Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Graphix (2017), Edition: Illustrated, 224 pages
Description
"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.
User reviews
LibraryThing member krau0098
I really enjoyed this first book in the Witch Boy series. The illustration is colorful and easy to follow. The characters are engaging and the story intriguing. It’s a graphic novel that’s great for all ages.
Aster keeps sneaking and snoping to listen into his sister’s lessons on witchcraft.
I enjoyed the characters, the magic, and the tone to this story. It was a fun and hopeful read. I also really enjoyed how it addresses stereotypes and forces the reader to confront them. There is a lot in here about family and friendship...of course there are also evil demons, magic, and action. It all made for a very nice blend.
Overall I really enjoyed this a lot and would recommend to those who enjoy fantasy graphic novels with a focus on family, friendship, and celebrating differences. I plan on continuing this series and recommend this book for readers of all ages.
Aster keeps sneaking and snoping to listen into his sister’s lessons on witchcraft.
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Problem is Aster isn’t supposed to learn witchcraft...he’s supposed to be a shapeshifter. Aster ends up using witchcraft to help some of the other kids and forcing his family to confront his differences.I enjoyed the characters, the magic, and the tone to this story. It was a fun and hopeful read. I also really enjoyed how it addresses stereotypes and forces the reader to confront them. There is a lot in here about family and friendship...of course there are also evil demons, magic, and action. It all made for a very nice blend.
Overall I really enjoyed this a lot and would recommend to those who enjoy fantasy graphic novels with a focus on family, friendship, and celebrating differences. I plan on continuing this series and recommend this book for readers of all ages.
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LibraryThing member sashame
so ostertag isnt the best author, thats fine. there r some kinda bad inconsistencies in the plot, but thats also fine.
but. ostertag's central conceit abt gender and magic screams "trans narrative" so loud its impossible not to hear. this would've been fine--it would've even been amazing--if the
the protagonists' character arc basically ends with "sometimes boys do girl things, but r they even girl things? mb boys and girls shouldn't have segregated activities!" this is a fine (if tepid) feminist moral, but completely destroys all of the initial setup suggesting that this was a trans narrative.
to have the author indicate "this protagonist is AMAB and trans" over and over again for the first 2/3 of the book, only to backpedal at the end saying "oh no he actually is a boy he just liked girly things, that doesnt make him a girl", is insulting and aggravating. i wouldnt call it transphobic necessarily, but it echoes the language of TERFs
ostertag is either disrespectful towards the trans xp, or wildly oblivious, or had a rly awful editor/consultant. or mb some combo of those.
that said, its still a fun story
but. ostertag's central conceit abt gender and magic screams "trans narrative" so loud its impossible not to hear. this would've been fine--it would've even been amazing--if the
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book went on to explore the trans narrative itself, or some analogous version of a trans narrative. the main conflict w the "demon" SEEMS to revolve around gender at first, but inconsistent motivations and plot holes undermine the significance of the conflict and its resolution.the protagonists' character arc basically ends with "sometimes boys do girl things, but r they even girl things? mb boys and girls shouldn't have segregated activities!" this is a fine (if tepid) feminist moral, but completely destroys all of the initial setup suggesting that this was a trans narrative.
to have the author indicate "this protagonist is AMAB and trans" over and over again for the first 2/3 of the book, only to backpedal at the end saying "oh no he actually is a boy he just liked girly things, that doesnt make him a girl", is insulting and aggravating. i wouldnt call it transphobic necessarily, but it echoes the language of TERFs
ostertag is either disrespectful towards the trans xp, or wildly oblivious, or had a rly awful editor/consultant. or mb some combo of those.
that said, its still a fun story
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LibraryThing member lycomayflower
I found this YA graphic novel a little disappointing. The art was good, and I liked the premise of the story: Aster, a teenaged boy, is part of an extended family in which all the men are shapeshifters who fight demons and all the women are witches with access to powerful magic. But the time for
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Aster's first transformation has passed and he shows no sign of ever shifting; whats more, he's fascinated by magic and shows some skill at it. Trouble is, no one will let him practice magic and everyone warns him that a man doing magic will lead to disaster. I am, like, *gimme hands* for this plot, but the execution left me wanting for more. The world building felt a bit incomplete, and in the end I wanted a little stronger sense of what the story was telling me. Generally speaking, it was pro-diversity and pro-being-yourself, and those things are excellent. I just didn't quite feel like the whole thing gelled. Absolutely worth the read though, and if the premise sounds like your bag, I'd give it a go. Also, very possibly, the audience it's aimed at might be less "but what does this fantasy story stand for in the real world?" about it and enjoy it just fine. :-p Show Less
LibraryThing member Herenya
I loved Ostertag's illustrations for Sharon Shinn's graphic novel Shattered Warrior, so I was curious about her solo debut.
In Aster's family, girls become witches and boys become shapeshifters. But Aster shows no signs of becoming a shapeshifter and, even though everyone discourages his interest in
This is a solid, diverse story about being different and finding acceptance. I would have stronger feelings about it if the artwork’s aesthetic had appealed to me more. I didn’t dislike it, there are artwork styles that are a lot less to my tastes, and it’s only the colour palette (and the worldbuilding) that’s different from Shattered Warrior... but I didn’t love it, either? Graphic novels are not my preferred mode of storytelling, so maybe I’m just not very interested if I don’t love the artwork.
In Aster's family, girls become witches and boys become shapeshifters. But Aster shows no signs of becoming a shapeshifter and, even though everyone discourages his interest in
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witchery, he keeps learning in secret. When some of the boys go missing, he has a chance to use his skills to help his family and to prove to them that this is who he's meant to be.This is a solid, diverse story about being different and finding acceptance. I would have stronger feelings about it if the artwork’s aesthetic had appealed to me more. I didn’t dislike it, there are artwork styles that are a lot less to my tastes, and it’s only the colour palette (and the worldbuilding) that’s different from Shattered Warrior... but I didn’t love it, either? Graphic novels are not my preferred mode of storytelling, so maybe I’m just not very interested if I don’t love the artwork.
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LibraryThing member eduscapes
THE WITCH BOY by Molly Ostertag is a middle-grade graphic fantasy about magic and individual differences.
Aster has grown up in a world where girls learn magic and boys become shape-shifters. As he reaches maturity, Aster realizes that he wants to learn magic even though it’s forbidden in his
Librarians will be drawn to messages of inclusion and courage. Middle-grade children will enjoy the high-quality color illustrations and fast-paced story. Use the absorbing story, world-building, and well-developed characters to draw in new graphic novel readers.
Published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic on October 31, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Aster has grown up in a world where girls learn magic and boys become shape-shifters. As he reaches maturity, Aster realizes that he wants to learn magic even though it’s forbidden in his
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society. Encouragement from an outsider, helps him gain the courage to trust himself and face his fears.Librarians will be drawn to messages of inclusion and courage. Middle-grade children will enjoy the high-quality color illustrations and fast-paced story. Use the absorbing story, world-building, and well-developed characters to draw in new graphic novel readers.
Published by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic on October 31, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
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LibraryThing member villemezbrown
An examination of gender roles is nicely wrapped up in a supernatural adventure with demons, shapeshifters and witches. Fun characters and a snappy pace keep it from feeling like a heavy-handed Afterschool Special.
LibraryThing member emeraldreverie
Excellent story about expectations and assumptions and listening. Very queer. Delightful art with warm vibrant colors.
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Aster is born of a magical family where all the women practice witchery and all the men are shape shifters. Aster is about the age when he should start learning how to shape shift but the problem is he's not interested. Furthermore, he is obsessed with witchcraft. But that's wrong ... isn't it?
This
The illustrations are nicely done and fit the text well.
This
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was a good read, with decent world-building, mystery, and adventure. It's perhaps just a *tad* too heavy-handed on the moral about gender roles and not being constrained by what's considered "right" for your sex. But, that does seem to be a lesson many still need to learn, so it is unfortunately needed. One question I have is that all the magical people seem to belong to the same family, which makes me wonder if this is some sort of quasi-incest situation or if that part of the world-building wasn't fully thought out. The family is rather diverse though, so perhaps there was at some point a bit more genetic material to go around. There is a sequel already to this book, so perhaps further information will come to light. The illustrations are nicely done and fit the text well.
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LibraryThing member rspsreadinglist
Aster is a young boy in a family of witches and shapeshifters. Women are witches, and men are shifters. However, Aster has not yet felt the pull of an animal spirit to shift and is drawn to witchcraft even though he is forbidden from learning it. When the other boys start to go missing, Aster uses
I enjoyed this graphic novel and its story about finding your own path, and the harm that can come from being too rigid in what is considered right for certain groups of people. It introduces the concept of gender nonconformity with a focus on gender roles in society and is not at all didactic.
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his unique talents to save them even though it is forbidden. I enjoyed this graphic novel and its story about finding your own path, and the harm that can come from being too rigid in what is considered right for certain groups of people. It introduces the concept of gender nonconformity with a focus on gender roles in society and is not at all didactic.
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LibraryThing member kittyjay
The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag is a bright, colorful story about a magical family that fights demons. The men of the family use shape-shifting to fight, while the women are powerful witches who mainly protect the home through spells and scrying. The main character, Aster, feels different from the
The artwork in Witch Boy is simplistic, but colorful and cheerful; each character is carefully and lovingly rendered, and the mysterious being stalking the boys of the family is delightfully creepy and intriguing. The characters are given their own personalities and supported, though some of the girls in the family are not given a chance to shine. Aster himself is wonderful, expressing the frustration he feels at being misunderstood by his family and heartbreaking disappointment in himself for disappointing his parents.
The story was solid and ended on a completed note, despite the #1 in the title - thank goodness! I hate stories that are "to be continued...". This wraps it up nicely while still allowing the story room to grow.
Definitely worth a look!
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rest of his family: he has never shape-shifted or found his "first form", and he's more interested in witchcraft than shapeshifting. Surrounded by the disappointment, confusion, and outright cruelty by his family regarding his "abnormal" interests, Aster finds a neighborhood girl who is curious about his powers and supports his interest in witchcraft. When Aster's cousins begin disappearing, taken by a mysterious being, Aster's interest in witchcraft may be the only thing that can save them.The artwork in Witch Boy is simplistic, but colorful and cheerful; each character is carefully and lovingly rendered, and the mysterious being stalking the boys of the family is delightfully creepy and intriguing. The characters are given their own personalities and supported, though some of the girls in the family are not given a chance to shine. Aster himself is wonderful, expressing the frustration he feels at being misunderstood by his family and heartbreaking disappointment in himself for disappointing his parents.
The story was solid and ended on a completed note, despite the #1 in the title - thank goodness! I hate stories that are "to be continued...". This wraps it up nicely while still allowing the story room to grow.
Definitely worth a look!
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LibraryThing member lquilter
My 9yo got this from the amazing Odyssey Bookshop readers subscription, devoured it instantly, and turned around and re-read it. She wanted to give it "25 million" stars but settled for the maximum, "5". Her review follows:
"I like the characters. I could totally know them (but they would perform
I couldn't get much more out of her, because she wants to keep re-reading it.
"I like the characters. I could totally know them (but they would perform
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magic or shapeshift)." ... I couldn't get much more out of her, because she wants to keep re-reading it.
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LibraryThing member AliceaP
The Witch Boy serves as a basic introduction to the characters and their world. The boys in Aster's family have started going missing, so he decides to buck against tradition and learn the magic needed to find his cousins and stop whatever is hunting his family. Major themes: gender norms,
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nefarious plots, finding your way, and being authentically yourself. 5/10 from me as I found it predictable and slightly boring. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
Graphic novel from the creator of the amazing Strong Female Protagonist, about a boy from a family in which women are witches and men are shapeshifters. But what happens when a boy wants to learn spells instead? Nice take on gender nonconformity, especially since he doesn’t seem to experience
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bodily dysphoria—there are many ways to be different. Show Less
LibraryThing member fred_mouse
This is an absolutely adorable middle-school graphic novel about the arbitrariness of binary gender roles, and what can happen to people who don't fit within them. Initially, I thought it was going to be about a trans child, but my final conclusion is that it was a bit more nuanced than that.
LibraryThing member lydia1879
I liked this a lot!
I really enjoyed both the art style and the beats in the story. I liked Asher's character, I thought the colours were bright and the message overall was very thoughtful and sweet.
However, uh, the representation of First Nations people and sacred imagery / stories like spirit
I might send her an email and ask, who knows.
I do like the themes explored, it was a super readable comic and great if you like the Tea Dragon Society by Kate O'Neill, Princess, Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill, The Prince's Dressmaker by Jen Wang, all of those lovely graphic novels.
A solid effort, but I'm not sure if I will continue with the next volume.
I really enjoyed both the art style and the beats in the story. I liked Asher's character, I thought the colours were bright and the message overall was very thoughtful and sweet.
However, uh, the representation of First Nations people and sacred imagery / stories like spirit
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animals and shape shifting left me feeling a certain type of way. I don't want to speak on it, as I am not First Nations and really not an authority on those topics at all, but I do hope that Ostertag utilised sensitivity readers to explore these themes in a way that benefited and celebrated all parties. I might send her an email and ask, who knows.
I do like the themes explored, it was a super readable comic and great if you like the Tea Dragon Society by Kate O'Neill, Princess, Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill, The Prince's Dressmaker by Jen Wang, all of those lovely graphic novels.
A solid effort, but I'm not sure if I will continue with the next volume.
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LibraryThing member bookbrig
(Charlie was my favorite.)
LibraryThing member holdenkillfield
I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the continued journey of Aster and his family. This is a great read with a clear plot, thoughtful characters, and an interesting climax and revelation at the end. I really enjoyed the artwork, and the dialogue had a great pace and wasn't stunted
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or generic. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
A tale of being yourself while trying to conform to your family's magic.
LibraryThing member LibrarianRyan
This title is used in many books that I have read, but this may be my favorite. This story follows a boy that wants to be a witch, instead of the shapeshifting demon hunting man he is supposed to become. He has always been drawn to magic, and just can not stop doing it. If only his parents would
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understand. This book has made its way to a few banned books list. It’s a transgendered allogory. The family believes boys do boys things and girls do girls things. They can not change positions. This story is wonderful and heartfelt. I loved it and I can not wait to read the next two. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maryjojojo
Cute, obvious metaphor for a transgender youth. Ending was very rushed and there's a major plot hole, but the artwork was very sweet and the characters were well developed and likeable.
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Magic based adventure that doubles nicely as a trans-identity (or really any gender restriction) conversation in the making -- so I really liked that, and the art, a lot. I also appreciate that it's not a super internal book -- this one is all about the action of the story.
Things that trouble me a
1) It's very transparently a story about gender identity. I like that, but it's a big hammer.
2) The plot lines are confusing, and the resolution is, too. There's this really big gender divide. When pressed, reasons given are safety due to the unfortunate fate of an ancestor/ tradition! In resolution, haha turns out it was all just Grandma not wanting to share with her brother all this time. No tradition, no real stricture, never mind. Also it's Grandma lecturing her children on how they should have a more open mind, when she's the one who started this tradition in the first place? Eh? What now? Ok, I read it again, and it looks like there was an older tradition, which seems to be a power play by the witches to keep the shifter men from dominating.... and the more I look at it the more confusing and dysfunctional it seems, so I'm just going to go back to -- I liked it. Good story, good pictures. Don't overthink it.
Things that trouble me a
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teeny bit: 1) It's very transparently a story about gender identity. I like that, but it's a big hammer.
2) The plot lines are confusing, and the resolution is, too. There's this really big gender divide. When pressed, reasons given are safety due to the unfortunate fate of an ancestor/ tradition! In resolution, haha turns out it was all just Grandma not wanting to share with her brother all this time. No tradition, no real stricture, never mind. Also it's Grandma lecturing her children on how they should have a more open mind, when she's the one who started this tradition in the first place? Eh? What now? Ok, I read it again, and it looks like there was an older tradition, which seems to be a power play by the witches to keep the shifter men from dominating.... and the more I look at it the more confusing and dysfunctional it seems, so I'm just going to go back to -- I liked it. Good story, good pictures. Don't overthink it.
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LibraryThing member atreic
Another cute, beautiful Molly Ostertag graphic novel. Aster is a boy who is drawn to witch-magic, which is only for girls. He learns to trust who he is, and saves his friends from a demon-beast that is trying to corrupt them.
They're like good chocolate, they never last long enough!
They're like good chocolate, they never last long enough!
Awards
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2022)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2020)
Blue Hen Book Award (Nominee — 2020)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — 2019)
Cocheco Readers' Award (Winner)
Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (Selection — 2019)
Excellence in Graphic Literature Award (Finalist — 2018)
Three Stars Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grades — 2020)
CYBILS Awards (Winner — 2018)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017
Physical description
224 p.; 8.9 inches
ISBN
133808951X / 9781338089516