Giada is nearly 13 arly old enough to take the oath of a magical healer of humans, as most in her family have done for generations. But Giada doesn't want to heal humans. She's happier caring for animals, including the magical ones around their coastal Italian city of Positano, and that's what she decides to do. But before she can tell her parents, her brother is kidnapped by malevolent witches and spirited away to their eerie underground city. It becomes clear that Giada is the only one who can get him back, though she will have to draw on all her magic and animal friendships to do so. Cannistra's wonderfully engrossing and atmospheric story is replete with intriguing Italian folklore, locations, and language (all witches are "streghe," the healers "guaritori"). Giada is a joy to befriend; she's aware of her shortcomings but also confident in her magic, and she unapologetically delights in her fat body and all that it's capable of. It's worth a trip to this enchanting (and enchanted) Italian coast.

Fly into a magical world of mythical creatures and captured moonlight.Among streghe, or witches, Giada's family has been known for generations as the most innovative of the healers called guaritori. Rocco, her 16-year-old brother, is even somewhat of a prodigy. But 12-year-old Giada wants to do something slightly different with her magic-she wants to be a healer of animals, both the mundane kind and the fantastical. She recognizes the benefit in cultivating relationships with these creatures to collect powerful ingredients, like gryphon feathers or spider silk. Before she can confront her traditionalist family with this news, her parents are called away. There's also a bunch of bad luck omens that keep appearing, but Giada tries to brush such things off as superstitions. Then, a black cat starts following her around, and worse, her brother disappears. Now it's up to Giada to rescue Rocco from some not-so-helpful streghe. Set on the Amalfi Coast and steeped in traditional Italian folklore and mythology and Christian influences, this story features a young magic user coming into her own. Though self-admittedly stubborn at times, Giada is very talented, tries her best, and has supportive friends (both human and animal) to aid her quest. The body-positive portrayal of Giada shows a tween girl proud of her fat body. Cannistra's entertaining narrative features wonderful descriptions of places and events that will transport readers.Stupenda! (Fantasy. 8-13)