The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

Synopsis

“Magic is harder than it looks. Thirteen-year-old Moth Hush loves all things witchy. But she’s about to discover that witches aren’t just the stuff of movies, books, and spooky stories. When some eighth-grade bullies try to ruin her Halloween, something really strange happens. It turns out that Founder’s Bluff, Massachusetts, has a centuries-old history of witch drama. And, surprise: Moth’s family is at the center of it all!

When Moth’s new powers show up, things get totally out-of-control. She meets a talking cat, falls into an enchanted diary, and unlocks a hidden witch world. Secrets surface from generations past as Moth unravels the complicated legacy at the heart of her town, her family, and herself.”

-Synopsis from Goodreads

Reivew

Next to Pumpkin Heads, this was yet another adorable graphic novel that will give you all the fall feels!

Moth is so excited to discover her powers, but when her mom refuses to talk about anything related to their family history, she has no choice but to take her training into her own hands. With the help of her familiar, (a black cat, naturally) she delves into her mom’s past, quite literally through an enchanted diary. As Moth begins to learn more about her mother’s life, she discovers her family’s ties to the tumultuous history of their town, Founder’s Bluff.

As someone who has always felt out of place in school and in Founder’s Bluff in general, Moth wonders if discovering her magic is the missing piece of the puzzle that will finally make her life make sense. But Moth’s mother put magic behind her years ago in order to live a normal life, and Moth wants to understand why she made that decision.

Moth gets to meet her grandma and other witches who try to convince her that she will fit in best in their world, where she is free to exist as who she is without prejudice. Although Moth is thrilled at all the magic she will be able to learn, she isn’t quite sure that she can leave her old life behind.

I was pleasantly surprised by how many valuable themes were explored in this graphic novel! Aside from the obvious mother-daughter relationships, fitting in at school, not knowing your place in the world, there are larger themes of prejudice and being ostracized for your differences, which is a part of history (both real and in this imagined world) that cannot be ignored.

On top of all of that, this story is downright funny with wry humor sprinkled in that made me laugh out loud more than once. All of this makes for a wonderful witchy graphic novel for kids and adult readers alike. More Moth Hush, please!