The Okay Witch

Emma Steinkellner

5/5 Black Cats

Moth lives in Founders Bluff, Massachusetts with her mom. The pair run a second hand store passed down by Mr. Laszlo, who passed away a few years ago. Moth has never felt normal and the bullying doesn't help. It isn't until the new kid, Charlie, comes along that things begin to look up for Moth.

When bullies mess with Charlie, an infuriated Moth feels something happening with her hands. Suddenly, those bullies mouths are in her hands! Moth goes home in a panic, where her mother tells her that she comes from a long line of witches... The witches chased out of Founders Bluff all those years ago by the powerful Kramer family.

Against her mother's wishes, Moth pursues more knowledge about her ancestry. She steals her mother's diary, which allows her to actually travel back in time to when the witches were banished. Throughout the story, Moth learns about more than her heritage: she learns about love, friendship, acceptance, and her inner power.

Yet another graphic novel I absolutely love! Reading this story was like getting transported back to my two favorite places in the world: Salem, MA and St. Helens, OR (where Halloweentown was filmed). I wish I had saved this book for Halloween, but I couldn't wait that long to read it - I was just too excited.

I enjoyed so much of this novel, and I really think students could benefit from it, too. I have a feeling the Salem Witch Trials are no longer taught because they're "outdated," but I think a lot of students could benefit from reading about them, and I think this novel will peak that interest. This novel is so much more than a fun Halloween read, it's a story about acceptance and understanding. It's a story about family and friendship. We're not all witches, but we can all relate to Moth's feelings. This is one of those graphic novels that the English major side of me wants to dissect for all the deeper meanings. I think if I did so, I'd find a lot more than meets the eye.

Suggested Pairing (Graphic Novel) - Pumpkinheads - Rainbow Rowell

Suggested Pairing (YA Novel) - Hocus Pocus - Disney Books

Suggested Pairing (Movie) - Halloweentown