About the Book
-
Authors:
- Jasmine Walls
- Teo Duvall
- Genres:
- Fantasy
- Graphic Novels
- Historical Fiction
Cover Story: What You See Is What You Get
BFF Charm: Best Witches
Talky Talk: Own Voices
Arty Art: Grounded
Bonus Factor: Disability Representation
Factor: Residential School
Relationship Status: Betting On You
Cover Story: What You See Is What You Get
Every member of the Night Storms team (and the husband of one of them) is represented, as well as a smaller shot of them flying above the title.
The Deal:
In this alternate version of 1930’s Mississippi, magic is regulated by the government, which restricts its use by people of color. But for Billie Mae, a Black witch, and Luella, her Mexican Choctaw partner, illegal broom racing is their only hope of earning enough money to keep Luella’s teenage cousins out of residential school. Can they train the young girls to reach the full potential of their magic, or will the dangers of racing and the constant threat of being reported be too much for them?
BFF Charm: Best Witches
The Night Storms are understandably wary of white people like me, but I would definitely cheer for them if I saw them fly.
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
The main focus of the story is on the team as a family, rather than romance, but Luella and Billie Mae’s relationship is sexy and sweet. My favorite scene is the one where Luella prepares a hot bath for Billie Mae to ease her joint pain after flying practice, and they confide in each other about past and present pain while Billie Mae is in the bath. Also, their teammate Loretta has a husband who supports her broom racing despite the dangers, taking over the cooking so she can train.
Talky Talk: Own Voices
The dialogue is mostly simple and straightforward, with a bit of a Southern accent (“Sometimes you just gotta yell and throw rocks, long as they ain’t aimed at nobody”) to ground the story in its setting. Cheng Kwan and her parents switch between speaking English and Cantonese, and Luella and her Choctaw grandmother do the same between English and Chahta. The Cantonese and Chahta lines are untranslated; native speakers will understand, and non-native speakers can guess from the context. Several of the characters also use sign language; see Disability Representation below.
Arty Art: Grounded
I liked how realistic all the characters look, especially the women, compared to the impossible proportions I’ve seen in other graphic novels. Their skin tones, hair textures and body types are as diverse as their stories. As for the racing scenes, however – I’m not an artist and have no idea how to articulate this, but somehow they didn’t feel as dynamic or suspenseful to me as I expected.
Bonus Factor: Disability Representation
I’ve already talked about how different ethnicities and sexualities are portrayed, but I want to highlight the representation of disabled characters because it’s so subtle and respectful. Loretta has a leg brace on her broom because of limited mobility after a stroke. (You can see it on the cover. She’s the one in the yellow dress.) Billie Mae has chronic joint pain. One of the young Choctaw girls, Emma, is deaf and speaks in a sign language traditional to her people, with her sister Mattie translating for her. None of this prevents any of the characters from becoming excellent broom racers. Their loved ones accommodate their needs, but never try to hold them back.
Factor: Residential School
Luella, like many Indigenous children, was sent away to a residential school as a child. When she fought back against her abusive teachers, they drained away her magic. The loss still hurts her, but she hasn’t forgotten what her grandmother taught her. She passes on this legacy to her cousins, and fights fiercely for them to have a better future.
Relationship Status: Betting On You
You’re not for me, Book, but I believe you’ll mean the world to someone else who finds you at the right place and time.
Literary Matchmaking
Nick Tapalansky and Anissa Espinosa’s Cast No Shadow is another graphic novel with a magical twist.
Danie Sterling’s Crumbs also features a witch—and brooms!
Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis is a more realistic take on folks who are trying to be themselves in a world that wants them quiet.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. Brooms is available now.
