Review by Booklist Review
Fernández's debut graphic novel is all about embracing the parts of yourself that are mysterious and magical, as it traces the story of Manu (short for Manuela) in a setting inspired by the Dominican Republic. She is taken in by a religious order of sisters who run a school for little girls with magical powers, or witchlings. The order's practice focuses on using their powers for good and for serving others, but Manu is always getting into mischief and showing off. Manu is different from the other kids, even down to the kind of bird she's able to transfigure into, which complicates her social life. One thing leads to another, and a curse causes her to seek help from a demon, which brings out the parts of Manu that she would much rather hide. Fernández's cartoon artwork in saturated tones and with lush, vibrant, plant-filled backgrounds makes for charming, lighthearted atmosphere, within which she affectionately depicts the rich variety of love people can have for one another, such as the love of a parent, foster parent, or best friend. It's a lovely portrayal of religious mysticism, in which witchcraft and Catholicism are interdependent, that emphasizes how people can use their abilities, regardless of where they came from, for good.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Manuela "Manu" Santos, who has fluffy dark hair and light brown skin, has consistently caused trouble since Mother Dolores took her in as an infant. Though carefree, wild trickster Manu's magic is powerful, she is often shunned by the majority brown-skinned nuns and students at her magical all-girls school, La Academia de Santa Dominga. One day, Manu takes her antics too far, leaving a teacher injured and her classmates forced to clean up her mess. When she tries to play it off, her best friend Josefina Teresa Rojas becomes so infuriated that she wishes the saints would take Manu's magic away. Surprisingly, Manu's magic starts to wane. In a desperate ploy to get it back, Manu dabbles in black magic, releasing a powerful winged demonic being that wants to use her to destroy the mortal world. Simple, expressive cartoon-style art combines with a muted color palette and assured digital linework. Richly inflected by her Dominican heritage, Roman Catholic traditions, and elements of brujería, Fernández's fast-paced graphic novel debut explores striving for individuality while yearning to belong, reminding readers that differences should never preclude extending kindness and love. Back matter features an author's note. Ages 8--12. (Nov.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Was she abandoned on a doorstep by an ogre? Or maybe she was raised by wolves in the mountains. Perhaps one day the ground opened up and she emerged--almost everyone at La Academia de Santa Dominga, a school for girls with magic abilities, wonders about Manu's origins. Her magic is far more powerful than that of the other students, and that, combined with her propensity for mischief, lands her in trouble with the Catholic nuns who run the school. When Manu's magic starts malfunctioning, Sister Noela wonders if the saints are intervening to prevent the wild child from using her powers. Eager to prove she isn't the sinister creature that so many believe her to be, Manu turns to an unorthodox solution that may have disastrous consequences. While Manu may be an outcast, she has firm friends; the obedient, studious Josefina and Mother Dolores, the nun who brought her to the school, stick by her despite her missteps, and Fernández conveys these relationships with warmth and tenderness--and hints that there might be more than friendship between Manu and Josefina will delight readers. Fernández's exuberant, vibrant cartoons depict a lush island setting and humorously convey the chaos Manu wreaks; as the narrative turns more serious, the palette shifts appropriately. The tale is set in the Dominican Republic; characters are Latinx and frequently mix in Spanish phrases. VERDICT Though the emphasis on magic will draw in fantasy fans, this poignant graphic novel will resonate with any reader seeking a tale of friendship conquering all.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young witchling struggles when she loses her magical powers. Manu (don't call her Manuela) has grown up at La Academia de Santa Dominga with the religious sisters who found her as a baby. She might have the strongest magical talent, which stems from her unknown past, but that doesn't make her the best student at the academy--she's always getting in trouble. When tragedy strikes and Manu's magic starts regressing, Manu worries she has been cursed and blames Josefina, her best friend, as Josefina had wished the magic be taken away when one of Manu's jokes got out of hand. Now Manu must decide between following the advice and remedies doled out by Mother Dolores, who believes that the magic bestowed by the saints should be used only to "serve the poor and the powerless," or looking for answers elsewhere--even though it might endanger her and her friends. Drawing from her own Dominican experience, Fernández weaves together religion, lore, and brujería and creates a world in which magical powers bestowed by saints and evil eye necklaces work hand in hand. The setting, coded as Latin American since Spanish is spoken, provides an environment in which the narrative and illustrations explore complex relationships between accessible characters that often require forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance to survive. Characters are racially diverse; Manu has brown skin and black, puffy hair. Fun, refreshing, antics-filled magical adventures. (maps, character list, author's note, sketchbook) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
