With a Wave of the Wand

Marlee Phillips thinks her life couldn't be worse. After all, she has the meanest fifth-grade teacher of all time. But then her parents have a terrible argument, her dad walks out, and her mom tells her that they're getting a divorce. Certainly the worst blow is her mom's news that they are moving to Venice, California, where Marlee won't know anybody. Now she knows what awful really means!

Then she meets Mr. Tomaro, who does magic tricks with rabbits and roses and scarves and coins. Suddenly, Marlee sees a way to change everything back the way it was—she'll learn a few tricks with Mr. Tomaro's magic wand! But can magic really work wonders?