After fighting the darkness that consumed his great-uncle, young witch Aster must now help him heal.In this sequel to Witch Boy (2017), Aster's family has agreed to let him become a witch and take classes with the girls. His grandmother offers to help him with his studies in return for a favor: He must help remove the dark magic from her brother, the evil Mikasi, who has transformed into the beast who nearly destroyed Aster's family. Outside Aster's magical compound, his friend Charlie is trying to befriend the new girl at school, Ariel. Living with a foster family, Ariel has been bullied in the past and harbors deep distrust and resentment. When a darkness similar to Mikasi's begins to overtake her, will Charlie and Aster be able to help Ariel in time? Although Aster has gained his family's acceptance to learn magic forbidden for boys, his defiance of gender and social constraints is still in the forefront here; along a similar vein, his cousin decides that he wants to stop practicing shape-shifting altogether, defying the familial dynamic. Themes of bullying are also deftly explored, with Ariel both a victim and a bully. Ostertag's sophomore effort is every bit as wonderful as its predecessor, with continued strong worldbuilding, lovely large and bright illustrations, and its approachable and diverse cast that runs a true-to-life spectrum encompassing white-, tan-, and dark-skinned characters as well as same-sex relationships. Aster's biracial (black/white), Charlie's black, and Ariel's Latinx.An absolutely bewitching sequel. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

In the sequel to The Witch Boy (2017), Ostertag continues the story of Aster, the boy who chooses to be a witch, a role traditionally held by girls. Aster is continuing his studies, but he feels like he has a lot to learn, so he agrees to be tutored by his grandmother in exchange for helping with her brother, Mikasi, the beast who attacked Aster and his cousins. He's also dealing with a dark and serious magic that has attached itself to his friend, Charlie. Will he be able to help Mikasi without losing himself? Will Mikasi end up helping Aster in return with the dark magic surrounding Charlie? Ostertag's illustrations are vivid and vibrant and showcase the degrees of magic in beautiful, rich tones. The panels are well positioned, making it easy to follow the story. In her dynamic artwork, the detailed scenes spanning across pages showcase the richness of her world building. A great comic for magic fans and those who want to read stories about others who buck the trend.

Witch-in-training Aster (The Witch Boy) and his grandmother secretly work to heal his great-uncle Mikasi, who's stuck in dragon form. Meanwhile, Aster's non-magic friend Charlie clicks with new girl Ariel, who can't control her magic. The graphic novel's thick black outlines help the muted autumnal colors pop, and varied lettering, balloons, and panel styles add energy and depth. Dialogue and visual cues reveal moments of tension and connection, and world-building is spot-on.

After fighting the darkness that consumed his great-uncle, young witch Aster must now help him heal.In this sequel to Witch Boy (2017), Aster's family has agreed to let him become a witch and take classes with the girls. His grandmother offers to help him with his studies in return for a favor: He must help remove the dark magic from her brother, the evil Mikasi, who has transformed into the beast who nearly destroyed Aster's family. Outside Aster's magical compound, his friend Charlie is trying to befriend the new girl at school, Ariel. Living with a foster family, Ariel has been bullied in the past and harbors deep distrust and resentment. When a darkness similar to Mikasi's begins to overtake her, will Charlie and Aster be able to help Ariel in time? Although Aster has gained his family's acceptance to learn magic forbidden for boys, his defiance of gender and social constraints is still in the forefront here; along a similar vein, his cousin decides that he wants to stop practicing shape-shifting altogether, defying the familial dynamic. Themes of bullying are also deftly explored, with Ariel both a victim and a bully. Ostertag's sophomore effort is every bit as wonderful as its predecessor, with continued strong worldbuilding, lovely large and bright illustrations, and its approachable and diverse cast that runs a true-to-life spectrum encompassing white-, tan-, and dark-skinned characters as well as same-sex relationships. Aster's biracial (black/white), Charlie's black, and Ariel's Latinx.An absolutely bewitching sequel. (Graphic fantasy. 7-12)

Gr 4-6 In this adventurous sequel to The Witch Boy , Aster is finally allowed to learn witchery alongside the girls in his family, while his best friend Charlie is excited by the prospect of a new friendship at (nonmagic) school with shy, guarded Ariel. But mysterious happenings pick up quickly when Charlie is visited by a malevolent spirit and when magic meddles in her first basketball game. Meanwhile, in return for extra lessons, Aster helps his grandmother heal the monster who endangered his life and who, deep down, is also his great-uncle Mikasi. Ostertag skillfully develops the setting and action while tackling topics such as friendship, jealousy, bullying, and identity. Themes of embracing differences and the long-term effects of intolerance carry over from the previous installment, as readers are introduced to a diverse, expanding cast. The bold art is inviting; clear-cut, brightly colored panels with warm autumnal tones keep scenes moving and shift into muted shades to enhance the creep factor. Depictions of Mikasi's dragon-esque form and foreboding shadow shapes are the perfect level of spooky for the target audience. VERDICT An exciting continuation of Aster's supernatural journey, whose coming-of-age messages will resonate with middle graders. Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal