02/28/2022
During magical Ravenskill’s Black Moon Ceremony, every 12-year-old Witchling is sorted into one of five powerful covens, except those designated as Spares, a sixth group treated as a servant class by the others. Much to her surprise, aspiring journalist Seven Salazar, who has brown skin and reads as Latinx, is designated a Spare, along with wealthy mean girl Valley Pepperhorn, who is white with rose-hued hair, and amiable pale-skinned newcomer Thorn La Roux. But when the new Spares face losing their magic completely, and becoming Forever Witchlings without powers, Seven invokes the little-used Clause of the Impossible Task. Now the trio has three weeks to locate and defeat the deadly, wolflike Nightbeast, or be permanently transformed into toads. As they combine their skills—Seven’s botanical expertise, Valley’s hunting knowledge, and Thorn’s enchanted tailoring—and develop a bond of friendship and loyalty, the quest reveals more about the Spares, and the Nightbeast’s predations. Centering three resourceful, sympathetic protagonists and considering issues of exploitation and privilege, Ortega’s (Ghost Squad) lively sophomore release interweaves Spanish phrases, contemporary elements, and well-grounded magical worldbuilding. Ages 8–12. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (Apr.)
05/20/2022
Gr 3–7—Twelve-year-old Seven Salazar excitedly awaits the Black Moon ceremony where she and her best friend Poppy hope to be placed in the powerful coven, House Hyacinth. Sadly, only Poppy joins House Hyacinth and in a nightmare come true, Seven finds out that she's a Spare. In the magical town of Ravenskill, Spares are looked down on and have less power. To make matters worse, also in her coven are Seven's bully, Valley Pepperhorn, and a girl named Thorn. When the three are unable to seal their coven, Seven invokes the impossible task which, if completed successfully, would seal their coven and give them their full power as witches. Their impossible task to fell the Nightbeast is a difficult enough endeavor, but they also have to contend with their constant bickering, the community's unfavorable view toward Spares, and a mysterious conspiracy surrounding the Nightbeast. The trio of witchlings eventually overcome misunderstandings, grow to trust each other, and work together. The sorting system has a unique spin to it with the presence and treatment of the Spares. Readers familiar with Spanish may recognize the magic words used to cast spells: viento for wind, esconder for hiding something, and so on. Among the cast are many Latinx characters, a character with a nonbinary gender identity, and those in a same-sex relationship. The poor treatment of Spares may spark a timely conversation on the lack of protection for marginalized communities. The witchlings also find out that Valley's father is abusive, on one occasion starving her for two days because of a bad grade. Mentions of abuse may be distressing to some readers. VERDICT A magic-filled quest of friendship and power sure to please lovers of the genre; an excellent purchase for libraries.—Myiesha Speight
2021-11-30
It’s the night of the Black Moon Ceremony, when Witchlings in Ravenskill are assigned to their covens, and the one thing 12-year-old Seven Salazar hopes to avoid is being made a Spare Witch.
When her fears unfortunately come to pass, she’s faced with two other leftover and unlikely new companions—not to mention a challenge that might just prove deadly. Alongside the other Spares, anxious Thorn La Roux and bully Valley Pepperhorn, Seven must embark on a dangerous quest to find and kill the rumored child-eating Nightbeast. Through their adventures, however, Seven learns about a lot more than just the mystery of the Nightbeast: She comes to see people—including herself—differently. She peers beneath her first assumptions and stands up for others even when that’s not easy. When she fears a friend is experiencing parental abuse, she brings her concerns to an adult she trusts even though she’s frightened it will make her friend angry. The story balances serious social themes with lighthearted friendship hijinks, and the plot is fast-paced and full of gratifying twists. Ortega invites readers in, combining familiar fantasy furnishings with a low-key, modern-inflected tone. Seven is cued as Latine, and many of the spells she invokes on her journey ring with Spanish roots, offering Spanish speakers the joy of recognition and others the excitement of new-forged understanding. Thorn and Valley read as White.
Energetic and intelligent; invites readers to question their assumptions and the status quo. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Praise for Witchlings:
Instant New York Times Bestseller!
#1 Indie Bestseller
An Amazon Best Book of the Month
A Kids' Indie Next List Selection
A B&N Most Anticipated Book
"Enchanting. Ortega's inventive story has a cozy, lived-in feel and a mystery that will keep kids guessing." — Entertainment Weekly
"Magic, friendship, and humor-an enchanting read." — Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series
"Inventive. Magical. Enchanting. An absolutely charming tale with its heart rooted in the friendships we make and keep." — J.C. Cervantes, bestselling author of The Storm Runner series
"A gorgeous tale of determination and magic." — Booklist
"Energetic and intelligent; invites readers to question their assumptions and the status quo." — Kirkus Reviews
"Centering three resourceful, sympathetic protagonists and considering issues of exploitation and privilege, Witchlings interweaves Spanish phrases, contemporary elements, and well-grounded magical worldbuilding." — Publishers Weekly
"A magic-filled quest of friendship and power." — School Library Journal
Narrator Cyrina Fiallo shines as the voice of the brave little witch Seven Salazar. Turning 12 makes Seven eligible to join a coven during the Black Moon Ceremony, which her magical town hosts yearly. But she is shocked and saddened when she’s excluded from the five established covens. In order to form a new coven, Seven must perform an impossible task—but if she fails, she will be turned into a toad forever. Fiallo has a tender voice that deftly transforms into the authentic-sounding voice of a 12-year-old girl. Fiallo pronounces the Spanish words peppered throughout the audiobook in a native accent. Overall, she successfully conveys Seven's bravery and determination, and, in addition, voices all the other characters. A.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Narrator Cyrina Fiallo shines as the voice of the brave little witch Seven Salazar. Turning 12 makes Seven eligible to join a coven during the Black Moon Ceremony, which her magical town hosts yearly. But she is shocked and saddened when she’s excluded from the five established covens. In order to form a new coven, Seven must perform an impossible task—but if she fails, she will be turned into a toad forever. Fiallo has a tender voice that deftly transforms into the authentic-sounding voice of a 12-year-old girl. Fiallo pronounces the Spanish words peppered throughout the audiobook in a native accent. Overall, she successfully conveys Seven's bravery and determination, and, in addition, voices all the other characters. A.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
