Charmed Life
by Dianna Wynne Jones

After their mother and father are killed in a car crash, Gwendolen Chant and her younger brother Cat are sent to stay with the great wizard Chrestomanci. Here, Gwendolen is determined to demonstrate her magical powers and to learn the greatest magic of all. With its towers and turrets, Chrestomanci Castle is certainly most impressive, but Gwendolen finds that her magic is not as well-received as she'd hoped. With flying bread and marmalade, and self-tipping jugs of hot chocolate, even a magical breakfast has its downside. Why is Chrestomanci stopping Gwendolen from showing off her powers? And is it really Gwendolen who has them? (9+)