Starred Review The third installment of the Witch Boy series revolves around the Midwinter Festival, where Aster's extended family gathers each year for a magical competition. He decides to enter the contest meant for witches fectively his public coming-out party spite the lingering discomfort and hostility of certain family members. Meanwhile, Aster's new witch friend Ariel has become a ward of his family, and she struggles with accepting their love, especially when her estranged aunt attempts to lure her away by poisoning her self-esteem. Here, Ostertag proves once more that she is among the brightest stars in a young generation of storytellers who speak the truth of today's youth. These are thoughtful, nuanced stories, concerned with common personal and interpersonal struggles that have gone largely unrepresented. Instead of the traditional black-and-white tales of good versus evil, Aster's adventures involve sympathetic people driven by relatable, human forces that shape their choices and relationships r better or worse d along the way they model a philosophy of understanding, compassion, and empathy that readers of any age will benefit from. All of that without feeling heavy-handed, and the craftwork is on-point, too, with smooth pacing, endearing characters, gripping plots, and clean, colorful, expressive artwork. Hand this series to fans of Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe) or Noelle Stevenson (the Lumberjanes series) in search of similarly affirming, fantastical fiction of quality.

This third graphic novel about the taboo-breaking male witch Aster (The Witch Boy, rev. 11/17; The Hidden Witch, rev. 3/19) finds him attending a midwinter gathering in a charmed mountainous setting. He's joined by friends Ariel (who has a history of dark magic and no knowledge of her biological family) and Charlie (who has no magical abilities). When it comes time to compete for "Midwinter Witch," a coveted role traditionally reserved for girls in the clan, both Aster and Ariel face challenges of identity, truth, and belonging. In the panel illustrations, colored with bold and lush hues, subtle glances between characters often reveal their inner thoughts and tensions, while dialogue provides narrative support to readers. Visual symbols add depth; squiggly figures inside word balloons represent the characters' magical language, and the shapes of the balloons convey tone of voice. With clear and effortless references to past installments, without too much distraction from the main narrative, this is a strong addition to the series.

Gr 3-6 In this conclusion to Aster's journey, things seem to have settled down for the witch boy and his friends. While friend Charlie and cousin Sedge attend regular nonmagic school, orphaned witch Ariel attends magic lessons with the Vanissens and is learning to control her powersomewhat. Just as she's getting used to the idea of a newfound magical family, Ariel starts having dreams: realistic visions of a long-lost aunt who is searching for her and who claims that magic is to be stolen, not shared. These dreams follow her to the Midwinter Festival, a Vanissen family reunion that includes notable magic competition the Jolrun. Aster dreams of competing as a witch, but some of his family members still don't approve. As the festival continues, friendships are strained, secrets are kept, and a surprise appearance by a villainous figure puts everyone in danger. But Aster and his friends show up for one another when it counts, embodying the possibilities of young friendship and found family through tough times and misunderstandings. Though more subdued than its counterparts, this graphic novel is a strong cap to a delightful series. A folksy palette of forest greens and browns interspersed with bursts of warmth captures the frosty outdoors and the group's cozy cabin evenings. Though newcomers will enjoy this title, those familiar with the first two entries will most appreciate the plot references and the development of each character's arc. VERDICT A heartwarming, wintry adventure that series fans will love. Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal