Gr. 4-6. As the story begins, Lizzie Sharp mixes up a disgusting potion and sprinkles it around the house of some unwanted neighbors in hopes that they will move away. To her adoring brother Max's admiration and her skeptical brother Dan's astonishment, the apparent result is an ambulance pulling up at the neighbors' house, which is soon put up for sale. Even Lizzie begins to believe that she may have magical powers. When the children turn to magic to solve other problems and achieve other goals, their motives, emotions, and secrets become increasingly entangled and the story becomes increasingly involving and amusing. Kennemore offers solid entertainment and a satisfying portrait of the Sharp family, whose members are portrayed with a pleasing mixture of empathy and wry humor. Small ink drawings at the beginning of each chapter, illustrating characters and props, help to set the tone. Children looking for light, occasionally hilarious fiction will find this British import a satisfying choice. This has read-aloud potential, too. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.