The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

Summary on Goodreads:

Thirteen-year-old Moth Hush loves all things witchy. But she’s about to discover that witches aren’t just the stuff of movies, books, and spooky stories. When some eighth-grade bullies try to ruin her Halloween, something really strange happens. It turns out that Founder’s Bluff, Massachusetts, has a centuries-old history of witch drama. And, surprise: Moth’s family is at the center of it all! When Moth’s new powers show up, things get totally out-of-control. She meets a talking cat, falls into an enchanted diary, and unlocks a hidden witch world. Secrets surface from generations past as Moth unravels the complicated legacy at the heart of her town, her family, and herself.

Review:

This book reminded me of Sabrina the Teenage witch (90’s sitcom) in a good way. It has all the charm and humor of a sweet kids tv show that anyone can watch. There’s a talking cat, there’s a lot of lessons about finding your own way, and doing what what’s right for you versus what’s right for others. And to keep you interested until the very end, there’s an overarching story about family secrets and witch hunters.

Of course, living in Massachusetts, I also connected to the location. It had a sort of Hocus Pocus vibe to it, though maybe a little less dark. Major plot points involve a school play and a field trip to the historical museum. However, there are a few new magical twists I’ve never seen before, involving a magical land and witches from another time period.

What stands out the most is the artwork. Reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier, fans of Smile will rejoice to find another graphic novel that perfectly captures teenage embarrassment so well. Everything bright, colorful, and fun. I loved the diverse cast, the talking cat, the intergenerational storyline, and the magical humor. I can see lots of kids eating this one up. I give it an 8/10.

Tidesong by Wendy Xu

Summary from Goodreads:

Perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and The Tea Dragon Society, this is a magically heartwarming graphic novel about self-acceptance and friendship.

Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy--the best magic school in the realm--even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she's never met.

Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.

Lir is trapped on land and can't remember where he came from. Even so, he's everything Sophie isn't--beloved by Sophie's family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir's attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she's doing is wrong, but without Lir's help, can she prove herself?

Review:

This is a sweet graphic novel with strong messages about family, friendship, and growing up. I didn’t particularly love the main character. She seemed to be allergic to listening to her family….And I didn’t really grow to empathize or love her before she went off and did stupid things, like you usually do in these kind of “Sabrina the Teenage witch” type tropes. That being said, I eventually grew to tolerate her…

Her family wasn’t much better either. The Great Aunt she’s sent to live with is brutal and unkind to her in a Dursley kind of way. This does get addressed by the end of the story, but yikes it’s hard to get into this book if you are a character reader like me. You really have to rely on the artwork. Good thing the artwork is unbelievable.

Mostly, what makes this book a standout is the art. It’s just stunning. You both feel like you are watching a masterful anime and staring at a beautiful rendition of “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.” While typing this review, my eyes keep wandering over to the book, and it’s not because the story was anything new. or the characters were great. I do think kids at the library will flock to this book because of the artwork, and I won’t blame them. I did.

There’s also this really unique folklore element to the whole thing, involving water dragons and weather magic! I think the dragons were my favorite characters. The world this takes place in, the magic, and the artwork are just remarkable. The characters and the character development needed a little work. I give it an 8/10.

Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty

Summary from Goodreads:

Plunge into an exciting story of history, mystery, & magic from the best-selling author of the Serafina series. Loved by adults and young readers alike, Kirkus Reviews has awarded Dark Hollow the prestigious Kirkus Star, calling it "a captivating, stirring tale of family and friendship.”

The Great Smoky Mountains. 1901. Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, Willa is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines? When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against an all-consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Review:

Why am I always surprised by how much I love this author’s books? It took me a hot second to get into this story though. I think this is mostly because I didn’t quickly remember Willa or the storyline of the previous book. And I have to go against the note of the publishing company (on the book) and say this is not really a stand-alone. It’s more of a sequel. It really would be much more enjoyable if you read the first Willa book. I don’t understand why the HUGE need to market it as a stand-alone story? Once I remember the hardships and beauty of book 1, I enjoyed this that much more.

In a weird way, the plot felt like a mixture of Outlander (for kids), Homeward Bound, The Overstory, Native folktales, and FernGully. If any of those things were enjoyable for you, this book will be. The writing is lyrical and pure magic. Wills has her work cut out for her in a world where industry and technology are taking priority over nature and animals. There’s a suspenseful storyline with Willa’s adoptive father being wrongfully accused of murder. There’s some harsh Bambi-is scenes with animals. There’s lots of empathy, adventure, and of course nature.

The forest is almost a character itself, and if you didn’t want visit the Great Smoky Mountains before, you will now. This book is also filled with more hope than the last one (despite some of the critical circumstances). There’s more a sense of family for Willa with the family she chooses, than the harsh one she left behind. I love the dynamic between the sisters (in more way than one). I love the relationship between Willa and the baby bear. There is just so much love in this book, it’s hard to not want to hug it before putting it down .

I can’t really say too much about it with spoiling it, but WOW I was impressed by the ending. It blew me away and shook me. Beatty is a an amazing author and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. This gets a 10/10.