Name: The Witch Boy
ISBN: 9781338089523

Molly Ostertag

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.

The Witch Boy

Molly Knox Ostertag

kait

this was so cute but this family is so mean to our main character, just let him be a witch! i think that this is definitely a metaphor for being trans which is so influential and i hope that young kids can read this story and feel loved and accepted and will help others just feel okay to be themselves. i wish this first one would have been a little more accepting instead of his family alienating him but the other installments are super good if you want to see the main character get to be themselves.

Milo

Lisa-Maria Hofmann

This was really cute! I really enjoyed it! I will say that it's a little more mature than I thought it'd be given the art style, but it's a great discussion on gender presentation, stereotypes, and roles. And I did really love the art style. It's very sweet and bubbly. I would absolutely recommend this to others.

Kirsten Simkiss

brianna

3.5 stars

The Witch Boy follows a young boy named Aster whose family practices magic. The boys are all shapeshifters and the women are all witches. However, Aster is fascinated by witchcraft when he shouldn't be.

I think I went into this book with too high of expectations when nothing really happened. While there was action, I found myself bored most of the time. Charlotte was the main thing that kept me going since she was really the only likable character. Pick this up if you're interested but it's not one you NEED to read.

Izza

Jude Moon

I've really enjoyed this graphic novel!! I was super excited to finally read something by Molly, and it fortunately lived to my expectations. The story was super light to read even if it dealt with a quite hard-hitting topic and I think it was perfect this way. Also, the illustrations!!! I was already a fan of her drawing style, but some pages of this book had me in literal awe. All in all I'm definitely gonna recommend it A Lot, the message this book gives should be read by a lot of LGBTQ youth 💛

Ashlee

This was such a sweet book and had such a lovely message. There were some points that were a little hard to read which is of course expected in this type of story but they still made it longer to get through because I’d have to put it down and then pick it up again later. But it ended so sweetly and I’m very excited to grab the next two books in this series and continue with Aster’s story. And gotta see more of Charlie. Absolutely love her.

Nicole Dykeman

This was cute and it had a great message, but I just wanted something more from it. Not sure why this didn’t quite do it for me.

Maggie Gordon

The Witch Boy is a graphic novel aimed at younger readers, so the story and characters are a bit less developed than they could be. However, it tells an important tale. Aster is a young boy who wants to be a witch, but only women are allowed that role. He was be a shapeshifter despite having no talent at this type of magic, and his attempts at learning witch magic are met with anger and frustration. However, by embracing his true self, he manages to save his community from a powerful threat. What really stands out in this tale is the idea that gendered positions are imaginary. It's not that Aster is trans and should have access to "girl magic". He's a boy, but he's interested in a traditionally feminine field and the book shows that there's no reason for this gender division. Take away the idea that boy and girl as categories have such overwhelming implications for a person's personality and abilities, and people will probably be much happier.

mighty dragon 

Patricia Macías García

Es un cómic supercuqui y lo he disfrutado mogollón. El dibujo es superbonito y la historia tiene un mensaje genial. Eso sí, se me ha hecho un poco corto y el final muy precipitado: el conflicto se resuelve demasiado rápido. Pero vamos, que me lo leería 10000 veces y lo recomiendo un montón.

Ana Cob

Sophie 

This was a super cute graphic novel, with a magical and fantastical story of acceptance. I loved it

Flavia Louise

This was so incredibly cute. I loved the art and the soft story.

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Excellent middle grade - young adult graphic novel, grades 6 and up! Vibrant coloring, accessible panels and fully developed family lore introduce Aster, who is a boy in a family where only boys are shape-shifters and only girls are witches. His skills in witchcraft notwithstanding, his deep desire to be a witch is ridiculed and actively discouraged by his parents, sister and cousins. He has to secretly listen in on the witchcraft lessons the girls in the family get and has to put up with the rough and tumble games the boys concoct to hone their animal tendencies. About at the end of his ability to deal with being judged and told no by everyone important to him, he makes a friend in the human suburb nearby and finds acceptance just when he needs it the most. As his boy cousins start to go missing in the woods after a trial shape-shifting night with the fathers, a family mystery involving a missing magical relic and his grandmother's exiled twin brother set the stage for a coming of age tale where Aster has to decide whether to give in to his family's rules or define himself.

One of my daughter's (14 years wise) favorite quotes is "Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." No idea how to find the source of this, very much a social media-instagram sort of thing. In any case, this is what this book is all about, being true to oneself even when the people you love and should understand you best can't hear your truth. Persevere. Step outside norms and conventions and family myth. Find the courage to revise definitions that don't match who you are inside. Be "psychologically patriotic" is the message of this graphic novel, a great term I found in the book "Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength" by Laurie Helgoe. A great read for any adolescent or adolescent in waiting.

Toni Turner

This story is so sweet and it has that fun creepy flair that middle grade is so good at adding.

Fiona Coffey

Kirsty

I really enjoyed this story. It's in the form of a graphic novel which I really liked. The artwork is gorgeous and it sounds strange but the font was really fun! I was, however, expecting it to have more magically element but I'm guessing that'll come in later books.

A Quiet Little Library

Alexandra P

A great middle grade graphic novel that teaches you to be yourself even when people say you’re meant to be something else.

For use in schools and libraries only. 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.

Renee Delcourt

I think this is a book my sons, nieces, and nephews would enjoy and read. I am so thrilled to see a book that represents so much without being in your face. This graphic novel has a great t message behind it and I kind of love that they have built a series from it. I will be checking out the sequels.