‘Hocus Pocus 2’: What The 2018 Sequel Book Is All About

July is a big month for “Hocus Pocus” lovers. Not only is the classic Halloween-themed movie celebrating its 25th anniversary on July 16, but the title’s also receiving the novelization treatment and a fresh sequel story to go along with it.

“Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel,” written by A. W. Jantha, is a two-part novel out on Tuesday. The first portion will be a “fresh retelling of the original film,” according to its synopsis, which followed teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) in Salem, Massachusetts after he accidentally released evil witches, a.k.a. the Sanderson sisters, back into the world. With help from his sister, Dani (Thora Birch), and his new friend/love interest, Allison (Vinessa Shaw), Max tried to defeat the sisters and put them back into the afterlife.

The second segment of the young adult novel will continue the “Hocus Pocus” story in present-time. Set 25 years later, readers will meet 17-year-old Poppy Dennison, Max and Allison's daughter. While fans are meeting her, she’ll be busy meeting the Sanderson sisters. Poppy was always skeptical of the Halloween tale her parents would tell her about their own intense adventure, but she’s about to learn the scary way that they were telling the truth all along.

“When Halloween celebrations don’t quite go as planned, it’s a race against time as Poppy and her friends fight to save her family and all of Salem from the witches’ latest vile scheme,” the book’s synopsis reveals.

It all begins when Poppy, an aspiring photographer, recites her family’s story to her new friend (and crush!), Isabella Richards. Isabella’s the popular girl at school who has a perfect report card and a lengthy extracurricular list. If she doesn’t already have “banishing evil witches” on that list, she’s about to.

Isabella befriended Poppy, as well as Poppy’s BFF, Travis, at the start of the school year, and they’re all growing closer. This Halloween will surely be a big bonding moment for the three of them.

“Will Halloween night find Poppy, Isabella, and Travis digging for the truth?” the synopsis asks. Well, they’ll at least “learn the origin of ‘resting witch face’ and have an epic witch-venture,” the summary shares.

This will be Jantha’s first book, but as there isn’t much info about the author online aside from this novel, the name could be a pseudonym. Illustrations were done by Matt Griffin. Apart from this new book, “Hocus Pocus” is set to get the remake treatment in the form of a Disney Channel TV movie, according to Deadline. It will have a new cast and director, but original producer David Kirschner is set to return as an executive producer. There’s no word on who will star or when it will premiere.

Jantha’s “Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel,” which is being published by Disney Book Group’s Freeform, will be released on Tuesday and is currently available for pre-order.