Caster by Elsie Chapman
Aza is struggling - with the death of her older sister Shire, with the failing fortunes of her parents' tea shop and most of all with her own full magic abilities and how best to use them to help her family, or not use them! But now the gang lord that runs their sector of Lotusland is calling in a payment, and Aza is trying to shield her parents from it, all because of lies she's told to keep them from worrying, but life is getting to complicated and her lies are beginning to multiply. When she stumbles upon a tournament for full magic casters, like herself, she thinks it just might be the answer she's been looking for. Or is it?
Recommended for grades 8th grade and up.