Heidi Heckelbeck Casts a Spell

Heidi Heckelbeck #2

by Wanda Coven, Priscilla Burris

Heidi Heckelbeck displays her witching skills in this second book of a new young chapter book series! Now readers between the ages of five and seven can read chapter books tailor-made for a younger level of reading comprehension. Heavily illustrated with large type, Little Simon's young chapter books let young readers feel like they are reading a “grown-up” format with subject, text, and illustrations geared specifically for their own age groups!Heidi Heckelbeck seems like any other eight-year-old, but she has a She’s a witch in disguise. Careful to keep her powers hidden (but excited to use them all the same), Heidi’s learning to live like any other kid—who just happens to be witch. And with easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, Heidi Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.Thanks to meanie Melanie Maplethorpe, Heidi is cast as a scary tree in the school play, The Wizard of Oz. Heidi decides to get even with Melanie by casting a spell on her. The result of the spell? Melanie—who has the lead role as Dorothy—will forget her lines. As the day of the play nears, Heidi carefully collects all the ingredients she needs. But when she casts her spell, will Heidi’s revenge be as sweet as she thinks?

Genres: Childrens, Chapter Books, Magic, 1st Grade, Fiction, Friendship, Juvenile

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2012

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Heidi sure does learn a valuable lesson in this one. It’s a lesson that I think will resonate with older and younger readers: making someone feel bad because you feel bad doesn’t always work the way you intend.

This installment in the series picks up right where readers leave off in the first book. Tired of being bullied, Heidi makes the decisions to curse Melanie. After collecting everything she needs for the spell, Heidi learns quickly that sometimes using your magic on people doesn’t make you feel better especially if it’s for harm.

I think there were a few elements that I enjoyed about this one including Heidi’s relationship with her aunt. It was nice to see the aunt know what Heidi is planning to do, but she still allows Heidi to learn the lesson on her own. While she attempts to give advice, I think that the aunt wants Heidi to make and learn from her own mistakes. I’m like that as a parent. It doesn’t mean that you neglect the child or you don’t try to steer them in the correct direction, but sometimes lessons are better learned through experience. Heidi’s aunt was there to help her work through her mistake and learn a valuable lesson which reinforced the idea that adult support is still necessary.

Overall, this was another fun installment in the series and I’ll be continuing on with the next book.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series does not disappoint.

[Charlotte L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melanie was being rude because she was wanting everything and stealing from heidi! that's why heidi did a spell!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heidi wants to get back at Melanie and a bully on the bus for their mean actions, but Heidi's Aunt Trudy tells her to ignore them and use her magic only for good. For a while, Melanie is able to follow her advice, but when Melanie is extra mean during dress rehearsal Heidi just wants revenge so she finishes collecting items for the forgetfulness spell. But will revenge be everything she hoped?

I really like that Heidi has an adult in her life who can call her on her actions and give her sound advice. Heidi does resort to meanness, but learns it doesn't feel good. She eventually takes the high road and finds that much more satisfying. Kids will relate to the desire to get pay backs, but hopefully they can learn from Heidi that that doesn't satisfy and listen to her Aunt Trudy's advice instead. A good book to talk about how to deal with bullying and meanness in positive ways.

[Francesca Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was clearly adorable. I know it isn't my normal fare - but when your grade 2 student walks up to you, hands you a book and tells you it's the greatest thing she's ever read and she'd like your opinion, what else can you do? You have to read it. No choice.

And I actually really, really liked it. This book had a good message and heart. It was really simple, obviously, but was better for it. There was only one thing happening - which is perfect for the age group.

Heidi Heckelbeck has just made her way onto my classroom bookshelf.

Wanda Coven, you totally nailed it.

Check out more of my reviews at http://whatabookbitch.blogspot.ca

[Colby Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can never find enough good early chapter books. Excited for more books in the series.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this a little bit ago with my sister. We love Heidi Heckelbeck.🎉❤️

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's only one way to take care of a problem with a mean girl. Get meaner! Right? Er...maybe not.

Heidi is having trouble with one very bothersome know-it-all who is making Heidi's life absolutely miserable. A spell to make this girl forget her lines on opening night of the school play seems just perfect...kinda. But Heidi doesn't feel as good about this spell as she expects to and has to backtrack and try to fix things.

I love this series because it teaches a lot about consequences for actions. Heidi is a very real child who use any means necessary to get her way. In this case it involves a lot of spells. Thankfully she learns her lesson, sometimes very much the hard way.

It's a good thing spells can be undone!

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I’ve honestly wondered if the ending of Heidi #1 was true since I read it ages ago. Apparently yes, ol Heidi is a *witch*. That’s important to know as I recommend this to kids at the library. That being said, it’s comical witch role (plastic spider? Cornflakes? Gummy worms?). Heidi wants to cast a spell on mean Melanie. SPOILER ALERT: She does, she feels bad, and she recants. I’m most impressed that Aunt Trudy was all “hey Melanie is mean and that’s her problem. Hopefully one day she’ll learn to be nice.” Longer early chapter book, would recommend to girls who get picked on at school? Life lessons? Growing up?

[Jenny (LobsterGal) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This this book has a white child put brown face paint on her face. I don’t know why anyone thought that was okay this book came out in 2012. They describe it as brown so she blends into the trees why couldn’t it be green so she blends in with a bushes. This was very clearly not thought through and I won’t be recommending this series to any little girls that come through my library.

[Anna Salvesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. It was a really good story because Heidi Heckelbeck learns a lesson not to make people forget their lines because it makes them sad. There is a girl named Melanie who is really mean to Heidi so Heidi decides to be mean back and make Melanie forget her lines for the school play. Heidi's Aunt Trudy asks if Heidi learned her lesson.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Heidi plans to get back at Melanie, the mean girl, and have her forget her lines in the school play. Heidi has to gather ingredients for her spell and then execute it. I was unsure if I was going to like this book because there is a lot of cattiness but then there is a great lesson in the end about how it feels bad to make others feel bad, even if they aren't nice first.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was good. There is a poignant message at the end about empathy and it was a helpful entrance to talk to my kid about feelings.

Basically, don't let how other people treat you turn you into a bad person. It was stated a bit more poetic in the book.

[Alice Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice: fantastic! Fabulous!

Jenny: 3 stars. OK, But has a good moral at the end, that it does not feel good to make other people unhappy.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I read a chapter or two a night out of these books. They are well-written and great little life lessons that my girl can relate to. A very enjoyable book for early grades.

[Julie Ann Cordero · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter gave this book 5 stars. She said she would tell everyone to read it. She said it is funny.

We read this book together.

[Lydia Darais · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love witches almost as much as I love vampires so I really liked it.

[Kersten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my daughter. It was cute. A good book she could read on her own.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like the second half of the first book. Not my favorite for a couple reasons, but Violet enjoyed.

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was so cool to.

[Joseph Frankel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Ending is very abrupt!

[Jen Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of this series, but my 7 year old daughter loves them. It did have a good lessons learned at the end, and I’m happy my daughter enjoyed it!

[Aria S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like 👍 the book.

I like the book because it's really interesting.

[Karina_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cool book!

[Maddie Baddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, kids books are on pointe again 🔥🔥

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie forgot her line.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2. It's fine, but it really doesn't teach good lessons. . .even though it thinks it does.

[Jessica Calaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the moral of this story and sharing it with my daughter.

[Irini · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Awards the book has received: None
2. Appropriate grade level(s): Grade 1st-3rd
3. Original summary: Heidi Heckelbeck displays her witching skills in this second book of a new young chapter book series. Its a cute book with cute illustrations!
4. Original review: I enjoyed the book. It reminds me of another series similar to Junie B Jones which I also like.
5. 1-2 possible in-class uses: recall information and retelling story possibly.