Hellaween

Lawton fashions a raucous All Hallows' Eve tale with a cheeky Halloweentown vibe in this wickedly funny graphic novel debut. Teenage human witch-in-training Gwen--who lives in the mortal world and must hide her powers--is excited for the Halloween season. As the holiday approaches, the veil weakens between the human realm and the Hallowlands, a parallel supernatural dimension where her two best friends reside. This year, her pals--vampire Miles and werewolf Sloane--arrive with a gift for Gwen: a grimoire that the duo hope will help Gwen to create a worlds-spanning door for easier year-round travel. Meanwhile, Gwen's paranormal-obsessed human peer Hiro is determined to track down the vampire he believes he once saw. When he learns about a supernatural prank that Gwen and company pull on unsuspecting high schoolers, Hiro seeks to expose the jokesters on his blog. Via angular, spindly limbed characters and shadowy atmospheric settings, Lawton explores themes of miscommunication and connection through the lens of a good-intentioned witch with a chaotic approach to problem-solving. Human characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 10--14. (Aug.)

Gr 5--9--For a brief period every year, the young witch Gwen gets to see her friends Miles (a vampire) and Sloane (a werewolf). Like other teens, they just like to hang out, and do the occasional haunting. This Halloween though, the boys from the Hallowlands give Gwen a grimoire and magical tools to aid the witch's magical prowess. Delighted, she tries out new spells to further their fun, which lands them in the sights of Hiro. The young man is determined to prove the supernatural exists, and as he hounds them, the chaos, and punk aesthetic, ramps up. This graphic novel is a slice-of-life character piece with supernatural high jinks humor. Natural dialogue, everyday interactions, and expressive designs reveal much about each teen's personality and motivations. Even the central conflict revolves around them, as it ultimately sprouts from Gwen and Hiro's desire to prove themselves. By the end, a cease-fire, unanswered questions about witches, and the consequences of everybody's actions linger, giving Lawton plenty of potential for more Hella-fun. VERDICT With its punk paranormal style, easygoing dialogue, and story of belonging and friendship, many tweens and young teens will find this graphic novel a relatable read.--Rachel Forbes

A novice witch invites the supernatural to her sleepy suburban town. Trapped among "normies" most of the year, teenage Gwen rejoices when Halloween nears. After 11 months, the pink-haired witch's skater besties can finally cross back over from the Hallowlands. The pair--vampire Miles and werewolf Sloane--come bearing enchanted objects, including a grimoire that will take Gwen's "patchwork DIY magic" to the next level. When the trio prank a group of scaredy jocks, a "Helsing Jr" named Hiro seeks to expose them for his blog. "Spooky season's about to go off!" as both spells and shenanigans fly. The playful turns dangerous, though, when Gwen's magic goes haywire. Lawton flexes their skills as a storyboard artist to create a spooky but sweet story about the importance of relying on your friends, especially when you feel alone; Gwen's frustration at having to conceal her magic from "normies" is palpable, but Miles and Sloane are supportive and encouraging. Though the tale is set in California, certain details--especially in the mall scenes--will feel delightfully familiar to mall rats and skate punks in many places. Dialogue grounds the story in the present and adds a touch of humor. Gwen has tan skin, Sloane is light-skinned (when in human form), Hiro has brown skin, and Miles has blue-tinged skin. The ending introduces a new character, teasing a sequel. Stylishly spooky and outrageously fun. (Graphic fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.