Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse
Published by Random House Graphic on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0593119274
Pages: 240
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads

This graphic novel, the first in a new series about a family of witches in Brooklyn, is delightful. The illustrations are lush and colorful and the aunts, Selimene and Carlota, are fantastic (yay for older queer representation). When Effie is dropped on their doorstep upon the death of her mother, a much-younger step sister of Selimene, the two women are surprised, but they roll with the new addition to their family. Effie is seamlessly woven into the lives of these supportive women. And Effie, surrounded by magic, sees her own magic awaken. It is refreshing to see adults support a child and take her seriously and answer her questions. They also give her  space to try things and to problem solve.  When a beloved pop-star appears on the aunts’ door with a magical problem, they attempt to fix the curse. Working together, they get to the bottom of the curse and counter the ancient magic (a book from the aunts’ extensive library points the way to the cure). Effie makes new friends, whose stories will hopefully be explored further in future books, and she learns that she can appreciate the work of an artist without liking the artist herself; an interesting side note to the story. Readers of Okay Witch or Witch Boy will fall in love with Escabasse’s witchy family as will readers of more realistic graphic novels. This is a book to savor and will be a much-circulated series.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth