Witch for hire

Ted Naifeh

Book - 2021

"Faye Faulker isn't popular, and that's just fine by her. She spends her lunches at the Loser Table with the other social rejects, aka her best friends, and brushes off the uninspired taunts from the cool kids. But when lonely freshman Cody finds her way to Faye's corner of the cafeteria, it sets off a peculiar chain of events . . . To Cody's surprise, these kids aren't so bad; an overdramatic theater nerd, a handicapable girl in a wheelchair, an overweight boy, and Faye, who comes to school every day dressed like a witch. But it's no costume, Fay really is a witch! While high school can be hell for many reasons, this year the ante has been raised when a series of pranks swiftly go from mischievous to dow...nright dangerous. From the lowliest debate team nerds to the prom queen, no one is safe, not even the teachers! When things start to really get out of hand, Cody owns up to Faye: in a moment of desperation, she signed up for an online challenge that promises to grant popularity to those who follow the website's twisted demands. Now Faye is faced with a choice: Reveal her witchy nature to Cody and help her or stand aside and keep her secret identity safe. Despite her misgivings, Faye takes on the case, but will her powers be strong enough to solve this mystery? And will people ever stop asking her if she puts newts' eyes in her homemade baked goods? Witch for Hire is a gothic whodunnit about resilience, magic, and the power of friendship."--Amazon.

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Subjects
Genres
Detective and mystery fiction
Graphic novels
Published
New York, NY : Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams 2021.
Language
English
Main Author
Ted Naifeh (author)
Physical Description
119 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm
ISBN
9781419748103
9781419748110
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

When Cody, a geeky-looking freshman, eats lunch at the Loser Table, she meets a diverse group of teens looking to climb the social ladder--all except sarcastic Faye, who, donning a black, pointed hat, accepts she'll never fit in. Cody soon learns that Faye's hat isn't the only thing that's witchy about her, and as the usual high-school bullying takes a supernatural turn, Cody begs Faye to intervene, knowing she is the only one who can help. Each chapter of Naifeh's graphic novel begins with an Instagramesque post from influencer Shy Shelbi, whose five-step self-help program serves a more nefarious purpose. An autumnal color palette dominates the school scenes, offset by the spooky greens of demons and technology. In both story and art style, this is a good choice for readers who are looking for something that falls between the lightheartedness of Sabrina's original comics and her new, grisly Chilling Adventures. The title doesn't come into play until the end of the story, suggesting that Faye will encounter even more otherworldly foes soon.

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

Gr 7 Up--From the book's title, readers may be expecting goofy plots or calamitous capers, but Naifeh's latest effort is instead a sinister mystery that captures the social intricacies of high school. The story opens with shy new student Cody being relegated to the "loser" lunch table and finding tentative kinship with its occupants, in particular Faye Faulkner, a sullen girl in a witch hat. Surely, it's just a cultivated image. But as the story unfolds, sinister pranks are unleashed upon popular kids, nerds, and nobodies alike. Fingers are pointed far too frequently at Faye. As Faye works to uncover the source of the incidents, readers realize the genesis and extent of Faye's powers and the fearsomeness of her true foe, who prowls the ethereal realms of the internet. Naifeh's winding narrative captures the claustrophobia of cliques and catfights, with sharp, shadowy illustrations and an autumnal palette adding to the dark mood. Faye and Cody are both light-skinned. VERDICT Frightening as much for its depiction of social cruelty and scapegoating as for supernatural sorcery, this is an engrossing read.--Emilia Packard, Austin, TX

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

Witches face many obstacles in life: fear, prejudice, and sitting at the unpopular table in high school are just a few. Witches aren't part of the A squad, as new high schooler Cody learns when her popular upperclassman sister, Bryce, dismisses her to the cafeteria table that is a lunchroom waystation for people who haven't yet found their place in the social hierarchy. It's there she meets Faye, the table's only permanent resident and the school's resident witch. Cody's desire to move on brings her into digital contact with shy_shelbi, a social media account that promises to make your dreams come true. Most of those dreams, however, turn out to be nightmares, and it's up to Faye to begrudgingly save her classmates' lives. Faye is a mysterious character who brings a lot of baggage with her, some of which is addressed in the book and some of which is hopefully being saved for future stories. The ending hints at a new path for the young witch, and readers who identify with feeling a little out of place in school or life will be begging to learn when the adventure continues. Many will appreciate the messages centered around popularity, acceptance, self-confidence, and the influence of social media. The expressive artwork enhances the mood through heavy use of black and shades of glowing orange and atmospheric teal. Main characters are White-presenting; there is diversity in the background cast. Spooky and fun, with substance as well. (Graphic fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.