Hello LGBTQIA+ fam and allies!

How are you doing? Have you managed to attend any LGBT events locally yet? Me and the bf are still on the fence as to whether we’ll attend pride this weekend, but we’ll figure something out that we can do to support the community and have fun.

My first LGBT read of the month Cosmoknights (my review here if you’re catching up) was amazing, so I was super excited for more great reads. My next pick was The Witch Boy (The Witch Boy #1)  by Molly Knox Ostertag.

The cover and blurb really stood out to me despite not knowing this author beforehand. I love anything fantasy, and adding mystery and danger to the mix seemed like a winner, so I took a copy from the library and dove right in!

On to the review!

Blurb

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.

GoodReads

Amazon

***Brief disclosure***

I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a tiny commission for purchases made through the Amazon links in this post at no cost to you. It’s a great way to help me keep things running on my blog if you’re already intrigued enough to make a purchase. 

The Review

I absolutely adored this MG graphic novel!

In this fantasy adventure we follow Aster, a young boy raised by a magical collective of families. For as long as they can remember, boys have always shifted and girls have always performed magic, but Aster knows he has magic inside of him, the kind the girls are always using. As a mysterious force thrusts the families’ adolescents into danger, Aster must come to terms with his true nature and find the strength to thwart the evil threat.

I think what worked best for me was our MC Aster. He’s an introverted kid that’s going through puberty, and naturally everything is confusing. I remember feeling the same way growing up, so it wasn’t hard to resonate and cheer for him as he struggled and sorted things out. I thought he was a great hero with intelligence and a sound, rational mind, someone younger readers could look up to.

The world this was set in was so cool! This little colony of magical families is set just outside the reach of the normal human world, and I loved the easy to understand magic system and the little secrets within. I had to know everything!

Plotwise this book had it all. Magic, mystery, and a little dollop of mayhem. A core theme of this novel is questioning gender roles, and I think it made some great points while keeping things light and fun. Pacing was great and moved quickly like I prefer, and I honestly have no complaints about this great work of fiction.

If you’re looking for a light LGBT read for you or your youngster, this is the perfect pick!

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this book review. I hope you enjoyed it!

Have you read this book? Are there other similar books you’ve read that you simply have to gush about? Feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to start a conversation!

Have a great day!

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