Enter Three Witches

Bret lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and, at 16, he's met his first love. Ironically, Erika, the girl of his dreams is playing a witch in their school production of Macbeth. In real life, Bret's mother is a witch, his grandmother a fortune-teller and their tenant a voodoo priestess. As for Bret's father, he has moved out and sees Bret only on weekends. Longing for a normal family, Bret tries to keep his odd relatives a secret from Erika, but finds that parents aren't something one can hide, especially when they are determined to be ``helpful.'' Calling to mind a family-problem-novel version of Suzy McKee Charnas's The Silver Glove , Gilmore offers a portrait of young love by way of stagecraft and magic. Not as dramatic as her Remembrance of the Sun , the story nevertheless has a quiet, solid charm. Ages 10-14. (Mar.)