All of the characters are witches, but their issues are
universal. All young readers will have encountered new students in their
schools, and they’ve probably resented showoffs or braggarts. Jazzy and Aggie
are best friends, and they’re each top at something in school. Jazzy thinks
she’s the best bike rider, while Aggie has been the top student. However,
Estrella uses her expensive bike to taunt Jazzy, and Aggie is annoyed when
Estrella answers all of the teacher’s questions. Their conflict escalates, and
readers will sense their miscommunication or misunderstanding. Young readers
will enjoy Jazzy’s familiar, as Fiona the bat enjoys telling corny jokes. Fiona
and Aggie’s familiar, Cassie the cat, have an amusing rivalry throughout the
book.
The color illustrations clearly communicate the story
without being overly detailed. The author uses different font colors and sizes in the captions to convey emotions and tone of voice. The chapters are of reasonable length, providing readers with breaks and allowing emerging readers to feel accomplished. Bonus pages are found at the back of the book, after the plot
has been resolved. A Witch-tionary shares information about witches throughout
history; most “witches” were healers and midwives. Other pages explain witchy-sounding
ingredients or how to moon bathe.
What didn’t work as well:
As with many graphic novels, the story lacks plot and character
development. The plot is easy to follow, and readers will probably have some
idea about how the conflict will be resolved.
The final verdict:
This book is perfect for young middle-grade or emerging readers. The
simple plot and colorful pictures make the book easy to follow, and it shares a
valuable lesson about understanding others. I recommend you give this book a
shot.
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