LitPick Review
Thirteen-year-old Moth is kind of an outcast at school. She wants nothing more than to be a witch and spends her time watching TV shows about magic and reading about folklore. Then, on Halloween, something strange happens. When some kids at school are making fun of her, she *literally* takes their voices away.
Moth is unsurprisingly freaked out by this development and rushes home to talk to her mom. As it turns out, Mom then reveals that Moth is in fact half-witch, and her family dates back to the very witch trials they’ve been learning about in school.
Moth’s mom is not a fan of being a witch or using magic but refuses to tell Moth any more about that. So, with the help of a talking cat who shows up at her door, Moth borrows her mom’s diary, which transports her back in time so she can see her mom’s past.
The more Moth learns, the more she wants to be a witch, but with her mom refusing to tell her anything, she’s getting nowhere. Then, a number of bad things happen in quick succession: Moth’s grandma (also a witch) shows up, Moth accidentally does magic during her school performance, and it turns out, the Mayor of her town is a witch hunter, who kidnaps Moth’s mom to try to get info on tracking down the other witches.
All of this means Moth and her family are in a bit of a tricky situation, but luckily Moth has someone to help her try to fix things: her new friend Charlie.
Will Moth and Charlie be able to rescue Moth’s mom and protect the secret land of the witches from the evil Mayor Kramer? Will she be able to develop her magic, or will she have to abandon witchcraft forever?
Opinion:
This graphic novel was unexpectedly delightful! With well-developed relationships and twists and turns I didn't see coming, I was engaged until the very last page. Plus, who doesn't love a story with a talking cat? Aside from the vivid illustrations, this story has something for everyone. It is simultaneously a story about growing up and finding your place, a story about family relationships, and an action-packed supernatural adventure story. Additionally, scenes with bullying at school and attitudes toward and treatment of witches past and present provide an age appropriate path toward discussion of prejudice and discrimination. Overall, middle grade readers and graphic novel lovers of all ages will want to pick up this book.
