The hidden witch

Molly Ostertag

Book - 2018

When Aster's non-magical friend Charlie finds herself the target of a curse, Aster and his unconventional talent for witchery must find the source of the curse before more people get hurt.

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Subjects
Genres
Fantasy comics
Graphic novels
Comics (Graphic works)
Published
New York, NY : Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic 2018.
Language
English
Main Author
Molly Ostertag (author)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
202 pages : chiefly color illustrations, color map ; 24 cm
ISBN
9781338253764
9781338253757
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

In the sequel to The Witch Boy (2017), Ostertag continues the story of Aster, the boy who chooses to be a witch, a role traditionally held by girls. Aster is continuing his studies, but he feels like he has a lot to learn, so he agrees to be tutored by his grandmother in exchange for helping with her brother, Mikasi, the beast who attacked Aster and his cousins. He's also dealing with a dark and serious magic that has attached itself to his friend, Charlie. Will he be able to help Mikasi without losing himself? Will Mikasi end up helping Aster in return with the dark magic surrounding Charlie? Ostertag's illustrations are vivid and vibrant and showcase the degrees of magic in beautiful, rich tones. The panels are well positioned, making it easy to follow the story. In her dynamic artwork, the detailed scenes spanning across pages showcase the richness of her world building. A great comic for magic fans and those who want to read stories about others who buck the trend.--Traci Glass Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6-In this adventurous sequel to The Witch Boy, Aster is finally allowed to learn witchery alongside the girls in his family, while his best friend Charlie is excited by the prospect of a new friendship at (nonmagic) school with shy, guarded Ariel. But mysterious happenings pick up quickly when Charlie is visited by a malevolent spirit and when magic meddles in her first basketball game. Meanwhile, in return for extra lessons, Aster helps his grandmother heal the monster who endangered his life and who, deep down, is also his great-uncle Mikasi. Ostertag skillfully develops the setting and action while tackling topics such as friendship, jealousy, bullying, and identity. Themes of embracing differences and the long-term effects of intolerance carry over from the previous installment, as readers are introduced to a diverse, expanding cast. The bold art is inviting; clear-cut, brightly colored panels with warm autumnal tones keep scenes moving and shift into muted shades to enhance the creep factor. Depictions of Mikasi's dragon-esque form and foreboding shadow shapes are the perfect level of spooky for the target audience. VERDICT An exciting continuation of Aster's supernatural journey, whose coming-of-age messages will resonate with middle graders.-Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review

Asters coming out as a witch (in The Witch Boy, rev. 11/17) challenged his magic communitys traditional gender norms. Previously, trauma from intolerance led Asters great-uncle Mikasi, also a witch, to harm himself and others; now Aster and his grandmother are working on a secret project to heal Mikasi, who is stuck in dragon form. Meanwhile, Asters non-magic friend Charlie clicks with new-girl Ariel, who is a witch but doesnt know it. Bullied and struggling with feeling misunderstood and different, Ariel lashes out at others with uncontrollable dark magic, and she risks a fate similar to Mikasis. Themes of trust, forgiveness, identity, and acceptance shine brightly throughout Ostertags graphic novel. Thick black outlines allow for the muted autumnal colors to pop, and a variety of lettering, balloons, and panel styles adds energy and depth to both plot and characterization. Dialogue and cues in the visual narrative reveal small moments of tension and connection between characters. These awkward, honest coming-of-age interactions mixed with spot-on world-building offer something for fans of fantasy and realistic fiction alike. elisa gall March/April 2019 p 87(c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

After fighting the darkness that consumed his great-uncle, young witch Aster must now help him heal.In this sequel to Witch Boy (2017), Aster's family has agreed to let him become a witch and take classes with the girls. His grandmother offers to help him with his studies in return for a favor: He must help remove the dark magic from her brother, the evil Mikasi, who has transformed into the beast who nearly destroyed Aster's family. Outside Aster's magical compound, his friend Charlie is trying to befriend the new girl at school, Ariel. Living with a foster family, Ariel has been bullied in the past and harbors deep distrust and resentment. When a darkness similar to Mikasi's begins to overtake her, will Charlie and Aster be able to help Ariel in time? Although Aster has gained his family's acceptance to learn magic forbidden for boys, his defiance of gender and social constraints is still in the forefront here; along a similar vein, his cousin decides that he wants to stop practicing shape-shifting altogether, defying the familial dynamic. Themes of bullying are also deftly explored, with Ariel both a victim and a bully. Ostertag's sophomore effort is every bit as wonderful as its predecessor, with continued strong worldbuilding, lovely large and bright illustrations, and its approachable and diverse cast that runs a true-to-life spectrum encompassing white-, tan-, and dark-skinned characters as well as same-sex relationships. Aster's biracial (black/white), Charlie's black, and Ariel's Latinx.An absolutely bewitching sequel. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.