Quirky. Awkward. Self-conscious. These are all character traits that I love reading about in middle grade books. The Okay Witch features Moth, who is quirky, awkward, and so unsure of herself. She is an outcast and when she discovers that she is half-witch, she thinks she has finally found something she is good at and will be valued by others. I really enjoyed the mom-daughter relationships and the history of the witches. My sixth graders will be wanting to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for sharing this copy with me in exchange for an honest review!

The Okay Witch was the perfect pairing of history and present day. This graphic novel had the perfect mix of historical fiction and present day teen angst. I loved seeing how the witch story traveled time and space. Learning that you are a witch and then learning how to use your powers can be tricky, but add in the fact that you are turning 13 at the same time...well, that's just rough! I think kids will love The Okay Witch from start to finish!

Wow. This packed way more of a punch than I was expecting! Moth is a 13 year-old girl growing up in a coastal town in Massachusetts. She feels kind of out of place and doesn’t really have any friends, but she goes along with life anyway. When learning about the witch hunts that took place in town in the late 1600’s, something strange happens to Moth. Running home to tell her mother, she learns that she is from a family of witches! Moth wants to learn as much as she can, but her mother forbids it. You can guess how well that goes.

Moth is a person of color, which is awesome. The characters come in a variety of shades and ethnicities and sizes. We also have a gay couple that is seen as sweet and does not slap the inclusion of LGBTQ+ in your face, which is appreciated. (Including an LGBTQ+ character in a story just to tick off a box is not great, nor is pointing a big blinking neon arrow at it saying “Look at what I put in my story!” Making it a plot point and/or completely normal is the way to go, as far as I’m concerned!) We also see some effects of single parenting.

The story goes along and feels pretty light, and then we get some more intense plot. And then we get some real intense plot that I was not expecting! Some scenes feel a little Sabrina-ish, but that is totally okay. (Like a mixture of the tv show and the Netflix series, but without the devil bits.) There are some things that are a little tropey, but that’s also okay. Some tropes are there because they made good stories! (And especially for juvenile materials, because maybe the reader hasn’t encountered those tropes yet!) The artwork is awesome! And there are some characters who I feel like I’ve seen them before, mainly the play director. I don’t know if this is a stand-alone or part of a new series, but it works either way, and I look forward to more from this author!

4-4.5 stars

I really loved this graphic novel! The graphics were pretty good, although in this ARC, only the first few pages were colored. But I saw enough to know that I will enjoy them when they are all colored. I also liked how much "story" there was in a "simple" graphic novel. It's a good story and is full of fun, humor, heart, and magic. I know my middle schooler would definitely enjoy this story. I'm looking forward to the final release of this book.

This book was so good! I loved the witch story, but more than that, I loved the family and friendship aspects of the book as well. Bonus points for POC and LGBTQ+ representation. I will be purchasing this for my library, and I hope there is a sequel planned!

The Okay Witch is more than 'okay,' it's great. Moth is such a relatable character with struggles with her mom, feeling like an outsider, and just trying to discover herself. The parallels of mother/daughter relationships across the Hush family really brought home what it truly means to be a 'good witch.' I would recommend this to fans of the original Sabrina (this follows more in that fun vein than the newer run) and Raina Telegemeir. A great read for graphic lovers of all ages. I certainly hope we're going to see more from Steinkellner and the Hush family, I especially look forward to more Mr. Lazlo.

This was a really fun graphic novel about a girl who has never quite fit in, learning she is so much more than she ever thought...she’s a witch. This is both a blessing and a curse, as there is a history of terror in her community, and people always thought of witches as a bad thing, or at least something to be laughed at. But Moth Hush will have to find a happy medium between the past and the future to truly have the life she wants. This was a fun middle grade read. The illustrations are spot on, but I think the colorist needs to tone down all the dark colors. Many illustrations are had to discern one item from another because they are so dark. When my galley copy switches to black and white it is much easier to get the background of what is going on because you can actually see it. The final book is supposed to be in full color and I bet it will be amazing, as long as the colorist can keeps the pop colors used through much of the beginning.
#NancyDrewChallenge #Ghostinstory

Really cute story about discovering your family past and how you work into that. I look forward to more books in this series. The illustrations were perfect for the story.

This was such a fun read. The artwork is beautiful. My absolute favorite part was Mr. Laszlo, (leaving dead mice on the doorstep of the people he loves haha) he made me laugh out loud more than once.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It tells the story of Moth, a young girl who feels unexceptional. She has no friends, until a new boy, Charlie, moves in to town. This town was once the setting of a witch trial (back in the Puritan Days) and they celebrate the banishing of the witches with a play and carnival each year. One day at school, Moth accidentally performs magic, and discovers that she is descended from the very witches who were banished from the town all those years ago. Her mother has been keeping this from Moth. Can Moth develop her magical talents despite her mother's objections? Read to find out!

Moth Hush has never fit in her small town. It’s okay because she has her mom, but she wishes she could make a friend or at least finally fit in enough to stop getting picked on by her peers. Everything changes on one glorious Halloween. Not only does she make a friend, but she discovers that she’s a witch! Coming into the magic she didn’t know runs through her family is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to her. Unfortunately, her mom swore off magic before she was born and doesn’t want to teach Moth a thing. In fact, she has a no magic rule. Falling face first into very real centuries old witch hunt, things quickly get out of control and she comes into her own right in the middle of it all.

I’m a huge fan of all things witches so I was very excited when I saw this book because it sounded cute, inspiring, and right up my alley. I was not disappointed because Emma Steinkellner had me glued to every page and ready to see what happens next. I love Moth as a character. She doesn’t fit in and she’s lonely, but she marches to the beat of her own drum and doesn’t let it get in the way of her interests.

The storytelling and artwork go hand in hand and tell a beautiful story about a 13-year-old girl finding who she is at an age where everyone is still confused about who they are and who they want to be. Moth is extremely relatable, and I think that any kid who has been picked on or bullied can see a piece of themselves in Moth. I love that she’s outspoken, thoughtful, and makes mistakes along the way.

Alongside Moth is a great cast of characters ranging from her mom and new friend to a helpful ghost and a group of witches who just want fellow witches to be safe and happy. I love the way that Moth’s family history, which is tied into the true history of her small town, are presented and explained through a series of flashbacks. I was so absorbed in the story at this point that my phone rang, scaring me, and I was waiting for that call when I started reading!

At its core, this is a story of friendship, family, and compromising rather than trying to force love ones to do what one thinks is best for them. I loved seeing Moth and company become a strong unit as she comes into her own and finds the confidence and strength to help and save the people she loves. I absolutely love the story and the artwork and I am looking forward to reading more of Steinkellner’s work in the future.

The Okay Witch is a fun, charming story of Moth, a 13-year-old girl who has just discovered she has magical abilities. The story - like all good witchy books - is set in fall in a small New England town with a long history of witch hunting and prejudice on both sides. This is a delightful coming-of-age story that deals with family, mother-daughter relationships, prejudice, and self-acceptance. Tweens and teens alike will find this a fast, entertaining read. Perfect for fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Halloween Town Disney Channel Movies.

This graphic novel was so wholesome and cute!! I will definitely be reading the sequel (if there is one - fingers crossed!). Check it out if you like MG stories about witches and familial drama.

This is a graphic novel about a girl named Moth. When she turns 13 she has a "magic" experience that she finds out happens to all witches when they turn 13. This revelation that is a total surprise to her. Her mother, also a witch, turned her back on the witch community and refuses to use magic. Moth's grandmother is head of all witches, and wants Moth to come live in the witch world and leave the human world that hunted them (and apparently still hunts them) behind. When the long-standing feud between the witches and the founding family of their town turns into a fight between ghosts and witches, Moth finally figures out who she wants to be. I like that the witch-hunter family also sees the error of holding grudges. The book contains a whole story - a nice change of pace from graphic novels whose entire first book is character intro and no plot. This moves quickly with lots of action, and will be a big hit with reluctant readers.

100% fell in love with this book, the characters, the art, the story, EVERYTHING!! This is definitely one to have in your collection. It's lighthearted but delves into family and history and prejudice and perspective. I can't wait to see it finished in color!

This graphic novel is meant for a middle grade audience and is about a girl that is just trying to be herself in a town and school of people that just won't accept her. Then she finds out that she is also a witch... how cool is that?

Moth is hilarious, she knows herself and she knows her limitations and abilities and is really trying to just survive her life when she finds out that she has so much more potential. The problem is, the town is stuck in the dark-ages and she has to be careful. Moth is a bit stubborn and can get into trouble pretty easily.

This graphic novel’s story was interesting and had a lot of drama points to keep the reader interested. Moth has to deal with finding her powers, the problems the cause, a weird town that still lives thinking about the witch trials, a mother that won’t explain things, and a grandmother who happens to live in another realm. So there is a lot going on here, but Moth is true to her age as far as attitude and wants and she is portrayed well.

I think that some of this story was a bit weird for me to handle, the blend of reality and fantastical was hard to accept, but the illustration was fun and bright and I think that MG readers will love this character because she is relatable and the world is different and interesting.

Review link will be live closer to release date.

eARC provided by NetGalley

The story of a newly-powered witch out of water who is unsure of what she wants to become. Moth Hush comes from a long line of witches who have been in hiding as they've been persecuted by the town founders. Her mother attempts to hide her powers, but when confrontations come to a head, moth and her mother must decide if there is a side they should join. Filled with fun and themes that all middle-grade students can identify with, Okay Witch starts the series off well.

Although it's a graphic novel, I did not see a finished color copy. I look forward to getting a physical copy.

A lovely graphic novel adaptation that is engaging with lovely lines and story arc. I would definitely recommend this title to my students and my friends!

I loved every second of this story, and the ending was captivating. I devoured this story, and absolutely fell in love with the artwork. Their facial expressions were so full of emotions and the story line was beautiful. The ending, especially, was incredible. The only thing I didn't love was how the Mayor just apologised and that was (sort of) the end of that. That being said, his part of the overall story wasn't the point, and so I didn't have too much of an issue with it. I loved this story so much and cannot wait to purchase it once published.

ARC copy generously provided by publisher and author. The opinions expressed in this review are purely my own!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel! The main character is very likeable- and relatable- I mean, who didn't dream of waking up one day and having magical powers as a teenage girl? I know I did! So our MC discovers one day that she comes from a line of old witches who, while escaping persecution, were let into this alternate universe within the goddess Hecate. Our MC has powers, like her mother, but said mom does NOT want her to learn because it could also mean trouble. Being the brave girl that she is, Mothke (the MC) seeks magic anyways. With her familiar (an adorable black-cat who also happens to be the recently deceased owner of the thrift shop that M's mother inherited), she commences on her quest to learn magic.

What I like about the book is that it also touches upon topics such as bullying, first love, and racism- but in a way that is relatable to juveniles and easy to understand. I will definitely be suggesting this book to readers.