How to Get Magically Popular by Radhika Sanghani demonstrates that while common tropes of an outsider moving from city to country (or vice versa) persist, adding a "novel" concept such as magic to the mix does not reinforce the bad decision-making of tweens or the emotional range written into characters. A classic approach to foresight in which the main character fails to notice that prediction does not mean truth (not to mention misinterprets context) reinforces emotionally stale characters that lack depth.

Already socially awkward, Sabina Patel is not excited the prospect of fitting into a new educational set up after they move to a new place. Things are not made any easier by her realisation that her newly discovered magical powers are most definitely a double-edged sword...

This is a charming story about growing up, fitting in and realising that the present is really all you have any influence over. It is likely to be a hit with the target audience and gets 3.5 stars.