In a society that accepts witches but regulates the use of magic, teenage witch Iris is struggling to move on after her friend’s misuse of magic turns deadly. Iris was cleared of wrongdoing, but the tragedy tears her family apart, forcing her and her mom to start new lives across the country. It leads Iris to hide her magic, especially from Pike Alder, a coworker at her mom’s nature refuge who hates witches and drives her crazy. But in a fit of frustration, Iris casts a spell she never intended to use. The result could mean deadly consequences for Pike and the new life Iris has built. It forces them to team up on a mission into the mountains surrounding the refuge in search of an injured owl who holds the key to the miscast spell. Will Iris be able to fix things while still keeping her magical secret from Pike? Or will the worst happen, causing her to violate the laws of magic and lose everything she holds dear? Wild is the Witch, a 2022 release by Rachel Griffin, is a page-turner that combines magic, nature and romance. The idea of magic as an organic force that can be channeled rather than controlled is refreshingly different from many other fantasy stories. The adventure in nature and Iris’ connection to animals reminded me of classic books by Gary Paulsen (Hatchet) and Jean Craighead George (Julie of the Wolves, My Side of the Mountain). The relationship between Iris and Pike is typical of many young adult romance novels where enemies forced together end up friends, and sometimes more. In addition, there is a positive depiction of a lesbian relationship.
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AuthorMrs. McHugh is a librarian and instructional technology specialist. She loves talking books and pop culture with her students at Hanover High School. Archives
February 2024
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