I've heard a lot about Sarah Mlynowski's chick lit novels. I've even got a couple on my shelf, but I haven't gotten around to reading them quite yet. I recently learned that Mlynowski has been writing a young adult series about witches and magic. I thought it sounded enchanting and made it a point to read the first in the series as soon as possible. I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed; Bras & Broomsticks is a wonderful start to what I'm sure will be a thoroughly entertaining series.

Mlynowski's writing is very smooth and it's really easy to fall into its rhythm. I picked up Bras & Broomsticks intending to just give it a try and ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting! The characters are well-written; Rachel and Miri act like normal teenagers. Rachel is unsure of herself and insecure. Though she makes some bad decisions throughout the course of the novel (and let's face it, what teenager doesn't?), it's clear that she has a good heart. She wants what is best for herself and her family - though this sometimes leads to amusing consequences. Miri isn't supposed to use her magic, but Rachel tries to convice her to. I thought I would be annoyed by this, but I really wasn't; it seemed like what a normal teenager would do.

The Magic in Manhattan series was originally supposed to be a trilogy, but Mlynowski recentely released the fourth book in the series. Here's hoping she keeps going - I can't wait to find out what happens to Rachel next! I feel like this is a great book for adults and teens alike.