Witches of Brooklyn

June 1, 2020
When a young girl comes to a new home, her family's magical secrets are unveiled in this graphic-novel series opener. When 11-year-old Effie's mother dies, she is taken to live with her elderly, snarky, fashion-forward aunt, Selimene, and her partner, Carlota, in Brooklyn. Until Effie's music idol, Tily Shoo, arrives with an incurable curse, Effie thinks her aunts are herbalists and acupuncturists. Secretly, they're also witches! Is Effie a witch too? Magic or no magic, Effie learns there's power in finding one's true self and that the path to happiness comes from serving others. The full-color illustrations mix warm earth tones and enticing pastels to create a realistic, comforting world. Clever embellishments, such as floor plans detailing the nooks and crannies of Selimene and Carlota's house, expand the setting and encourage readers to linger. Leaning heavily on speech-bubbled dialogue and avoiding narration, the text uses an assortment of fonts and line weights to convey emotion and develop characters in tandem with the illustrations. The relationships among Effie and her aunts are nuanced and distinct, with humor to spare. Effie's backstory is vaguely constructed, but the specificity of her current story compensates for this minor flaw. Visual elements hint at Effie's probably mixed (Asian/white) heritage; both aunts have gray hair and fair complexions. Supporting characters are depicted with a variety of skin tones and hair colors/textures, although specific cultural markers are seldom provided. A mixture of everyday adventures and enchanting fantasy, this lighthearted story will delight readers. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

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July 1, 2020
Grades 3-6 After Effie, recently orphaned, is left at the suburban home of her two estranged, elderly aunts, she wants nothing to do with them. A little compassion, humor, and quiet magic soon win her over, though, and after settling in and making friends at her new school, Effie's own latent powers manifest, leading to the discovery that she, like her aunts, is a witch. When Tily Shoo, a Taylor Swiftesque pop megastar, comes to them in need of a magical skincare remedy, it takes the charm and skill of all three witches to save the diva's day. In her graphic novel debut, Escabasse establishes a wonderfully cozy suburban fantasy, rooted largely in the crabby spunk and sly magic of Effie's lovable aunts. Slightly exaggerated character features?and brisk pacing?lighten the tone considerably, with bold linework, soft pastels, and dynamic lettering contributing to a distinctly appealing style. A charming middle-grade take on Sabrina the Teenage Witch that only scratches the surface of this new series' enormous potential.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

July 20, 2020
When 11-year-old Effie’s mother dies, she is given into the care of her elderly aunt Selimene and partner, Carlota,
acupuncturists and herbalists living in Brooklyn. At first angry and hurt, Effie rails against the women but is soon won over by their big personalities and rambling home, visually detailed in satisfying bird’s-eye view cross-sections. Lucking into a pair of good friends on her first day of school, Effie is settling into her new life when her favorite pop star secretly comes to the house, looking for help. Through this arrival, Effie discovers that her aunts’ healing methods veer into the magical and begins to realize her own magical powers. Escabasse’s character design stands out, particularly wonderfully distinct faces and variously shaped bodies that populate a stylish, boldly colored world. Though initial exposition and character relationships feel rushed, each individual displays a unique personality, and the straightforward plot allows for a focus on evolving relationships. A warm story of found family and healing that stands on its own while setting the stage for further adventures. Ages 8–12. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)■

December 18, 2020

Gr 4-7-After the untimely death of her mother, 11-year-old Effie is sent to live with her old aunt Selimene in Brooklyn, to the initial displeasure of both. Aunt Selimene allows Effie to believe that the business that she and Aunt Carlota run out of their home is rooted in herbalism, but the two women are actually witches. Despite many clues, this realization comes slowly to Effie, who is preoccupied with settling in, bonding with Selimene and Carlota, and making friends in her new school. Things become clear when, late one night, pop star Tily Shoo shows up at the house seeking a cure to a curse that's made her face turn red. Effie discovers what Selimene and Carlota are really up to-and some exciting truths about herself. This gentle fantasy tale offers magical excitement and high stakes that never become frightening or dangerous. Escabasse shifts from intricate spreads fleshing out the setting to character-centric sequences, often packed with humor and outsize emotions. Highly expressive lettering brings dialogue to life. Effie's trajectory is satisfyingly positive, as she moves from grieving to finding a comfortable place in her new home and kind friends. Effie, Carlota, and Selimene have peach skin; Effie's hair is black, and Selimene and Carlota's is gray. The way Effie and Carlota's eyes are drawn, along with a few frustratingly vague background details, seems to indicate that they are Asian, but their race is not explored in enough detail for readers to gain full clarity. VERDICT Hand to readers looking for a cozy fantasy like Eiko Kadono's Kiki's Delivery Service or Katie O'Neill's The Tea Dragon Society.-Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY

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