The okay witch
(Graphic Novel)

Three generations of brown-skinned witches work out their family drama over 300 years as Moth, a modern-day 13-year-old, discovers her magical heritage. While the story beats are mostly familiar, debut author Steinkellner wisely doesn't linger on the necessary tropes. Her story moves quickly, wielding a lighter tone that favors humor and pacing over world building to great effect. With the backstory out of the way, the focus turns to the compelling grandmother-mother-daughter dynamic that forms the story's racing heart. Moth's mother in self-imposed exile from her own controlling mother's witch community doesn't want her practicing magic, but when Grandma comes to indoctrinate the young girl, Moth must choose between her mother's rebellion and her grandmother's legacy. The art is perfectly inviting; smooth, colorful panels center on emotive faces, allowing for a breezy read. A school play about the town's history ties Moth's era to her grandmother's dark, colonial past and shows how prejudice can carry across centuries. This only adds richness to what is largely a fun, enchanting tale featuring complex women of color.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2019 Booklist

The creator of the Quince comic makes her graphic novel debut in this time-traveling yarn about gangly 13-year-old Moth, who attends school as a witch on Halloween. "You have to dress for the job you want," she tells her mother, Calendula. Her wish inadvertently comes true after she renders two bullies temporarily speechless with her thoughts. At home, Calendula reveals that witchery is "genetic.... Mommy looks a lot younger than she actually is." Calendula was 16 during a 1692 witch hunt in their hometown of Founders Bluff, Mass. Back then, local leader Judge Kramer wanted "a town of sober, obedient, lily-white Pilgrims." Her remarks put readers on alert: Calendula, like Moth, has brown skin, and as the ghosts and witches of the past reawaken, the story questions the whitewashing of American history. Meanwhile, a subplot about Moth's animal familiar--a talking black cat who specializes in borscht belt repartee--provides levity in perilous moments. In Steinkeller's fluid drawing style, the characters' body language and motions are occasionally indistinct. But contrary to the uninspired title, Moth's magic proves better than "okay," and readers will hope for a sequel for the intriguing characters. Ages 8--12. (Sept.)

Gr 4--8--With her frizzy hair, her gap teeth, and her lack of friends, 13-year-old Moth Hush doesn't fit in at school. She discovers why she doesn't belong--she's not like everyone else. As her powers activate for the first time, Moth learns that she's from a family of witches. Moth's mother, herself a former witch who gave up her powers, reveals their family's dark past of the 1600s witch hunts and forbids Moth from practicing her abilities. But when Moth obtains a talking-cat familiar and the diary her mother kept as a teen, she is forced to confront witch hunters, ancient family drama, and, worst of all, irritating school bullies. Steinkellner's debut graphic novel is a tour de force of middle grade storytelling. The wordy, quirky, character-rich dialogue and emotional narrative guide readers through what's simultaneously a coming-of-age tale, a mother-daughter story, and a supernatural roller coaster. Conflicts with bullies and witch hunters evoke themes of inclusion and diversity vs. ignorance and fear. Fans of Steven Universe and the "Cucumber Quest" books will adore the energetic art. This title has a deceptively low page count; younger readers might miss many deeper themes. VERDICT A must-have for libraries that serve middle graders, but recommended for comics fans of all ages.--Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library

After magically turning a bullying incident against its perpetrators, thirteen-year-old biracial girl Moth Hush learns about her true heritage as a witch. Her mother Calendula refuses to teach her anything about magic, so Moth borrows her moms diary and transports herself into young Calendulas memories (shown in ghostly-looking panels), starting with her escape from persecution in colonial Massachusettsall the while contending with school, friendship, and family drama. This endearingly illustrated and energetically paced graphic novel has an abundance of sweetness and warm humor (e.g., Moth is accompanied by funny Mr. Laszlo, the cat reincarnation of the gay, Jewish grandfather-figure who helped raise her) but also addresses serious topics of racism and misogyny. katie bircher September/October 2019 p.53(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

It is Halloween when Moth Hush finds out she is descended from a line of witches. Her mother reveals the story of their witch origins going back to 17th-century Europe, which Moth's maternal grandmother, Sarah, fled along with her order for supposed safety in Founder's Bluff, Massachusetts, only to find persecution there. Led by Sarah, the witches escaped the wrath of the Puritans through a blood ritual that opened a portal to Hecate, a spiritual realm that provided safety. Moth's mother rebelled and broke away from the coven to live in the real world, ultimately as a single parent to Moth in the 21st century. After a talking black cat (the spirit of a deceased neighbor) appears and befriends Moth, Moth peeks at her mother's diarywhich opens a portal to Hecate, and Moth secretly begins to practice spells unsupervised and to connect with her family there. Moth and family sort through a complicated lineage whose legacy reveals itself to be very much alive in present-day Founder's Bluff. In Steinkellner's graphic panels, Moth and her family have brown skin and puffy dark hair, and the 17th-century coven is shown to be multiracial. The complex history provides a mechanism through which Moth sorts through her own coming-of-age as a modern girl of color, and it's the loving, oftentimes humorous rapport among the Hush women that grounds this graphic novel.This winning paranormal uses witchcraft to explore adolescent rebellion. (Graphic fantasy. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Three generations of brown-skinned witches work out their family drama over 300 years as Moth, a modern-day 13-year-old, discovers her magical heritage. While the story beats are mostly familiar, debut author Steinkellner wisely doesn't linger on the necessary tropes. Her story moves quickly, wielding a lighter tone that favors humor and pacing over world building to great effect. With the backstory out of the way, the focus turns to the compelling grandmother-mother-daughter dynamic that forms the story's racing heart. Moth's mother—in self-imposed exile from her own controlling mother's witch community—doesn't want her practicing magic, but when Grandma comes to indoctrinate the young girl, Moth must choose between her mother's rebellion and her grandmother's legacy. The art is perfectly inviting; smooth, colorful panels center on emotive faces, allowing for a breezy read. A school play about the town's history ties Moth's era to her grandmother's dark, colonial past and shows how prejudice can carry across centuries. This only adds richness to what is largely a fun, enchanting tale featuring complex women of color. Grades 3-7. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

The creator of the Quince comic makes her graphic novel debut in this time-traveling yarn about gangly 13-year-old Moth, who attends school as a witch on Halloween. "You have to dress for the job you want," she tells her mother, Calendula. Her wish inadvertently comes true after she renders two bullies temporarily speechless with her thoughts. At home, Calendula reveals that witchery is "genetic.... Mommy looks a lot younger than she actually is." Calendula was 16 during a 1692 witch hunt in their hometown of Founders Bluff, Mass. Back then, local leader Judge Kramer wanted "a town of sober, obedient, lily-white Pilgrims." Her remarks put readers on alert: Calendula, like Moth, has brown skin, and as the ghosts and witches of the past reawaken, the story questions the whitewashing of American history. Meanwhile, a subplot about Moth's animal familiar—a talking black cat who specializes in borscht belt repartee—provides levity in perilous moments. In Steinkeller's fluid drawing style, the characters' body language and motions are occasionally indistinct. But contrary to the uninspired title, Moth's magic proves better than "okay," and readers will hope for a sequel for the intriguing characters. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Gr 4–8—With her frizzy hair, her gap teeth, and her lack of friends, 13-year-old Moth Hush doesn't fit in at school. She discovers why she doesn't belong—she's not like everyone else. As her powers activate for the first time, Moth learns that she's from a family of witches. Moth's mother, herself a former witch who gave up her powers, reveals their family's dark past of the 1600s witch hunts and forbids Moth from practicing her abilities. But when Moth obtains a talking-cat familiar and the diary her mother kept as a teen, she is forced to confront witch hunters, ancient family drama, and, worst of all, irritating school bullies. Steinkellner's debut graphic novel is a tour de force of middle grade storytelling. The wordy, quirky, character-rich dialogue and emotional narrative guide readers through what's simultaneously a coming-of-age tale, a mother-daughter story, and a supernatural roller coaster. Conflicts with bullies and witch hunters evoke themes of inclusion and diversity vs. ignorance and fear. Fans of Steven Universe and the "Cucumber Quest" books will adore the energetic art. This title has a deceptively low page count; younger readers might miss many deeper themes. VERDICT A must-have for libraries that serve middle graders, but recommended for comics fans of all ages.–Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles Public Library