The Spell Book of Listen Taylor -- Jacyln Moriarty

12-year-old Listen Taylor's life has just changed in a big way.  Up until recently, she'd gone to elementary school and lived with her father in a campervan behind the Banana Bar.  Now she's about to start seventh grade at a private school and she and her father have moved in with his girlfriend, Marbie Zing.  One night, on top of one of the many moving boxes, Listen finds a green Spell Book:

Congratulations!  You have found this Spell Book!  Hooray for you!

Listen gave the book a skeptical look and noticed, when she did, way down at the bottom of the page, a disclaimer:

Disclaimer
This Spell Book will only work if you follow the instructions VERY CAREFULLY.  For example, you may only turn a page when I say you can.  If you skip ahead, it WILL NOT WORK.  Right now, you have to put the book under your pillow.  You can only turn the page on Wednesday, at 5 P.M.

Hmmm.  Odd.  Looks like a teen novel -- smells like a teen novel -- yet strangely, not a teen novel*.   I promise, promise, promise that I am not trying to resurrect the 'What is YA' question.  I know that people have vastly varying opinions on that one and that it was discussed at length not all that long ago. 

But it should be noted that except for the sections about Listen (which, granted, form the framework of the story) and bits about second-grader Cassie Zing, the book is largely about adult concerns and the adult world.  There's Cath Murphy (Cassie's teacher), who is recovering from a broken heart, there's Fancy Zing (Marbie's sister), who is an easily-distracted writer and not particularly happy in her marriage, and there's Marbie Zing (already mentioned), who is very much in love with Listen's father but desperately afraid that she will inadvertently do something to ruin their new life together.

I really, really enjoyed the book.  The characters are quirky, but not so much that their quirks define them.  They are complicated and layered, as is the story.  And the idea of a Zing Family Secret -- that involves weekly meetings in the shed behind the Zing sisters' parents' house -- is irresistible.  The interconnected storylines (as well as my questions about intended audience!) reminded me of Criss Cross, but I liked The Spell Book of Listen Taylor far more.  I'm just not quite sure who to hand it to.

[A bit later:  Check this out -- I'm confused for a reason!  I'm so curious about the original.  I'll have to track it down.]

*Pop Quiz!  What quote is that sentence based on?  Hint:  Replace the words 'teen novel' with 'evildoer'.