Mysterious Wanda Biggs, the new art teacher, has just moved to town and eighth grader Stewart, cruelly nicknamed “Wart” by the bewitching woman, realizes that her magic is making him popular, controlling his little sister’s mind and convincing his father to marry her. If Wart can only figure out the source of Mrs. Biggs powers, while achieving popularity, maintaining his algebra grade, and keeping his friendship with longtime pals, he may be able to convince his dad that marrying former girlfriend Martha is a much better idea. Boys and girls will identify with the common thematic elements of popularity, friendship, relationships, and family, while being temporarily intrigued by Wart’s quest to determine if his art teacher is really a witch and whether or not that frog that visits her house from time to time is really her son Osgood. A high topic interest book for low level middle school readers, adults should know that Wart’s awakening sexuality (and his realization that girls move differently than boys) is a focus of the stilted plot. The story moves only with assistance from characters’ “just-in-time” dialogue, leaving the reader unconcerned for the outcome of the story; that is if they haven’t already conjured it up themselves. ( )

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

There are two things that Stewart Wright thought he never wanted: to be popular and to have another mother.

The popularity thing only popped into his mind when Stewart's cousin came to visit and brought up the whole ordeal. After that, Stewart begins to question his friendship with his longtime best friend, Ham, who is not even close to being popular especially since skinny is not IN for a guy. And he wonders if it is worth hanging out with Rachel, the one girl he is close to but who doesn't look or act like most girls.

After his mother passed away, it was always just Stewart, his sister, and their father. But then came along the art substitute teacher, Wanda, who just appeared out of nowhere and is just mesmerizing everyone she meets, changing the way she looks along the way. Stewart's dad was sort of going out with someone, Martha, whom Stewart did not want him to marry, but after finding out that his dad got a date with Wanda, Martha didn't look so bad.

It's up to Stewart, or Wart (the nickname Wanda gave him), to discover who this lady really is, to make sure that he befriends the ones who are truly there for him, and for his father to end up with the right person.

Intriguing and thoughtful, WART has to be the one of the very few original books for teens out there. Everyone will be falling for Wart, even if his nickname is a little repulsive, and his little sister, Georgia. And in the end, not only Wart but the reader, too, learns a small but very important lesson. This is another hilarious read from Anna Myers that will have you falling out of your chair. ( )

Stewart has reason to believe that the new art teacher is really a witch. She has begun dating Stewart's father and it sees as though he has been placed under a spell. She is also working her "magic" on Stewart.