Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A. W. Jantha - OPTIONAL

Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A. W. Jantha,  521 pages. Disney, 2018. $13.

Content: Language: PG (46 swears 0 'f'); Mature: PG; Violence: PG; 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Max and his sister Dani have recently moved to Salem from California. While trying to show off for Allison, Max lights the Black Flame Candle in the old Sanderson Sisters house bringing the evil trio back to life after being hanged over 300 years before. Now the 3 kids must undo the spell before the witches destroy all the children of the town. In The All-New Sequel, it's 25 years later, and Max and Allison's daughter Poppy has hated Halloween all her life, but this Halloween her parents have planned a special party for her and her friends - to keep them away from the dangers of 25 years ago - a blood moon on Halloween. But when Poppy, Travis and Isabella use a Ouija board to cast a spell in the Sanderson Sisters house, Poppy's parents and aunt disappear into hell and the Witches return - this time with a plan to take over the world. 

Hocus Pocus is much better as a movie - it's more of an adaptation than a retelling. Credit is given on the title page to the screenplay writers, and it reads like a narration of the movie. There are a few added elements (to set up the sequel) but otherwise I didn't feel the novelization either did the movie justice or added much to the story.  The Sequel has a great premise, but it just didn't play out well. Most of the sequel follows Poppy and her friends - Binx and Emily make an appearance but it seems like a connection to the original, rather than needed for the plot. I was most disappointed to see how little involved we are with the Witches! There are some funny moments where they try to navigate modern technology, must mostly it's a story about the kids who have no idea what to do. No spoiler, but the resolution was disappointing. There are song lyrics in both books along with narrated choreography which seemed strange, and unnecessary. Overall, an exciting idea as the movie is a cult classic. The cover is great and I hope it will get picked up by fans of the movie, but this reader was disappointed and probably wouldn't recommend.

Lisa Librarian