I love it: a book title that really reflects the heart of the story.

This is deWerd’s first novel and she should be darn proud of it! A smoothly written quiet afternoon of a book set in 1968 in the tiny town of Friedrich, Minnesota focused on the women of the Watry-Ridder family who are witches. We have the matriarch Magda and her daughter Helene who doesn’t say much but can talk to animals and does raise her two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. And there is a septuagenarian cousin Mildred who helps throughout the book.

The citizens of Friedrich know what the women can do and come for cures and water magic for the crops and love charms of course. Their magic is strong, but they don’t tend to do anything flashy; to keep under the radar with their Catholic priest.

Elizabeth is Magda’s heir. She will eventually control how the Watry-Ridders deal with their magic work to help the community. Elizabeth has a boyfriend John that she’s been hanging around with for a couple years. Everyone is certain they’re going to marry…but Elizabeth is not so sure. John thinks it’s a forgone conclusion as well. But Elizabeth, having just graduated high school is restless. As a matter of fact she begins to question her role in handling the family magic. Why can’t her sister Mary be the lead witch when the time comes? Elizabeth finds herself feeling trapped…and after a spectacular event where she screws up when she’s supposed to help Magda with the drought…she finally runs away from home. To Minneapolis and the hippy movement; the music, (Bob Dylan is a famous son) dope, long hair and intriguing fashion - a life style completely opposite from the conservative countryside. She meets a musician Nick who works days at a bar and makes music at night with his mates.

Elizabeth is entranced by the free lifestyle in Minneapolis, and her growing affection for free-wheeling Nick. But one day, happily strolling along the side walk, she meets with her mother’s familiar, a tabby named Sam, and she knows she has to go home. Not telling Nick, she leaves in the deep of the night and hurries home with Sam where she finds everything is higgledy-piggledy. Magda has died. And Elizabeth is faced with some life-changing decisions about Nick (and her previous boyfriend), her magic and her family. ~~ Sue Martin