Review by Booklist Review
Aspiring YouTuber Hasani is thrown for a series of loops when she learns that her dad has a girlfriend. She'd convinced herself that her parents would get back together, and this discovery causes her hitherto unknown magic to flare to life, garnering her an invitation to attend Les Belles Demoiselles Finir l'École des Sorcières, aka magic camp. Concealed within a New Orleans sugarcane field, it's an old institution that favors girls from long lines of magical blood, putting Hasani at a distinct disadvantage. Nevertheless, she perseveres in the face of bullying, thanks to new friends and a better understanding of herself. While Dumas throws in too many secondary plots, readers will love the world she creates, which brims with Black Girl Magic. Most of the characters are Black, and Dumas weaves Louisiana's history of slavery into the girls' lessons and legacy of magic. She also intertwines magic with technology, giving this series starter a decidedly modern feel.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--Soon-to-be eighth grader Hasani is a daughter, friend, aspiring YouTuber, and a wildseed witch. While heading to her dad's house for the weekend, the drawbridge they have to cross suddenly raises covered in vines. Hasani unknowingly caused the event, only discovering it was her fault when she is offered a full scholarship to the charm school Les Belles Demoiselles to learn to control her magic. Being a wildseed (meaning she is a stray witch from a family of non-witches) doesn't make things easy for Hasani at school. If only sticking out was the sole trouble she had to deal with; she also has to navigate her classmates, manage her YouTube account, and try to get her father away from his girlfriend and back with her mother. Dumas has crafted a delightful light fantasy novel filled with a diverse cast, fun, drama, and some lessons. The story is a marvelous blend of magical elements with modern times, with Hasani even unknowingly using her magic to control YouTube. Even with their magical abilities, Hasani and her classmates are a relatable and nuanced portrayal of girls their age. While elements of this book may not stand the test of time, today's readers will gobble up Hasani's story. Hasani is Black, as are most of the characters. VERDICT Hand to those who already love realistic fantasy or are looking to dip their toes into the genre.--Amanda Borgia
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young African American witch learns that magic makes life quite complicated. School is out in New Orleans, and Hasani Schexnayder-Jones is grateful for summer vacation. She's free to work on her YouTube channel, MakeupontheCheapCheap. Unfortunately, the free time also allows Hasani to see her dad's new girlfriend, Sandy, flaunting herself all over Instagram. She cannot understand why her parents separated, and after learning that Sandy has moved in with her dad, Hasani's magic springs to life in a burst of emotion. Les Belles Demoiselles: Finir l'École des Sorcières, the premier charm school for witches, catches wind of Hasani's raw magical promise and invites her to enroll. Hasani believes this will be a welcome distraction, but coming from a nonmagical family, she encounters a frosty roommate, unspoken rules that everyone else knows, and magic that she struggles to control. Even worse, there's barely any signal to upload her YouTube videos. As she slowly learns the ways of magic, Hasani tries to apply it to her problems, but her meddling is not without consequences. When her favorite subscriber goes missing, Hasani must muster all her talents to find her before it's too late. Dumas invites readers into a wonderful world of witchcraft that highlights the contributions of the diaspora; the infusion of Creole heritage and the acknowledgement of enslavement grounds this world without dimming its light. Readers will relate to the struggles of standing out, feeling inadequate, and accepting change. A delightful start to a fresh series. (Fantasy. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
