Orla doesn't want to stay long in Haresden, the town where her grandmother, Mamo, was the resident witch. But when Jo, whose mother is suffering from some magic affliction, asks for Orla's help, the two girls discover there's something deeper at work, and Mamo is more present than anyone can know. Milledge spins an immersive tale of magic, secrets, and cooperation in lush, luminescent, and sun-dappled artwork that cultivates a vivid sense of place, and that place is key to the folk magic both Orla and Jo must decipher. Orla, especially, wrestles with the unusual nature of her own magical skills and her troubling upbring with Mamo, a controlling woman who didn't appreciate or value her granddaughter's differences. Milledge's artwork nearly steals the show here, with flowing landscapes, expressive gestures, and charming character designs pecially all the animals, which have a Miyazaki-like flair. Still, the engrossing mystery touched with a gentle queer romance will keep those captivatingly illustrated pages turning. Hand to teens who like their magic systems on the earthy side.

The Witch of Haresden is dead.Orla O'Reilly, a practicing teen witch herself, is cleaning up the mess: The woman in question is Mamo, the grandmother who treated her cruelly. Her bones are buried around the perimeter of town, leaving Orla stuck with the responsibility for it. Strange natural events are wreaking havoc, and if she doesn't give Mamo a proper burial, her worst nightmare could come true: being cursed to stay in Haresden forever. But when prickly Orla meets bold, determined Jo Manalo, who needs help to free her mother from a sleeping spell, things begin to change. Jo adores her family as much as Orla resents hers, and she insists on joining the friendless Orla as part of her own quest to save the town she loves and never wants to leave. While the characters are a bit thinly fleshed out, they're charming to follow as they make their way through a gorgeously illustrated world. Intoxicating art, combining natural and fantastical elements and rich, glowing, perfectly chosen colors sweep readers up in magic that feels just this side of possible. Milledge's attention to detail is especially present in her character designs that are expressively human and stylish. The lessons Orla learns about trauma, love, and legacy resonate and build to a satisfying ending. Jo and her family are cued as Filipino; Orla and Mamo read White. Both girls are queer.A fantastical journey worth taking. (cover gallery, sketches) (Graphic fantasy. 14-18)