Overall, an interesting read. The ending left me feeling as though I had missed something important - as in the resolution was out of left field and puzzling. I did not like that the abusive, neglectful mother suffered no consequences for her actions. It felt like Hoffman deliberately left many loose ends so that she could write a sequel. ( )

This is a literally magical book. It was one of the best recreations of what it is like to different as a teenager and then as Gypsum comes in to her powers and her adulthood those crucial lessons of responsbility will take you back to the point where you started to realize that you are responsible for who you will be. Loved it. ( )

The LaZelles are your typical Southern California family, except for the fact that all, except the father, are witches. At approximately age 16, each of the five children are supposed to go through Transition. It’s characterized by being really sick for a few days; when it’s over, the person’s magical powers, whatever they may be, are born. For whatever reason, Gypsum, the middle child, doesn’t go through Transition. Perhaps she is destined to be “normal,” like her father. When everyone else becomes an official witch or warlock, Gypsum usually ends up being the magical “guinea pig.”

One weekend, while everyone else is away, Gypsum gets really sick, not realizing it’s her very delayed Transition. Unfortunately, her power is the dark power of cursing. She has to curse or damn something every few hours, or the power will eat her up from inside. She curses a rock, and it turns into a box of magic chalk. Gypsum and her siblings draw on some cement stairs with the chalk, and the drawings come to life. An easy way to release some energy is to cause the trash in the trash cans to disappear. But, do it too often, and people will become suspicious.

Gypsum tries to filter her power through one of her brothers. The subject of making brownies comes up, and the two fill most of their back yard with very edible brownies. Later, they create an equal quantity of fresh-baked bread and muffins. One time, Gypsum turns her younger sister into an old woman. Another time, she causes the mouths of her two brothers to disappear. It’s a good thing her “human” curses come with built-in time limits. On a date with her boyfriend, Ian, Gypsum tries turning her curse power back on herself, to turn herself back to “normal,” and comes very close to killing herself.

This retelling of the Ugly Duckling story is humorous, heartfelt and very, very good. Hoffman’s writing comes very close to poetry. It works as an adult novel, and as a young adult novel, and it is well worth reading. ( )

A woman from a magically endowed family finally comes into her powers but discovers she has inherited "unkind"magic - the power (and actually the need) to curse. Because Gypsum must use her powers on a regular basis or literally go mad, she must figure out how to use and control them without doing too much harm. Like Hoffman's other books, this takes a quirky and creative approach to magic. Less characters (and more depth to them) would have helped me to become more immersed in the story, which left me a bit cold - there seemed to be an emotional detachment that didn't go with the themes of intimacy and control. But still an interesting read for fans of contemporary magical fantasy. ( )

excellent novel about a girl growing up in a magical family who does not have any powers of her own. When she finally does come into her gift it is a fearsome one that requires the heroine and her family to reevaluate their relationships. ( )