The Witch's Hand: (A Graphic Novel)
Starred review from July 1, 2020
Grades 8-11 *Starred Review* Readers might be excused from thinking they accidentally picked up the middle installment in a series, thanks to Page and Shannon's immersive storytelling in this series starter. We meet the titular twins, orphaned teen detectives Al and Pete, as they're wrapping up the mystery of a missing dog and enjoying the fruits of their labor (i.e., the reward money). As they traipse around Port Howl on a sunny day in the summer of 1969 with their friend Charlie, daughter of David, the professor who took the twins in, they encounter a mysterious box that imparts ghostly visions and investigate the disappearance of Rachel Bradford, daughter of the most powerful man in town. Meanwhile, the twins and Charlie undertake magic lessons from Rowan, David's grad student, and Pete wrestles with how to share a secret. Shannon's amiable artwork, in loose expressive lines and a warm palette of rich color, sets a charming, occasionally spooky scene, and that charm is in compelling contrast to some of the darker elements to the story, such as a legacy of violence in Port Howl, lingering prejudice, and the dangers inherent in a myopic view of history. Hints at a complicated institution of magic and questions about the twins' parents point toward adventures to come in this fantasy-mystery series with impressive depth.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
Starred review from June 1, 2020
An adventure set in a New England town in the summer of 1969, a time period well referenced in the art and text. Twin brothers Alastair and Peter Montague are surprised when their summer activities move from rescuing the dog of Roger Bradford--business mogul and descendant of Port Howl's colonial founders--to becoming embroiled in a mystery packed with action, suspense, and magic. The boys live with David, a professor; his truck-driver wife, Shelly; and the couple's daughter, Charlie. After harrowing experiences involving a decrepit lighthouse and a robed, hooded figure with a clawlike hand, the three teenagers are determined to figure out what evil is lurking below the surface of Port Howl. When David learns what they are up to, he enlists his prot�g�, Rowan, to help him reveal to the twins their unusual history--and to teach them and Charlie how to use magic responsibly. Meanwhile, Bradford's daughter, Rachel, engages two friends in scrying--with scary results. The full-color illustrations in nostalgic tones evoke classic comic book art. The artwork is emotionally expressive, enhancing the characterization. Humor and character development abound along with thoughtful musings as the novel skillfully entwines its subplots into a tale that ties up every loose end by the time the United States has had its first successful moon landing. One character's coming out is handled sensitively. Main characters are white; Rowan and a secondary character present as people of color. Riveting. (Graphic mystery. 12-18)
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