Graphic Novel

 


The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag. New York: Graphix, 2017.

Summary: This graphic novel features a magical family, where women are witches and men are shapeshifters, but Aster challenges this tradition as a boy who is interested in witchcraft. He must overcome the ridicule of his male cousins, the rejection and exclusion of his sister and female cousins, and the disappointment and disapproval of his elders as he pursues his calling and struggles with his identity.

Awards:  2018 EBSCO SEE-IT Award, 2018 Prism Award

Target Audience: Ages 8-12

Strengths: Very easy-to-follow dialogue and panels; frames/pages are colored white or black to correspond with day and night, helping the reader recognize the passage of time; diverse set of characters; emphasis on finding and asserting yourself; challenges gender norms

Weaknesses: Would benefit from the inclusion of a person of size or a person with a disability; some of the page numbers are obscured by the art

Meaningful/Creative Uses: This book would be great for teaching kids about gender norms and identity generally speaking. It would also be a good selection for Halloween. There is a family tree at the beginning of the book that might be useful for discussing family and genealogy. A discussion about the author's design choices for individual characters in the back of the book would lead to a fruitful discussion about character development.

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