Hello Again!

It is August third and I have somehow almost finished five books this month already! I am honestly really happy with myself for being off to such a fabulous start to the new reading month. This month I decided I wanted to pick up a few more graphic novels and manga, I feel like I have a small stack building up calling for my attention. One of those is the newest Okay Witch! Last year, I read the first graphic novel in Okay Witch series as an E-ARC and I absolutely enjoyed my time with it. It was such a fun, cute, adorable, witchy graphic novel with an unexpected plot. So when I saw that there was going to be a second one I was absolutely in! I was super fortunate to receive an E-ARC of this second book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions (and honestly super excited for more witchy fun)! So without further ado, let’s talk about the next story in the Okay Witch series (and hopefully not the last)!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Moth is just getting started as a witch but unfortunately school is not going as great as being a witch in training is. Moth still has her best friend but she is constantly getting picked on at school and when she goes back to school after winter break and on the first day happens to be wearing the same sweater as a teacher, all the kids start to make fun of her over again. But when Moth visits her grandmother on Hecate she finds an item that starts to help her stand up to her bullies and be a bit more cool. Moth starts using the item a lot to help her solve her problems but is this new found helper, without consequences? Or is something really bad about to happen to Moth?

I really enjoyed getting to revisit Moth and everyone from the last book (and also a few new people)! In addition to the characters, I loved the little nods to Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the 90’s show), I was such a huge fan of this show as a kid, and in this second book the cat is watching a witchy show and it just felt like a nod to the show, it might not be but I absolutely loved it and it really made me want to hop onto a streaming service and watch some favorite episodes. I am really hoping there are more books in the Okay Witch series because I could read about Moth and her friends/ family for a long time to come (plus something more with her father could be really interesting)!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

P.S.I want to give a huge thank you to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

Thank you Aladdin Publishers and NetGalley for sending me a copy in advance.

I loved the sequel just as much as the first!! This book has Moth up to her same ways-causing mischief while trying to discover who she is and where she fits in the world. I love the focus on family and friends and being true to yourself. This book is a great fit for fantasy lovers, but all types of readers would enjoy this story.

Wow, book 2 was better than book 1. There are so many things kids will see themselves in. Whether it’s dealing with bullies, and the people that let bullies get away with bullies. It’s about learning to be and love yourself for who you are. The illustrations are just perfect.

I loved The Okay Witch and included it in several reading lists before. So to see a sequel-! I was very excited for this one.
The Okay Witch set the stage for the very unusual life of Moth Hush, giving the reader a rich world of magic to draw from. The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow dives us actually into her new life. Magic plays a role in Moth's daily routine, for better and for worse, but for the most part it's a solid story about school life, peer pressure, and dealing with growing up. Just add some magical hijinks that make those problems grow!
A great story, and a strong sequel that doesn't detract from the original story. An excellent read.

Moth returns in this lovely sequel to The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner. With the secret out about Moth's magic and family history, Moth and best friend Charlie try to navigate life after the conclusion of book one. The bullies are still bullying but this time Moth has some magic from her grandma in her back pocket. Too bad that magic is tied to a cursed history! I was thrilled to see that Steinkellner was back and back with Moth and crew. Her art and writing really are superb and I can't get enough. For fans of Hope Larson and Raina Telgemeier looking for a touch of magic, Steinkellner simply can't be beat.

I enjoyed this graphic novel although the intended audience is probably a bit younger than me. I gather the heroine has been introduced in another book that I haven't read but there was enough information to understand this without having that background. The heroine is a witch but the topics she deals with are relatable to a lot of people who ever were kids at school, trying to fit in and find their place in the crowd.. What if there was some magic trick that you could use to make yourself more popular, would you use it? What if it had some risks associated?

I liked the illustrations. and the characters are really expressive. I read this on a phone app but I think a larger screen or a paper book would be a better experience

I got a review copy from Netgalley and this is a voluntary review.

A fantastic follow-up to the first book, and perhaps even better. Moth has to deal with self-esteem issues after finding out she is a witch, and quash the temptation to use her powers to make her life better.

Moth just wants to fit in with the kids at her school. She is tired of being the outcast and being bullied. While visiting her grandmother, who is also a witch, she find a magical necklace that just might solve her problems!

I was very excited to read this book as I loved the first installment! While I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first, it was still a really good book! Can't wait to see what happens in the next one!

Thanks to Emma Steinkellner, Aladdin Publishing, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The follow-up to 2019's The Okay Witch takes on some big issues, and it's so good. We get a quick recap from Lazlo the Cat (if you don't remember him, or haven't read the first book yet, don't worry: he'll catch you up nicely). Moth and her mom are still hanging in there, and the racist and creepy jerks at her school are still... racist and creepy. Moth is stressed out, frustrated, and no one can quite understand; even her best friend, Charlie, isn't able to. The minute Moth pushes back against her tormentors, she's the one taking the heat and she's the one who "can't take a joke". Issues of race and equity take center stage here in a way that kids can identify with and understand; others will hopefully gain more of an understanding. Adults could do with reading this book, too; there's a moment when Moth chafes at having to attend a school founded by someone who tried to wipe out witches that really eloquently frames what I like to call "the great statue debate". 

I digress. Moth manages to get hold of a charm that contains a power to make Moth into the popular, funny, confident girl she wants to be - but we all know what happens when you get what you wish for, don't we? Great story, great artwork, characters you'll love (and love to rage about), and an altogether great graphic novel for middle graders who love fantasy as much as they love realistic fiction.

I thought this graphic novel was excellent. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is perfect for the middle-grade age group. I absolutely loved Moth and also had a soft spot for Mr. Gorski-Garcia. This is the second book in a series but luckily Moth's cat/friend gave a quick recap at the beginning which allowed me to follow the story.

It touched upon race and bullying in a very age-appropriate manner, which was very well done.

I would absolutely recommend this novel to any middle-grade reader, it's a quick, fun read.

"It's tempting to solve one's own problems with magic. It seems so simple. But there is a great danger to it. We risk losing ourselves in the process."

I really enjoyed [book:The Okay Witch|43822757] when I first read it, so I was thrilled to find out I was approved for an advanced copy of the sequel. Sometimes with graphic novels I worry that the sequel won't be as fantastic as the original, but this was definitely not the case with this one. We are met with the same loveable characters as the original: Moth, her mom, her grandmother, Sarah, her friend Charlie, and a host of other classmates that added to Moth's struggles of being a witch in the modern era. Moth is your typical 8th grade student: worried about having the right friends, wearing the right clothes, and saying the right thing. When the school bully, Pike, starts picking on Moth whenever he can, Moth takes matters into her own hands. Add in the fact that Moth's somewhat dorky English teacher is dating her mom, adding further ammunition to Pike's "jokes". She channels some magic to help her out, only it doesn't go as planned.

This was a delightful graphic novel and a fantastic addition to the story of Moth as she figures out how to be a witch. I will gladly read any additions to Moth's story. This is a fantastic graphic novel to add to middle school classrooms too: it's not too kidish but it's not too old for middle school readers either. I highly recommend for fans of graphic novels!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.**

TW: bullying

A ya graphic novel sequel that lives up to the promise of the first book. The okay witch series is about discovering who you are and finding your way as an outsider; this volume explores the temptation of changing who you are and giving in to (literal) tempting demons to get along with the mainstream. While I still wish the rules of magic were a little more fleshed out, the characters are great and the lessons are just as good.

I loved this book so much! Even though I have not read the previous book, “The Okay Witch,” I had no trouble catching up, thanks to Mr. Laszlo, who gives us a recap.

Firstly, I adored the storyline and thought it was superb! As someone bullied in school and found myself average, I always thought of possible ‘what if’ situations to quickly fix and famous with my peers. It was so exciting to see this portrayed in the tale, and I loved reading every page. The author provides a beautiful message on how to accept and love yourself, irrespective of your shortcomings.

Moreover, all the characters are simply adorable! Moth is terrific in the lead, and I loved her family and friends. Charlie always sticks by her side, and I adored their friendship. Mr. Gor-Gar is a sweetheart, and it was fun to see Moth’s reaction when she finds out about her mom. I also loved Peter and hope he has his spin-off series where he experiences the modern world.

Furthermore, the illustrations are also excellent! I loved the bright colors and tone used to give the story a special touch. The character’s expressions are unique, and I loved some of the emotions that characters express.

Probably the only thing I would have liked to see more of is Moth’s family history with her father. As I have not read the previous book, maybe we get more information there. I am going to pick out Book one to see how it all started!

Overall, “The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow” is my favorite graphic novel of 2021 so far, and I cherished every moment of it!

This book was a fantastic sequel. I fell madly in love with the first, and was so excited to hear about a sequel. Steinkellner has stunning art. Discussions of otherness and race were handled so well in this book, and I think this book should be used in classrooms to talk about story telling when it comes to character growth and discussions of history and our relationship to them. Can't wait to see more books with Moth Hush!!!

The second book in the Okay Witch series is about Moth Hush settling into her new life as a witch. I really enjoyed the intro, it was a very cute recap. The art is cute and the colors are brilliant. While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book, my students will be super excited to get their hands on this book. Everything about it will resonate with my students.

4 stars

A pretty cute story. This book was a bit more cliche than the first one. Still it was enjoyable and kids will definitely enjoy it.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I really liked the first one, but this one absolutely delighted me. The entire premise of the story is about wanting to change yourself, but learning to love yourself as is, which is a really powerful message to send, particularly to younger readers. On second thought, it’s a very powerful message for ALL readers!
The characters were well developed, the recap at the beginning was very helpful, and the art style is wonderful. The only thing I can even think about complaining over is that the story starts off a tad slowly, but it’s such a minor issue that I easily got over it. I got about half of the story in color before it switched to black and white, which is understandable for an ARC, but I can’t wait to see the whole thing in the vibrant colors that make such an impact!

I just love this series! I read The Okay Witch #1 last year and immediately fell in love with Moth. I was thrilled to continue learning about her journey as a teenage witch in The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow. Moth thought that everything would get easier now that she knows she's a witch. Unfortunately, middle school is still middle school, even when you're a witch.

Moth attempts to find a quick fix that will help her to be more like the popular girls. Her friend Peter shows her a necklace that is supposed to do just that. She soon learns that if something seems too good to be true, it probably isn't true. Moth now must face the Hungry Shadow who is trying to assume control of Moth's body.

Throughout this book, Moth learns some fantastic lessons about the importance of remaining to yourself and embracing your uniqueness. I hope there are more books to come in this fantastic series! Volume two releases on July 6, so you still have time to check out book 1! Overall, 5/5 stars!

Steinkellner does a great job with this Okay Witch sequel. Moth is learning more about her witch abilities and finding her place in school. She still struggles with not really quite fitting in all the time. She is tired of being made fun of and isn't sure how to handle it: ignore it and walk away or stand up to the monsters! That is until she discovers a charm at her Grandmother's party.
Moth has decisions to make. It's hard as a teenager to know the right thing to do, but being a witch adds a whole new element; use your magic or not?!
This story is about the battle of being yourself or being accepted and liked in middle school. It tells the story of who and what really matters.

I loved the first book, The Okay Witch, so I was very excited to see that Emma Steinkellner was continuing Moth's story. The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow is a wonderful graphic novel that presents a charming, and intriguing paranormal/fantasy world, but tackles big issues like racism and privilege while also delving into more introspective, personal topics like identity and self esteem.