A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch

Written by: Jill Murphy

First line: It was the very first day of Mildred Hubble's second year at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches.

Why you should read this book: Starting the year off on the wrong foot, Mildred Hubble mistakes a fire drill for an actual fire and pours a bucket of water on Miss Hardbroom's head, after which she spends a goodly percentage of the book transformed into a frog by her arch-nemesis, Ethel. In her amphibious form, Mildred meets a magician who's also been transformed into a frog, having lived in the pond behind the school for so long that he enjoys eating flies and can't quite remember his own name. With the help of her friends, a lot of creative thinking, and a little felonious rule-breaking, Mildred manages to regain her human shape and eventually free her new friend as well.

Why you shouldn't read this book: I really don't know how to feel about the kidnapping and bondage scene.