Howdy Dowdy Readers!

Lately I’ve been a little overworked, so I recently took a mental health day off to focus on some me time. Naturally some of my time was spent reading, and I finished Shakti by SJ Sindu & Nabi H. Ali.

This MG graphic novel has been on my TBR for a while, and KoboPlus had a free copy, so I couldn’t resist giving this a go.

Let’s see how it went!

Blurb

A fierce, feminist, and fun middle grade fantasy graphic novel about a twelve-year-old Indian American girl named Shakti who must learn the power of her ancestral magic if she wants to save her family and town from a dangerous curse. Written by Stonewall Honor Book recipient and Lambda Literary Fellow SJ Sindu and illustrated by Nabi H. Ali.

Shakti is used to being the new girl at school. She and her two moms have moved more times than she can count. With her unborn baby brother on the way, Shakti hopes her family has found their forever home in Amherst, Massachusetts, and that she can finally make friends. On her first day of seventh grade, she meets Xi and they bond over their shared passion for manga (and pizza with mayo). But the three meanest girls in school—Harini, Emily, and Kelly (aka “HEK”)—are determined to make life miserable for Shakti and her new friends.

When Shakti and Xi discover HEK casting spells in the woods, they fear what might happen to the other kids at school. Drawing on ancient Indian magic, Shakti seeks the aid of Durga Ma to stop HEK. But instead, Shakti accidentally conjures Kali Ma, the destroyer—Durga Ma’s dangerous twin. Kali Ma punishes HEK by transforming them into monsters and curses the entire town. As more and more people begin to fall ill, including Shakti’s mom, will Shakti be able to harness her own strength, power, and empathy to save those she loves—and put an end to all the hate?

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The Review

I adored this middle grade graphic novel!

Young Shakti is upset that she is the new girl at school again. Her family moves around a lot and she finds friends in the outcasts at school. However, the teachers’ behavior is odd, and when she and her friends investigate they find that the bullies are casting spells in a nearby forest. Can they stop the troublemakers from wreaking havoc on their town?

First and foremost, I have to give credit to the cultural aspect of this graphic novel. It delved into mythology that was intertwined with the magic system and felt both exciting and seamless.

The art was phenomenal and each page was easy to read. I blazed through this in no time because it was all so beautiful and well executed.

Shakti and her friends were great main characters. Shakti’s journey has her struggling with the anger in her heart at the bullies, and her friends were very supportive, making the perfect found family for Shakti.

The plot didn’t waste any time. It moved at a fast pace and covered themes of bullying, found family, and doing the right thing no matter the cost, something I think even adults can learn from these days. From front to back, this book is a must read if you like magic and an unforgettable coming of age story.

That’s A Wrap!

Well that’s it for this graphic novel review. If you like what you see, please consider leaving a tip!

Have you read this graphic novel? Are there similar ones 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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