Jazzy the Witch in Broom Doom (Jazzy the Witch #1)

Young witch Jazzy struggles with having confidence in her magical abilities: “Look at all them witches,” Jazzy says, noting a wall of photos showcasing her powerful, Black-cued ancestors, “THEY fit in.” This concern worsens when schoolteacher Madame Melcha announces the day’s lesson: flying. As Jazzy watches her peers successfully mount their brooms, Jazzy—who dangles precariously from her own broom as it haphazardly bends and twirls—feels inadequate. But then she learns of an alternate means of transportation—cycling—and rather than focus on her schoolwork or relationships, she builds a bicycle of her own. Her angst about flying becomes a thing of the past, until Madame Melcha announces that the students will participate in an upcoming flying parade in celebration of the supermoon. As Jazzy continues to founder in her attempts to handle a broom, she worries she’ll never get the hang of this witchy rite of passage. Whimsy abounds in this playful series-opening graphic novel by Bagley (Maurice), relayed in moody, jewel-toned hues and striking shadows. Across a luminous, rhythmically told story, Bagley stages silly scenarios centering an earnest and well-intentioned, occasionally one-track-minded protagonist that perceptively drive home themes of self-confidence, accountability, and embracing one’s flaws and strengths. Characters are depicted with varying skin tones. Ages 8–12. (July)