Witch For Hire

Witch For Hire
Author(s)
Age Range
14+
Release Date
August 24, 2021
ISBN
978-1419748103
Buy This Book
      
When a series of high school pranks get out of hand, teen witch Faye Faulkner is the only one who can solve the case in this spooky YA graphic novel

Faye Faulker isn’t popular, and that’s just fine by her. She spends her lunches at the Loser Table with the other social rejects, aka her best friends, and brushes off the uninspired taunts from the cool kids. But when lonely freshman Cody finds her way to Faye’s corner of the cafeteria, it sets off a peculiar chain of events . . . To Cody’s surprise, these kids aren’t so bad; an overdramatic theater nerd, a handicapable girl in a wheelchair, an overweight boy, and Faye, who comes to school every day dressed like a witch. But it’s no costume, Fay really is a witch!

While high school can be hell for many reasons, this year the ante has been raised when a series of pranks swiftly go from mischievous to downright dangerous. From the lowliest debate team nerds to the prom queen, no one is safe, not even the teachers! When things start to really get out of hand, Cody owns up to Faye: in a moment of desperation, she signed up for an online challenge that promises to grant popularity to those who follow the website’s twisted demands.

Now Faye is faced with a choice: Reveal her witchy nature to Cody and help her or stand aside and keep her secret identity safe. Despite her misgivings, Faye takes on the case, but will her powers be strong enough to solve this mystery? And will people ever stop asking her if she puts newts’ eyes in her homemade baked goods? Witch for Hire is a gothic whodunnit about resilience, magic, and the power of friendship.

Editor review

1 review
Modern Day Witch Addresses Bullying
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
WITCH FOR HIRE by Ted Naifeh is an urban fantasy / YA contemporary mash-up that addresses the harmful effects of bullying during high school in the form of a graphic novel. This thrilling mystery begins on Cody's first day of high school when her older sister refuses to let her sit with her and relegates Cody to the Loser table. Here Cody meets Faye, a girl wearing a witch's hat who is more than what the meets the eye. When Cody seeks help from Shy Shelbi, a self help social media star who turns losers into stars, one thing leads to another and she will needs Faye's help to stop her.

What I Enjoyed:
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The overall story is engaging. I think a lot of teens will relate to Cody in being awkward and entering the school cafeteria for the first time. The characters at the losers' table would have been my choice of friends during high school so I loved them. They are a ragtag bunch who don't really care what anyone else thinks of them. They support each other.

Faye is an interesting character. She reminds me a bit of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She's kind and empathetic towards Cody while facing bullying from her peers ranging from spray painting her locker to ganging up on her on her walk home. However, Faye stands up to her bullies and does not let their opinion get to her.

What Left Me Wanting:
I was not enamored with the plot itself. Cyber-bullying is a real problem with today's connected world. Teens can't escape their bullies at home as it is on their social media presence as well. Each section of the book started with Shy Shelbi's social media profile and one of her self-help/transformation rules. It was easy to see how Shy Shelbi gained her following and how she could abuse it. However, it isn't a person running this account and this is were the supernatural/paranormal aspect comes into play. While I did enjoy the paranormal world the author builds, I think it would resonate more if the bully was a really person and not a demon.

Final Thoughts: A thrilling mystery, WITCH FOR HIRE provides a new perspective on bullying in high school.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

There are no user reviews for this listing.
Already have an account? or Create an account