Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
Published: 2020
Genres: YA Graphic Novels; LGBTQ+
Audience: Middle School/Middle Grade
Trigger Warnings: bullying, witchcraft, animal deaths, domestic violence (brief)
Summary (from Goodreads):
Kat Leyh’s Snapdragon is a magical realist graphic novel about a young girl who befriends her town’s witch and discovers the strange magic within herself.
Snap’s town has a witch.
At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a Crocs-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it's kind of cool, too.
Snap needs a favor from this old woman, though, so she begins helping Jacks with her strange work. Snap gets to know her and realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic—and an unlikely connection to Snap’s family’s past.
Review: This charming, heartwarming story is geared toward middle-grade readers, but it is packed with characters and themes and content that anyone of any age can connect with. Struggling readers should find it accessible, too, as Leyh weaves her tale mostly by way of her illustrations. The text/dialogue that is used isn’t overly challenging, but that doesn’t mean this story is simple and not worthy of reading. Just the opposite. Snapdragon, the protagonist, is likable and unique. As the cover suggests, “you can find friends in the strangest places…,” and Snap does just that. Leyh also manages to work in a few twists and surprises to keep the reader intrigued. This is a tale of friendship, but it’s also one of love and acceptance and finding the power to be ourselves. I give it five stars!
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