Curses, Inc. and Other Stories - Paperback

by Vivian Vande Velde (Author)

A spell that gets you land, money, long golden hair, or a date to the prom can't be a curse, can it? A curse just gets you dead. Or does it?. . . In these ten stunning short stories, boys and girls learn firsthand just what magic spells, enchantments, and curses really can do. "Give this one to readers who are ready for some sophisticated tales of the supernatural." --Booklist

From witches on the internet to ghosts in the street, these aren't your average fairy tales.

• Witches and Magic: Meet a whole coven of them--a tech-savvy witch selling spells online, a boy whose attempts at magic go disastrously wrong, and a swamp granny with powerful folk remedies.
• Paranormal Stories: Not all spirits are friendly. A lonely street is haunted by a ghostly lady, and a beautiful girl by the stream might just be after your soul.
• Darkly Humorous: What happens when a curse-for-hire service gives you exactly what you asked for, with disastrous results? These stories find the funny side of magical failure.
• A Modern Twist on Classic Tropes: This isn't your grandmother's book of fairy tales. Discover clever, sophisticated, and unexpected takes on magic that will stick with you long after the last page.

Front Jacket

Vivian Vande Velde's spellbinding short stories are filled with magic and mayhem. Witness the boy who breaks his dance date because he's too cheap to spend money on her. He learns about spells the hard way in Curses, Inc. What happens when a woman brings her son back from the dead in "The Witch's Son"? Many folks go to Granny Orilla for remedies. Does a cure or a curse await in "Cypress Swamp Granny"? Beware: These haunting stories will put you under their spell.