I’m looking for a book I read in the ’80s when I was probably 12. Pretty sure it was set in North America. Small chance it was Britain, as I grew up in Canada and read a lot of British literature. A girl goes to live with her aunt and cousins for the summer. In a bunker/cave/room they find in a nearby hillside they find some books about magic and the room is filled with magical/witch stuff. The girl becomes very interested and tries some magic. In one scene they discover there are repercussions for the magic they’re trying and when they get back to the house after a spell they discover the pet canary is missing. At some point they may have also accidentally made the aunt disappear too. ?? I feel like there was a lot of yellow on the cover, but that could be 100% wrong. I’m a librarian and I’ve been searching for this for YEARS and I just cannot find it. I’m really hoping you can find it for me! 🙂
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
Any chance it’s one of the Ruth Chew books?
I think that may be Carol Beach York’s “I Will Make You Disappear”.
I think you’re right. That book has the girls discovering a root cellar with witchcraft stuff in it. And there is a yellow canary. The family has rented a country house for the summer.
It sounds like Sneaker Hill, by Jean Little. (Or maybe Jane Little)
The aunt (Miranda) is actually studying to be a witch, the girl is a niece who comes to stay for the summer with the aunt and cousin, Barney (I think) There is a canary, and the aunt goes missing. The kids find the underground room where she’s keeping her books, figure out that the aunt is being tested for her witchcraft abilities, think that she probably won’t pass, and set off to rescue her.