When I first saw the cover of Witch’s Inheritance by Paige Hender I figured it was a Baba Yaga story (chicken-footed house) and the witches were going to be “the bad guys” or at least one “bad guy” witch and the rest “good witches.” That’s partly true.
There is a chicken house, good witches and some bad magical characters, but not as you’d think. The main character of the story has inherited her estranged mother’s family home from her unknown grandmother. She meets her equally unknown aunt (as in she didn’t know she had one) and an entire town that both fears and needs her and her magic. The only thing is, she has no idea how to perform magic. Secrets unfold, friendships and family ties are tested and coming of age hasn’t been this colorfully illustrated since the last graphic novel with bouncy, minimalistically detailed but popping colors I read. Things are clever, fresh, familiar and have a slightly surprised ending, though part of it is fairly obvious as well. It is a nice combination for someone like me who has read many graphic novels, coming of age stories and teen stories. But the ages it is aimed at will have a fresh experience.
The story is a unique combination of complicated and straightforward pieces. While I think strong ages 10 and up can read this, it might be best for the 12-13 and up crowd due to some violence, blood, and a few other trigger potential moments, some of the content might not be for the sensitive reader.
