The queen's favorite witch

When Queen Elizabeth I's Royal Witch dies, 12-year-old Daisy auditions to take her place, despite coming from a poor family that sells potions at the local marketplace. After arriving at the palace, she befriends an exhausted but friendly maid; a large-eared, pink-nosed rat; and the mysterious, bushy-browed John Dee. As Daisy flies through the trials, she is bullied and sabotaged by the competitors who come from rich, influential families, drawn with angry brows, shiny hair, and bright dresses. Smith's cute, cartoony style emphasizes both Daisy's nervousness and determination, as seen through her profuse sweat droplets, round watery eyes, and ungainly yet expressive gestures. Her desperation for approval gets her in trouble, but she's also quick to be kind and communicative, which gains her allies, including lavender-colored ghosts and round, faceless spiders. The colorful trinkets, flat backgrounds, and lax line-work provide a fun, simple atmosphere for Daisy to explore, and while the introduction provides historical context, even readers uninterested in Elizabethan England will enjoy following this young, likable witch on her daring adventure.

In this fantastical revisionist history of 1563, benevolent Dr. Dee--a long-bearded "heretic" in a green cowl--strategizes to protect Queen Elizabeth I after her Royal Witch succumbs to poison and "a dark coven," a red-robed group casting spells around a pentagram, plot to usurp the throne. Freckled novice witch Daisy Sparrow, hawking potions with her mother in the London streets, notices a broadside advertising the Royal Witch job opening; her 14-year-old blond shepherd friend subsequently urges her to apply: "You're twelve, Daisy. Your Mum can't tell you what to do anymore." At Hampton Court, a talking rat and a helpful maid likewise encourage "peasant" Daisy, a natural talent who must face a group of Elizabethan mean girls, a politician masterminding the assassination attempt, and the ghost of Elizabeth's father, King Henry VIII. Smith (Quarantine Comix) implies Tudor period settings through generic costumes, cobblestones, and straw; secondary characters have darker skin tones, but round-eyed, animation-style white characters claim the spotlight. Historically inaccurate characterizations aside, Dickson (Santa Claus vs. the Nazis) introduces promising relationships to develop across the series' comic game of thrones. Front matter includes a preface. Ages 7--12. (Oct.)

Gr 3--6--Daisy, a young witch who hasn't seen much of the world, yearns for excitement, but her mother would rather keep her safe. When Daisy learns that the position of Royal Witch is open, she flies to London to audition over her mother's protests. She is immediately rejected because she isn't from a "good" family, but taking a job as a maid helps her get her foot in the door at the royal court. As she enters this fierce and dangerous competition, she makes allies and enemies and gradually learns to develop her own powers. This is a cute, funny, and exciting story, mixing historical characters like Elizabeth I and Dr. John Dee into the story of a witch who finds her way. With the energy and humor of stories like Nimona and Kiki's Delivery Service, Smith's art is bright and colorful, featuring characters with wide, expressive eyes. Characters are mostly white. VERDICT For kids, teens, and even grown-ups who delight in historical fantasy about witches, palace intrigue, and girls learning to trust their own power.--Andrea Lipinski, New York P.L., New York City