The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner
I have to be both a witch and a person.
 | It’s Halloween and thirteen-year-old Moth Hush has given a lot of thought to the costume that she will wear to school. She decides that she will definitely be a witch. Black dress. Pointed hat. Nothing unusual about that. The girl who doesn't fit in decides that a traditional Halloween costume is a great way to assimilate. Maybe not. While trying to help the new kid in school, she discovers that she has extraordinary powers. Her mother confirms that she is, in fact, a witch. Moth learns that she comes from a long line of witches, both her mother and maternal grandmother are witches. I’m a witch... Everything finally DOES make sense. I always thought I was just weird. Local lore tells of a witch colony that disappeared centuries ago. Each year students reenact the story. In a strange twist of fate, Moth the costume assistant and her friend Charlie assume the roles of their ancestors in the production. Will they follow the script, or will they choose to reject the town’s traditional witch mythology and create a new reality? |
There is ongoing tension between generations of women in the Hush family. Grandmother flees from an oppressive community and creates a new protective world. Mother rejects this exclusive society of witches and chooses to live among humans, never using or speaking of her latent powers. Moth is intrigued by her newly discovered identity. She wants to learn more about herself and her magical abilities.
 | This wide-eyed thirteen-year-old navigates the perilous life of middle school while simultaneously exploring Hecate, a witch’s realm existing in a parallel universe. It's new and exciting but strange and frightening. When history collides with the present, old wounds are reopened and past injustices exposed. Three generations of witches. Three manifestations of Hecate: maiden, mother, crone. Three different perspectives on the practice of witchcraft. Mothers try to protect daughters. Daughters seek to break away and create a new life. Who is right? Magic is an integral story element. Moth explores the past by jumping into her mother’s diary with a cat who is the reincarnation of a family friend and benefactor. Moth's mother, who appears ageless, reveals that she was born in 1675. Mommy looks a lot younger than she actually is. And it's not just because she moisturizes regularly. |
This graphic novel can be enjoyed on several levels. The Okay Witch is an entertaining story of a girl discovering her true nature. It's a fascinating examination of the mother-daughter dynamic. Readers will also find similarities to historical accounts of early New England witchcraft.
The tale is chock full of delightful tidbits: references to classic movies " I don't think we're in Massachusetts anymore," clever asides "I don't do 'safe.' You've seen me eat expired yogurt,” and interesting visual clues. It will take several readings to catch all the goodies Steinkellner packs into every page.
While the book is marketed for middle grade readers, it has wide-range appeal. Libraries will want to feature this comic in Halloween book displays. Classroom teachers searching for a fresh fictional companion to the study of Salem Witch trials can ditch the well-worn play and add The Okay Witch to the curriculum. It would also make a thought-provoking selection for mother-daughter book clubs.
Steinkellner's graphic novel debut is smart, quirky, and clever.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 3, 2019 Publisher: Aladdin ISBN: 978-1534431461
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