Spell on Wheels (2016), Volume 1

July 1, 2017
Grades 9-12 When a thief steals some of their most powerful magic objects and sells them on the black market, three savvy witches use their varied talents to track down their belongings and figure out who's trying to cut off their powers. Jolene, Claire, and Andy could ask for help, but instead, they climb into a convertible and take a road trip with stops wherever they sense the presence of their stuff. This makes for a fantastic episodic structure, where each stop gives the trio an opportunity to fight bad guys, meet good guys, crack jokes, show off their skills, and uncover more clues about their foe. Leth's story playfully sends up classic witch tropes and injects her three characters with plenty of moxie. Levens' and Louise's artwork, meanwhile, eschews stereotypical figures and renders the characters with a refreshingly wide range of skin tones and body shapes. With smart protagonists, sturdy friendship, and a plot twist touching on the dangers of toxic masculinity, this wry, entertaining caper will please teens and adults.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)