Embedded Files
Secondary Character
Secondary Character
Representation
Representation
Nonbinary secondary character identity.
Summary
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.
Student Reviews
Trigger Warnings
Trigger Warnings
Blood
Toxic masculinity
Violence
What parents need to know
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Witch Boy is a fantasy graphic novel that explores issues of diversity and identity. Compelling but not scary, the book follows a boy as he experiments with "women's magic." Aster endures some bullying, but it is more psychological than physical. And there's no mature content to worry about.
Author Info
Author Info
Molly Ostertag is an Igntaz- and Prism-Award winning graphic novelist, 30 Under 30 Forbes scholar, and a writer for children’s TV animation. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she writes for animation. Notably, she wrote the GLAAD-nominated and Peabody Award Winning episode Enchanting Grom Fright for the Owl House.
Her middle-grade graphic novel debut, The Witch Boy, came out in 2017 from Scholastic, and is being adapted into a feature film by Netflix. It’s followed by the sequel The Hidden Witch in 2018 and NY Times bestseller The Midwinter Witch in 2019. Her latest book, The Girl From The Sea, debuted as a #1 YA Bestseller on June 1, 2021. She is currently serializing a new YA graphic novel, Darkest Night, on her newsletter.
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