The Thickety: A Path Begins by J.A. White

This book is a 2014 release, and I gave it a rating of four out of five. Kara's mother is put to death for being a witch, and the townspeople fear Kara is a witch too. Kara passes their test for witchcraft, but they still tease and humiliate her family. Grace, a popular girl and daughter of the town's leader, is especially vicious. Kara's life changes quickly when she finds a book in The Thickety. It's actually a grimoire and gives her the power to cast spells. The power becomes addictive, and Kara can't stop herself from using magic. If she uses the last page in the book to cast a spell, she will be a prisoner to the evil forever. And things get even worse when Grace finds out about the book.

I enjoyed Kara's internal conflicts about her mother and the use of magic. Her external conflicts with the town, its leaders, and Grace increased the suspense. The beginning of the book moved a little too slowly for me, but things got moving when Kara found the grimoire. The climax and resolution were VERY surprising, and a sequel will be coming soon.