English 6+ summary One look at me and you know I hail from the land of potatoes: Ireland (and Scotland). But the aspect I most love about my Celtic heritage? It’s that we invented trick-or-treating of course! Samhain, All Souls Eve & Day, Halloween. They’re all basically about the same thing. The veil between the…
Tag: magic
The Last Cuentista
English & Spanish 10+ Science-Fiction Space Dystopia Folklore Storytelling Donna Barba Higuera Cover by Raxenne Maniquiz summary Latinx Heritage Month may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean that our reading lists should be any less packed with amazing Hispanic & Latinx creators. Today I have an awesome sci-fi read for ages 10…
Season of the Witch & Tarot for Kids
English 6+ summary If you’re like me, not only is there an entire Spooky Season, but it’s a full-on lifestyle. Season of the Witch is the perfect history book to settle in with when I want to learn more about our witchy global past. When the weather gets hotter here in western MA, I long…
The Insiders
English & Spanish MG LGBTQ Friendship Bullying Queer Friendships Latinx Family Moving New School Fantasy/Magic Mark Oshiro summary Ahh middle school. Hormones, moving to new schools, wanting to look cool…secret rooms that respond to your needs? Maybe not for all of us, but for Héctor and his new middle school this seems to be the…
The Wild Ones & a Love of Dessert
English YA Feminism Sci-Fi Fantasy BIPOC Narratives Anger Chosen Family Magic Love CW: Mentions of assault Nafiza Azad summary This. Book. Is. Everything. When a publicist got in touch and told me about The Wild Ones, I was instantly hooked. A roving band of girls that weaponize their screams in retaliation for the times they’ve…
Waking the Mountain
English 4-8 years Environmental Activism Social-Emotional Learning Magic Nature Sustainability Fantasy Marina Fonseca & Lisa Junius summary Waking the Mountain follows a magical land that used to be lush and green, but isn’t any longer. Ethereal illustrations show a journey across many broken lands, and some humanoid figures that want to restore the landscape. The…
Sweet & Bitter Magic
english MG & Up fantasy witchcraft LGBTQ+ relationships magic adventure Adrienne Tooley summary This is a great fantasy novel with LGBTQ relationships (normalized throughout the society), and most importantly, the strife experienced doesn’t come from homophobia but from dark magic. Tamsin is an incredibly powerful witch, but was banished for using dark magic to save…
the year i flew away
read along with us! English & Haitian Creole MG & Up Marie Arnold Cover Artist: Geneva Bowers want a copy of your own? Family Immigration Fantasy Magic Racism Fitting In Social-Emotional Learning Own Voices summary: This book stressed me out in the best way possible. Main character Gabrielle is given the opportunity to leave her…
Root Magic
Written & Illustrated by: Eden Royce For ages: MG Language: English & some Gullah Topics Covered: History Own Voices Magic Police Harassment Summary: If a book is about magic and/or witches, I’m definitely reading it. Root Magic is a beautiful blend of ancestral connection, growing self-confidence, and addresses racism and police harassment in addition to other…
Witches of Brooklyn
Written & Illustrated by: Sophie Escabasse For Ages: MG Language: English Topics Covered: Family, Adoption, Magic, Fantasy, Graphic Novel. Summary: Late one night, 11 year old Effie is handed over to her elderly aunt by protective services. Her mother has died, and spitfire Effie now finds herself in Brooklyn with two elderly women who are…