Solved: Spells are a shiny paper invisible to non-magic people [s]

[Jessica]

This book was a young adult (possibly mid grade) fantasy novel.

The most defining feature are the spells, which are a type of material like shiny paper which are invisible to mugg-- er, non-magic people. The book starts with a kidnapper person (I think) watching a young girl (the main character) pick up a spell (left there as bait) and drop it in a recycle bin, not knowing what it was.

The kidnapper guy also has a young boy who's familiar (like a witch's familiar) is a spider (tarantula maybe?), and controls him through hurting the spider. (I think it's the first time I ever felt sorry for a spider.)

There's also some big tree of life or something that functions as a portal to another world. The main character's (long-lost?) mother is blind in this world, but not in the other. And the main character inherits her mother's dog familiar.

I think I read this in the early 2000s. I want to find it because it was one of the most unique perspectives of magic I've read.

Much obliged! :)

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Was this a physical book; paperback or hardback? Did you get a copy from the library, or purchased? Remember anything about the cover?

[Jessica]

I think it was a paperback from a used bookstore. I don't remember a thing about the cover. :(

[Zoe]

Spellfall fits your description.

[Jessica]

That's the one! Ah, thank you so much! :)