Brooms is a fascinating graphic novel that explores themes of disability, queerness, and indigenous identity. The diverse representation of characters is a refreshing take and adds rich depth to the story and the art style is aesthetically pleasing. However, the dialogue can be overwhelming at times, and the story can be hard to follow. The ending seems a bit rushed, but overall, Brooms is worth reading for those interested in representation in graphic novels and would be a perfect read for the spooky season in October.

This book had me tearing up! The author and the illustrator did a fantastic job of creating an inspiring but heart-wrenching story. Luella endured so much and still gave everything she could for her family. The girls showed such strength and love when dealing with such horrible people and laws. That ending was so hopeful and beautiful. I highly recommend this!

The plot of BROOMS is pretty straightforward, but it tackles some big topics that have impacted queer BIPOC communities both historically and in the present day. The story is ostensibly talking about magic, but even the language around the magical arts make it clear that this story is really about social power and restoring a sense of community within and among marginalized groups.

While the story handles that heavy lifting well, where it really shines are the characters. There are six main characters, four of which really stood out for me. The two children didn't feel as fully developed as their older counterparts, but that may just be a result of the fact that they're somewhat sheltered from the bigger issues at play. All of the romances are sweet and subtle. While the systemic issues that all of the characters face are front and center, the characters are more than allegories for the issues they face... and the magic is awesome. Visually, there are a couple of truly stunning spreads, and I was reading it on an itty-bitty screen due to the limitations of the program I had to work with, so I can only imagine how beautiful it will be in print.

I was able to read this comic as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I highly recommend this one. It's definitely going on my running list of books that include nuanced, respectful depictions of trans characters.

Brooms makes a painstaking effort to approach each character thoughtfully and respectfully. There is wide representation of people in the margins who are too often erased. I loved that actual history was woven in with the magical elements to ground this story in a real time and place, even if much of it was fantastical. Coming from a generation that grew up with images of witches and magical academies looking a certain way, it was refreshing to see other versions of magic and passing that down to other generations.

By the end of the book, I felt like I had a solid view of each character, but it took time to get there. I wish I could have felt more connected to the characters sooner than I did. Once I did have that sense that I could see the characters for who they are, I was hooked. This is a beautiful and complex story and I can't wait for my students to have a chance to read it too!