October has begun and Halloween seems to be everywhere! It is the month of ghosts, goblins and witches. Today we are sharing a book about witches however it is not really a Halloween book. It is a graphic novel about growing up and finding one's way. The book is Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom by Jessixa Bagley. It is recommended for ages eight to twelve.
About the Book:
“Whimsy abounds in this playful” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) middle grade graphic novel about a young witch who struggles to fit in—perfect for fans of The Okay Witch and Hooky!In her town full of witches, Jazzy’s always been a little bit different. She’s not excited about magic. She forgets the steps to spells. And even though her parents run the town’s broom shop, she doesn’t want to fly.
Then, one day, she discovers what she was born to do: cycling! Now she just has to find a way to get a bicycle…and learn how to ride it. But will her new passion come between her and her best friend—and possibly get her in big trouble?
From Me:
Jazzy is a young witch who is not sure how she truly feels about being a witch. She is not good at her spells or practicing them. This year in school is the year when her class begins flying. Jazzy doesn't really care about flying but knows her family does. Her mothers and grandmother are the broom makers in their witch town. Jazzy discovers she loves riding a bicycle and dreams of racing. Instead of practicing her flying she secretly rides the bicycle she made thanks to her magic. Her best friend at first supports her but gets frustrated since Jazzy keeps putting down being a witch and talks about wanting to do nonwitch things. When it is the night before the big parade Jazzy begins to freak out and meets an older witch who shares her own story about falling in love with painting and using the passion from painting to learn to fly and be a witch. Jazzy finds her passion and courage to admit to her family that she doesn't know how to fly. They are not surprised and share their stories with her. She finds her passion and is able to find her way to flying and hopefully a balance between her love of cycling and being a witch.
This is a fun story. I find it so interesting how witches are used in a way that can relate to everyday life. These witches want to help people and make the world better. I also love how some of them struggle at first to find their magic. Jazzy hears from her mothers and grandmother about their own struggles. It is similar to real life in the way that we all struggle at times and have to figure out what we are passionate about to find the power to do what we need to do. It is the same for Jazzy.
This book is a fun read for October but really is meant for any time of the year. It is the first book in a series. I can see kids enjoying reading about witches and also relate to Jazzy and her struggles. I love that it is multicultural and teaches a lesson about finding one's own way in life as well as using your passion to drive you forward. There are so many great messages as well as just being a fun story kids will love to read.
