Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

 Given the chance to read ALWAYS A WITCH as an arc I needed to read ONCE A WITCH first. After some of the vampire books and most recently angels in UNEARTHLY (which I loved) click here for review I almost skipped this but I'm glad I didn't. It's a quick read with an interesting story line.  Everyone in Tamsin's family is a witch with a special "talent"  that is revealed at the age of eight.  Her grandmother can read minds.  Her sister can persuade people to do as she pleases.  Her friend Gabriel can find things.  Although Tamsin is already in high school her talent has not appeared and she has always felt like an outcast.  When mistaken for her sister, Tamsin enlists Gabriel's help to find an object for a stranger.  So begins an adventure that finally brings Tamsin's talent to light and so much more.


Tamsin is a strong intelligent girl. Gabriel, her friend and potential boyfriend has a minor role in the book but lights up the page whenever he is around. I enjoyed the New York setting and walking through Grand Central Station will never the same. The book reminded me a little of SAAVY (a kids book by Ingrid Law) where each kid had a different sort of "talent" called a "saavy." Recommended for YAs that like otherworldly stories. Now I'm ready to read the sequel!