The Healing Spell Hardcover – July 1, 2010

Livie has a frightening secret; her mother is in a coma and she's responsible for it. She's terrified her mother might die, and even more terrified her family will hate her if they find out her secret. She already feels so alone that losing their love would be unbearable.Burdened with the truth, Livie tries to come to terms with her guilt, but guilt isn't the only weight on her eleven-year-old shoulders. She's trying to find her own place in the world. Unfortunately, her world is changing and she's not sure which way to turn.Her older sister is supposed to be getting married and leaving, her little sister cries at everything, and her father quit his job to care for his wife. Circumstances are forcing Livie to adapt, and she isn't very good at it.After deciding her best hope at redemption is to heal her mother, Livie visits Miz Allemond, a traiteur, and gets a healing spell. The spell isn't full of magic words and instant results. Instead, it forces Livie to take a closer look at the world and people around her, including herself.I loved THE HEALING SPELL! Though not my usual fare of fantasy or paranormal, this book captured me from the start. It was easy for me to feel connected with Livie as she struggled to find her place in her family and the world around her.Livie reminded me what it was like to be eleven; that in-between age where you're no longer a child, but not a teen either. Her loneliness and longing reached through the pages of the book and grabbed the lonely, longing child within me. With a firm hold on my inner child, Livie took me on an adventure of self-discovery.I shed more tears while reading this book than I have in a long time and felt better for the catharsis. Through Livie, I rediscovered my eleven-year-old self and gained a stronger understanding of the woman I am today. THE HEALING SPELL is more than a book; it's a salve for the soul, a balm for the burdened, and an enjoyable read for everyone.THE HEALING SPELL does more than heal the characters, it heals the reader!

I didn't know what to expect when I first read The Healing Spell. What did that title mean? To my surprise it was a story of a daughter keeping a secret about what she think she did that caused her mama to lay in a coma in their house. The setting was something I was very unfamiliar with, but I could tell that the author really did her research and through her beautiful descriptions, the bayou came alive and I could picture myself watching the story unfold. The characters are not only believable, but I found myself understanding each one on a personal level and it made me want to meet them and be there. The ending is perfect and not at all predictable which keeps you turning the pages to see how it everything gets resolved. Little is a beautiful storyteller and I can't wait to read her next novel!

The Healing Spell by Kimberly Griffiths Little is a surprisingly wonderful book. Although written for the middle graders, all the adults that I know who have read it have found it moving, engaging, and deeply satisfying. I started it on one day and couldn't put it down until I finished it late into the night. The story grabs you and pulls you along.Livie lives in the bayous of Louisiana with her family. Her mother has been injured and is in a coma. Her father brings her home to hopefully recover, although the hospital doesn't give her much chance. Eleven year old Livie is a middle child who doesn't feel like she fits in her family and is carrying a terrible secret about her mother's injury and feels she must do something to help her recover from her "sleeping sickness."It is a story told through Livie's eyes and mind. It is about a family's healing, loving and reaching out to each other.The characters are fully drawn and realistic and the settings are lush. Every character is one you can understand and sympathize with, no stock bad guys or wicked stepsisters here. The book deals with universal truths and feelings and draws you in beautifully.The author shows great skill in the storytelling, revealing the plot in natural and intriguing ways. Brief descriptions are woven naturally into the story vividly enough you can visualize everything and the narrative never lags.You will cry at the end of the book but not out of sadness but because you have been touched so deeply and profoundly. It may even help you heal and understand yourself. It is a book about family, faith, healing, and reconciliation. There is a healing spell in it, but it is really about the magic in love and faith and commitment. Youths will identify with it but even more so do adults. It would also make a good read aloud book for the family. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

Fun fast read on faith, healing, and becoming. Through our eyes we think the world is one way, through growth and change we see it in a new light.

Bought this for my grand daughter. She loved the book an read on it every night. When she would get too tired to read, she'd ask me to, because she wanted to find out what happened next. Set in the LA Bayou country.

This has been on my to read list for a long time, and it was worth the wait! It's wonderfully written with well developed characters and a storyline that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The setting is unique and serves as an important element for the plot. Both kids and adults will finish this book with a renewed feeling of hope and faith!

Thank you.

We bought The Healing Spell after my daughter, then I (on her recommendation) loved Circle of Secrets by the same author. My daughter is 9, so there aren't yet too many books that she & I can both enjoy together, but these 2 we definitely did... well written, great characters, all around good reading!