Moon White: Color Me Enchanted
Melody Carlson
Navpress Think, Feb 2007, $12.99
ISBN: 1576839516

Sixteen years old Heather Sinclair struggles with so many radical changes in her life. Just last summer her dad married Augustine. At the Echelon Dance Studio, newcomer Elizabeth "Liz" Sinclair competes with Heather for the lead in an upcoming ballet and makes a move on her boyfriend. However, the most powerful is the reaction of her best friend Lucy, who pontificates that witchcraft is evil so fearing for Heather's soul pleads with her to quit studying Wicca or she will end their friendship.

Still upset with the changes going on in her life, Elizabeth, assuming all spirituality is good for the soul, explores Wicca. She regains much of her lost confidence, but the price is alienating her best friends including Lucy, who cannot abide her becoming a witch. Soon strange things occur that frighten Heather when she cannot explain the phenomena in logical terms and is unaware that the path she chose if she continues will cost Elizabeth her soul.

MOON WHITE is an interesting "Color Me" character study that stars a troubled teen choosing a path that leads to spiritual and mundane danger for her. Some readers will be upset with the lack of tolerance towards Wicca as God's is inclusive; whiles others will applaud Melody Carlson for condemning the religion since the bible strongly opposes witchcraft. Regardless of perspective Heather is a fascinating protagonist as she glides down a path that could have been a Christian cult as easily as Wiccan, but most critical proves destructive for her.

Harriet Klausner