Unfamiliar

September 5, 2022
In this quirky graphic novel by Newsome, originally a webcomic, humble young kitchen witch Planchette couldn’t be more excited about her big move, until she discovers that her new, giant skull-shaped home is haunted. Together with her rabbit familiar, Winston, Planchette sets off to recruit help evicting the spectral squatters. While exploring town, she meets skittish witch Pinyon and her bird familiar, Ari, who agree to assess the situation. But when Pinyon’s attempts to exorcize the ghosts result in her fearful retreat, she and Planchette turn to website Witchyhow for advice. As the two try myriad methods to expel the ghouls to varying degrees of failure, they worry that Planchette’s home will be haunted forever. Newsome’s worldbuilding cleverly toes the line between sweet and eerie, and the creator’s playful, exaggerated cartoonlike style handily conveys the more harrowing story elements—such as lovers torn apart by murder and the young twins who haunt Planchette’s house—in a way that feels cozy and warm, despite the ghosts’ tragic ends. Most characters appear white. Ages 13–17.

September 1, 2022
Planchette the witch tries to rid her new house of ghosts in this debut graphic novel based on the author's popular webcomic. Planchette and her rabbit familiar, Winston, got a great deal on a new place, probably because it's haunted. Planchette is just a kitchen witch--she's excellent at food magic--so she needs help with an exorcism of her new house. Searching the town for assistance, Planchette meets fellow witch Pinyon and her bird familiar, Ari, but Pinyon isn't great at exorcism magic either, despite coming from a family of powerful witches. Thankfully, they run into grumpy loner Sun and pink-haired, half-siren Babs with her cyclops cat, Marlow, who complete their new group of friends. Together, the witches try various ways to help the ghosts in Planchette's new home move on to the next life, along the way solving their own problems, like curses and tense family dynamics. Planchette and friends are immediately intriguing, drawn with expressive, cartoony eyes and quirky, charming designs. Newsome takes advantage of the graphic format to land countless visual jokes and imbue the world with personality and whimsy. All human characters have light skin although they vary in hair color. Wide-eyed characters spellbind in this cute and cozy tale. (character designs) (Graphic paranormal. 12-18)

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November 1, 2022
Grades 7-12 Planchette is an adorable kitchen witch who moves to a new home that is totally haunted. She optimistically goes into town looking for new friends to help her exorcise her home and meets Pinyon (who is not very good at magic), as well as Sun and Babs. Sun is a cursed, friendless shopkeeper and Babs is a lonely, reclusive siren who does not like being the center of attention. While helping Planchette clear her home of ghosts by easing them of their regrets, the other girls are also facing what they view as their personal shortcomings, together. Adorable cartoon illustrations of big-eyed witches and cute, fluffy familiars hint that this witch story is not a scary one; rather, it emphasizes empathy and being deeply present in relationships with others. Each of the four witches is both learning from and teaching the others as they each try to be the best versions of themselves. Originally a popular webcomic, this feel-good story will easily charm readers, especially those who loved S�ance Tea Party (2020) or the Witch Hat Atelier series.

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December 1, 2022

Gr 7 Up-This graphic novel adaptation of a webcomic follows a kitchen witch named Planchette, who is great at using magic to create incredible food, but not so great at getting ghosts out of her new home. This story is set in a world filled with paranormal creatures like sirens and ghosts, as well as cute witches and their even cuter familiars. While several characters have internal and external problems that are holding them back, their friendships make them stronger and help them to overcome those problems. Readers will see how Planchette and her new friends help to solve one another's problems, like learning how to go beyond garlic and holy water and actually talking to the ghosts to figure out how to help them move on. Newsome's artwork is colorful, cartoony, and whimsical, filled with stars and sparkles, and it gives this story even more appeal. Reading this sweet, funny, and uplifting story will feel like curling up under a warm blanket, and it will be a soothing balm for readers who want to escape from their own problems for a while. VERDICT For fans of the Unfamiliar webcomic, as well as any readers who love found families and funny paranormal stories.-Andrea Lipinski

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