The Ojja-wojja A horror-mystery, or whatever

Magdalene Visaggio

Book - 2023

Welcome to Bolingbroke. It's a small town just like any other . . . or so eighth graders Val and Lanie think. They're the best of best friends--they love the same comics, they watch the same shows, and they're always there for each other. Which is important when you're queer, like Lanie, or on the spectrum, like Val, and just don't seem to fit in anywhere. When a school project about their hometown's supernatural history leads to a for-real ghost sighting, Val and Lanie realize Bolingbroke might not be as boring as they'd always thought. But after a run-in with the resident middle school queen bee (who also happens to be Lanie's former friend), they decide to take things to the next level . . . and ac...cidentally summon the Ojja-Wojja, a demonic presence connected to a slew of mysterious tragedies throughout Bolingbroke's sordid history. Now all heck has broken loose. With the whole town acting weird and nowhere left to turn, it's going to be up to Val, Lanie, and their small group of friends to return things to normal--if "normal" is even something they want to return to.

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Review by Booklist Review

Eighth grade can be a horror show for anyone, but for best friends Val and Lanie it becomes downright demonic. Their picturesque town of Bolingbroke is conventionally nice, making anyone "different" stand out as a weirdo. Val's autism makes sensory processing and socializing a challenge, while Lanie is an easy target for bullying due to being trans. That said, the girls' obsessions with aliens, witchcraft, and writing fan fiction don't do them any favors popularity-wise, but they don't care. When Val gets the opportunity to do an independent study project--well, "independently" with Lanie--she decides to investigate a local ghost story. This, however, leads to an even juicier topic: the Ojja-Wojja. As the girls dig into their research (beginning in the library's secret archives--so cool, right?!), they discover sinister history linking the town's founder to a secret society in cahoots with a "monster god" known as Ojja-Wojja. When they happen upon instructions for summoning the monster, Lanie puts her fascination with witchcraft into practice with disastrous results for the entire town. Characters drive this "horror-mystery," which is generously laced with humor and empathy, and St-Onge's playful artwork embraces the tongue-in-cheek tone with cinematic spreads that pay homage to the Sailor Senshi, Star Wars, horror conceits, cheesy PSAs, and the girls' sf fanfic. A fantastically fun underdog story.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Two middle schoolers accidentally unleash an ancient evil upon their town in this otherworldly series-launching graphic novel exploit. Best friends Val, an occult fanatic who is autistic, and Lanie, who is transgender and obsessed with witchcraft, endure constant bullying from popular classmate Andrea, causing them to feel like misfits in their small town. When a supportive teacher learns of Val's interest in aliens and ghosts, he suggests that she complete an independent study on paranormal phenomena, hoping the assignment will boost her morale. Inviting Lanie along, Val researches local ghost stories, leading the girls to uncover a forgotten pact between a town founder and a terrifying spirit called the Ojja-Wojja, for which the town must renounce witches and those who "stand apart from this community" in return for prosperity. Upon mistakenly summoning the Ojja-Wojja, the specter possesses Andrea and begins terrorizing the neighborhood. Val uses abundant narrative styles--including MMORPG, magical girl anime, and space operas--to frame the world in ways she can understand. Visaggio (Cold Bodies, for adults) fittingly leans into these imaginative digressions, imbuing the tale with myriad genre flavors that St-Onge (the Jem and the Holograms series) supports via dynamically paneled, skillfully colored art teeming with ethereal ambiance and peopled by a large cast depicted with varying body types and skin tones. Ages 10--up. (Mar.)

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 5 Up--It's hard for Val and Lanie to fit in with most of the kids in the town of Bolingbroke. Luckily, they're friends with a small group of fellow outsiders who all deal with similar problems, such as Andrea, a popular and powerful girl who makes their lives miserable. When Val's teacher gives her permission to do a project about the supernatural history of their town, she thinks this will be a great opportunity to partner with Lanie, who loves magic. But when the girls take their exploring too far, they go from seeing one ghost to accidentally summoning a dangerous being called the Ojja-Wojja, which has caused trouble in Bolingbroke for many years. Val and Lanie soon learn the Ojja-Wojja is not only dangerous, but it also has the power to turn the whole town against them. This fast-paced story takes readers on a roller coaster adventure, as the mood alternates between funny, suspenseful, sarcastic, scary, and emotional. Readers will empathize with this group of kids who are outsiders for a variety of reasons (LGBTQIA+, autistic, socially awkward) as they deal with bullying and paranormal problems. The artwork is striking throughout the story; the colors get darker and creepier as the story goes on, saturating the pages, matching the darkening mood of the story. VERDICT For older kids and younger teens who enjoy school and friendship stories, as well as paranormal stories with plenty of suspense.--Andrea Lipinski

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Outsider teens battle a reawakened, hungry ancient spirit. Small towns like Bolingbroke don't take kindly to misfits. Fortunately, that helps unique souls like Valentine and Lanie find each other. Friends since sixth grade, Val, who is White and autistic, and Lanie, who is Vietnamese American and trans, team up for an independent project about local paranormal lore. It's the perfect collaboration--Val loves the supernatural, and Lanie's into witchcraft. After an eerie encounter with a horse-riding phantom on their first night of ghost-hunting, Val runs into the town "crazy lady," who recites an unsettling rhyme about the Ojja-Wojja, a mysterious presence said to be haunting the woods around the town. The friends have research to do, all of which is complicated by Andrea, Lanie's cruel swim teammate who becomes a nonconsenting host for the forest spirit. Meanwhile, Lanie grapples with the realization that she might like girls. Val's neurodivergent tendency toward infodumping is conveyed through inspired expository scenes that draw from TV shows like Unsolved Mysteries and Sailor Moon. The illustrations and storytelling blend the fanciful beauty of Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle's teen wolf drama, Squad (2021), and the creeping dread of Emily Carroll's Through the Woods (2014). The pieces of this character-driven, inclusive graphic novel come together perfectly, creating a satisfying read that honors teen friendship. Spooky, queer, and magical--it's no mystery why this book is a wonder. (Graphic fiction. 11-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.