| Fantasy |
| Juvenile Literature |
| Juvenile Fiction |
Summary
Summary
From the illustrator of the web comic Strong Female Protagonist comes a debut middle-grade graphic novel about family, identity, courage -- and magic. In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be.When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Magic fans will welcome Ostertag's graphic novel about a modern-day forest settlement where girls become witches and boys learn how to be shapeshifters. Aster's a boy who should be focusing on transforming into an animal; instead, to his family's dismay and embarrassment, he finds ways to hang around when girls are learning witchcraft. Technical spell-casting details abound: "The containment rune would work for a while, but with the name of its subject, it will be much more powerful." With the help of new friend Charlie, a human girl with beaded braids and a serious leg injury, Aster is able to deploy witch knowledge to save two of the settlement's boys and uncover the truth behind his family's darkest secret. Ostertag is in full control of plotting, dialogue, and visual techniques to advance the story with her sturdy panel artwork, and her family-centered narrative is warm and wholesome. Only the predictability of Aster's dilemma-a template from other gender-difference stories dropped into a new setting-disappoints, though his family's eventual acceptance is still satisfying when it arrives. Ages 8-12. Agent: Jen Linnan, Linnan Literary Management. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Boys are shapeshifters and girls are witches--or so everyone keeps telling Aster, who has been studying spells in secret while pressure builds for him to conform to the norms of his magical community. According to legend, the last time a man bucked tradition and used witchcraft, it backfired, and the culprit--Asters great-uncle Mikasi--turned monstrous before disappearing. When some of the clans adolescent boys go missing in the forest that separates the enchanted community from the regular world, Aster and his new non-magic friend Charlotte (called Charlie) learn that Mikasi is behind the disappearances. Together they save the clan and persuade the community to rethink its strict adherence to gender roles. (Asters grandmother says of her brother, I regret what we did to Mikasi every day. It was not his magic that was wrong, but what we denied him.) This graphic novels clear panel outlines, subdued hues, and balanced paneled layouts allow the story and page-turns to progress at a steady pace. Various typefaces highlight different characters voices and personalities, and word balloons weave in and out of panels seamlessly, allowing extended moments of exposition to flow atop context presented visually. Close-up perspectives reveal characters facial expressions and feelings not explicitly stated in the dialogue, and an invented magical language is represented by symbols within word balloons. (Note that Ostertags culturally ambiguous world includes traditions resembling Native American vision quests, making for a fuzzy distinction between fantasy and exoticized reality.) elisa gall (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
The Witch Boy explores what it means to go against expectations and overcome gendered prejudice, in this case related to magic and witchcraft. In her middle-grade graphic-novel debut, Ostertag perhaps best known for Shattered Warrior (2017) and her ongoing webcomic, Strong Female Protagonist uses bold colors and diverse skin tones to beautifully illustrate a brief time in the life of Aster, a young man who is supposed to be a shape-shifter but is instead more inclined toward witchcraft. Unfortunately, witchcraft is seen as feminine in his community, and therefore not something boys are meant to dabble in. When several other boys go missing over the next few days, Aster and his community become alarmed, unsure of who or what is to blame. In an effort to help his family and friends and prove himself to his mother and father, Aster begins testing his magical abilities, much to their chagrin. Aster's journey of self-discovery, particularly as he learns to take a stand against assumed gender roles, will resonate with many young readers working to assert themselves within their own communities.--Bittner, Rob Copyright 2017 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-Aster belongs to a magical family, but he is having problems with one of the most basic rules: shapeshifting is for boys, while witchcraft is for girls. Aster is fascinated by the spells that the girls are learning, so he spies on their lessons whenever he can. When several boys disappear during shapeshifting practice, Aster realizes that he can help save them using witchcraft to battle a strange and powerful enemy-but he'll have to break his family's traditions and risk his life. Both the plot and the overall message are straightforward and familiar but engaging. Beneath the fantastical elements lies a story about upending gender expectations, forging identity, and uncovering heroic potential in oneself. Those who enjoy sci-fi or fantasy stories about protagonists who must prove that their society's rules are flawed will appreciate this offering. Ostertag's bright, gentle, cartoonlike artwork brims with life and adds extra appeal to this fast-moving story. VERDICT An excellent choice for reluctant readers, fans of fantasy, and those looking for books that explore gender roles.-Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Thirteen-year-old Aster is of age to find the animal that will deem him worthy to take its shape as a shape-shifter. There's just one problem. Aster doesn't want to shape-shifthe wants to do witchery, which is forbidden for boys.Aunt Vervain teaches witchery to the girls, and Aster hides, taking careful notesbut he's caught. His mother tells him a family secret: his grandmother's male twin was attracted to witchery. After dabbling in forbidden magic, he morphed into something terrible, caused a disaster in their village, and was cast out. Though Aster's horrified, he can't resist practicing magic alone in the woods. To his delight, it works, but he's seen by Charlie, a black girl from outside his community, and eventually she becomes the confidante and adviser he's needed. On the night of the Finding, a boy is taken by a mysterious creature. Aster knows he can help with witchery, but he'd have to admit how much he's learned. Ostertag's story is straightforward, acting as a parable for gender conformity that's pitched just right to middle-grade audiences. Her panels are clear, colorful, and friendly, and her worldbuilding flawless, Aster's magic-working community sitting cheek by jowl with Charlie's suburb. Characters are all different races: Aster's mother appears white, his father appears Asian, and Aster has darker skin than his mother but has her red hair. With charming artwork, interesting supporting characters, natural-feeling diversity, and peeks of a richly developed world, this book leaves readers wishing for more. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.