Each Friday I share the first chapter of a book perfect for middle-grade readers. Today’s pick is magical, adventurous, heartfelt, and an instant New York Times bestseller! Any guesses? It’s Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega!
Stick around for the entire video to catch the mystery quote reveal (unveiled one word at a time!) and a special author interview with Claribel A. Ortega herself. She’ll share the inspiration behind Ravenskill, the Spares, and why friendship may be the most powerful magic of all.
About the Book:
Every year, Witchlings in the town of Ravenskill are placed into covens during the Black Moon Ceremony. Twelve-year-old Seven Salazar dreams of joining the most powerful coven with her best friend, but instead… she becomes a Spare — part of a tiny, overlooked coven with no real power.
And when the magical circle to seal their coven fails, the three Spares face a terrifying choice: Accept a lifetime without real magic… OR Attempt the Impossible Task — a challenge so dangerous that the last coven who tried it was turned into toads. With Claribel A. Ortega’s signature humor, high-stakes adventure, and big heart, Witchlings is a fast-paced, empowering story about courage, belonging, and the magic of friendship.
✨ Perfect for fans of: Amari and the Night Brothers, Wicked, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and anyone who loves girl-power fantasy stories!
Teachers: This read-aloud is great for discussions about courage, identity, inclusion, and how characters respond to pressure and prejudice.
Find classroom resources and printable discussion guides inside the Word Nerd Collaborative or on my TpT store!
TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2025-First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-14351512
Word Nerd Collaborative: www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
👇 Comment below:
If you were placed into a coven, what would its name be?
📚 Grab your copy of Witchlings here: https://amzn.to/43OO3UI
These videos were created to:
✨ help teachers and students discover high-quality, engaging books
✨ promote incredible authors and celebrate stories
✨ inspire a lifelong love of reading
Huge thanks to Scholastic for sending me a copy of this book and for sponsoring this video!
** Videos are recorded and edited from Amanda’s home office in Wisconsin, USA.
#FirstChapterFriday #Witchlings #ClaribelAOrtega #MiddleGradeFantasy #MGLit #ReadAloud #AuthorInterview #MagicAndFriendship #BookTalk #MiddleSchoolELA #LatineAuthors #GirlPowerBooks #FantasyReads #WordNerdCollaborative #LearningWithTheWordNerd #ReadersGonnaRead #MysteryQuote
Stick around for the entire video to catch the mystery quote reveal (unveiled one word at a time!) and a special author interview with Claribel A. Ortega herself. She’ll share the inspiration behind Ravenskill, the Spares, and why friendship may be the most powerful magic of all.
About the Book:
Every year, Witchlings in the town of Ravenskill are placed into covens during the Black Moon Ceremony. Twelve-year-old Seven Salazar dreams of joining the most powerful coven with her best friend, but instead… she becomes a Spare — part of a tiny, overlooked coven with no real power.
And when the magical circle to seal their coven fails, the three Spares face a terrifying choice: Accept a lifetime without real magic… OR Attempt the Impossible Task — a challenge so dangerous that the last coven who tried it was turned into toads. With Claribel A. Ortega’s signature humor, high-stakes adventure, and big heart, Witchlings is a fast-paced, empowering story about courage, belonging, and the magic of friendship.
✨ Perfect for fans of: Amari and the Night Brothers, Wicked, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and anyone who loves girl-power fantasy stories!
Teachers: This read-aloud is great for discussions about courage, identity, inclusion, and how characters respond to pressure and prejudice.
Find classroom resources and printable discussion guides inside the Word Nerd Collaborative or on my TpT store!
TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2025-First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-14351512
Word Nerd Collaborative: www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
👇 Comment below:
If you were placed into a coven, what would its name be?
📚 Grab your copy of Witchlings here: https://amzn.to/43OO3UI
These videos were created to:
✨ help teachers and students discover high-quality, engaging books
✨ promote incredible authors and celebrate stories
✨ inspire a lifelong love of reading
Huge thanks to Scholastic for sending me a copy of this book and for sponsoring this video!
** Videos are recorded and edited from Amanda’s home office in Wisconsin, USA.
#FirstChapterFriday #Witchlings #ClaribelAOrtega #MiddleGradeFantasy #MGLit #ReadAloud #AuthorInterview #MagicAndFriendship #BookTalk #MiddleSchoolELA #LatineAuthors #GirlPowerBooks #FantasyReads #WordNerdCollaborative #LearningWithTheWordNerd #ReadersGonnaRead #MysteryQuote