'I wonder,' said Miss Cackle, 'if there is any hope for you in this Academy, Mildred.'. Perfect for: Strong second grade readers who’ll appreciate a strong female lead.įind our favorites at your local library: Lola Levine is Not Mean!, Lola Levine and the Ballet Scheme, Lola Levine and the Vacation Dream. The Worst Witch Strikes Again by Jill Murphy is the second book in the classic Worst Witch series starring the lovable but disaster-prone Mildred Hubble - possibly the worst witch ever to go to Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. That’s when everyone starts calling her “Mean Lola Levine.” Josh stands up for her and yells: “Lola Levine is a … soccer queen!” With help from Josh, her parents, and her principal, Lola learns to be a better team player and friend.

Things get worse when she accidentally hurts a classmate playing soccer at recess. Lola is super-competitive and only has one good friend, a boy named Josh. She also loves playing soccer and writing, especially funny notes. Lola likes having a tía (aunt) on one side and a bubbe (grandma) on the other.

Her artist father is Jewish and her journalist mother is Catholic and grew up in Peru. This first book in a new series of chapter books follows Lola Levine, a high energy, biracial, and bicultural second grader, who is very comfortable in her own skin. Perfect for: Kids who like fantasy stories.įind our favorites at your local library: The Worst Witch, The Worst Witch Strikes Again, The Worst Witch to the Rescue. Children fall from broomsticks, are turned into animals by the wrong spells, and threatened by a band of misfit witches. She’s a likable character who has good friends and a couple of enemies, including a sharp-nosed teacher named Miss Hardbroom. Mildred experiences a series of mishaps in witch school that cause her humiliation, a little fear (not too much), and frustration. It’s also a great precursor for young readers who aren’t quite ready for the Harry Potter series. This gentle and funny series is a great introduction to the world of witchcraft and magic mixing friendship, adventures, and fantasy.

But with the help of a little magic, she always manages to save the day. Along with the short and chubby Maud and the prankster Enid, Mildred can’t help but stumble into disastrous situations. The hook: Awkward, accident-prone Mildred Hubble is the worst witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches, a magical boarding school.

The worst witch strikes again