An absolutely bewitching sequel.
After fighting the darkness that consumed his great-uncle, young witch Aster must now help him heal.
In this sequel to Witch Boy (2017), Aster’s family has agreed to let him become a witch and take classes with the girls. His grandmother offers to help him with his studies in return for a favor: He must help remove the dark magic from her brother, the evil Mikasi, who has transformed into the beast who nearly destroyed Aster’s family. Outside Aster’s magical compound, his friend Charlie is trying to befriend the new girl at school, Ariel. Living with a foster family, Ariel has been bullied in the past and harbors deep distrust and resentment. When a darkness similar to Mikasi’s begins to overtake her, will Charlie and Aster be able to help Ariel in time? Although Aster has gained his family’s acceptance to learn magic forbidden for boys, his defiance of gender and social constraints is still in the forefront here; along a similar vein, his cousin decides that he wants to stop practicing shape-shifting altogether, defying the familial dynamic. Themes of bullying are also deftly explored, with Ariel both a victim and a bully. Ostertag’s sophomore effort is every bit as wonderful as its predecessor, with continued strong worldbuilding, lovely large and bright illustrations, and its approachable and diverse cast that runs a true-to-life spectrum encompassing white-, tan-, and dark-skinned characters as well as same-sex relationships. Aster’s biracial (black/white), Charlie’s black, and Ariel’s Latinx.
An absolutely bewitching sequel. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)Pub Date: Oct. 30, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-338-25376-4
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2018
Themes of positive change thread this tribute to video games, summer camp, and emotional growth.
Can online gaming strategies help a boy escape from summer camp in time for a video game tournament?
Maxwell lives for video games, and qualifying for the Gamerville tournament is his greatest achievement yet. However, recognizing the negative impact excessive gaming is having, Max’s highly protective mother realizes he needs more outdoor time: She signs him up for technology-free Camp Reset, a place she has fond memories of attending as a child, although it conflicts with the tournament. Zanzi, the great-great-granddaughter of Camp Reset’s founder, strictly and enthusiastically adheres to tradition, causing her friends to pull away. Camper Dylan struggles with overcoming his past as a cyberbully. Through his video game lens, Max at first sees other kids as recruitable allies, but he gradually realizes they’re true friends. Still, he’s determined to escape to Gamerville; could strategies he’s learning at camp help? Max’s and Zanzi’s families are Black; the supporting cast is racially diverse. This vibrant, colorful graphic novel shows that change engenders growth and improvement, and that strategies and skills are transferable between very different settings. The lavish facilities (for the small number of campers), minimal adult supervision, and questionable safety protocols strain credulity, but Christmas’ work commendably demonstrates respect for both video game culture and unplugged living, showing the positives and negatives of each while offering valuable representations of Black kids enjoying nature and gaming.
Themes of positive change thread this tribute to video games, summer camp, and emotional growth. (Graphic adventure. 9-12)Pub Date: July 16, 2024
ISBN: 9780063056824
Page Count: 256
Publisher: HarperAlley
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
A wholeheartedly weird and wonderful tale of friendship, acceptance, and robots
Hailing from a big family of overachievers, D.J. feels largely unexceptional until he meets a strange boy who falls from the sky and helps him realize his potential.
D.J. isn't good at anything. He has two brothers and two sisters who have miles of accomplishments among them, and the only thing he considers himself adept at was a friendship with neighbor Gina…but she moved away three years ago. One day, D.J. meets a peculiar, sunny, towheaded boy who has apparently landed on Earth wearing nothing but silver underpants and recalling nothing of his previous life. D.J. immediately befriends him, and the duo becomes a threesome when Gina moves back to town. Over time, the boy's memory starts to return. He recalls his name, Hilo, and how he came to Earth—and that there are dangerous robots that could annihilate the entire planet. Although D.J. may not have a list of skills he can tick off on his fingers, he learns something more important: not only is he loyal, he is brave. Winick has concocted a universally appealing tale with bright, expressive illustrations that gently reminds readers that in this era of overscheduling and insistence on perfection, sometimes just being true to yourself is important enough. D.J. and his family are Asian-American, Gina and hers are African-American, and Caucasian-looking extraterrestrial Hilo nicely rounds out the graphic novel’s diversity.
A wholeheartedly weird and wonderful tale of friendship, acceptance, and robots . (Graphic science fiction. 7-12)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-385-38617-3
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2015
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