They Put a Spell on You

Written when the author was only 16 years old, Spellcraft for Teens: A Magical Guide to Writing and Casting Spells by Gwinevere Rain serves as a young person's guide to Wicca. Rain offers chants and incantations ("Magick spells rock!" she enthuses, then adds, "Real Magick takes practice, persistence and faith"). Beyond the instructions for casting a magick circle or finding the magickal properties of herbs, the book also advises teens on such matters as how to "come out of the broom closet" and tell parents and close friends about being Wiccan. (Llewellyn, $12.95 paper 160p ages 12-18 ISBN 0-7387-0225-0; Sept.)

We All Want to Change the World

Among the many titles advising kids about making positive contributions to society, Mitzvah Magic: What Kids Can Do to Change the World by Danny Siegel with Naomi Eisenberger stands out for its range of projects, from simple to demanding; for its well-documented real-life examples; and for its grounding in Jewish tradition. For his bar mitzvah party, one boy creates centerpieces out of socks, scarves and mittens shaped to look like flowers; afterward, the goods will be donated to a shelter. Another child organizes a drive to collect discarded cell phones, to be redistributed to provide round-the-clock 911 access to individuals at risk. Down to earth, this book is also tremendously inspiring. (Lerner/Kar-Ben, $8.95 paper 64p ages 7-up ISBN 1-58013-034-8; Oct.)