Salt Magic
by Hope Larson, Rebecca MockPublished by: Margaret Ferguson Books on October 12, 2021
Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel, Historical
Pages: 240
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
When a jealous witch curses her family's well, it's up to Vonceil to set things right in an epic journey that will leave her changed forever.
When Vonceil's older brother, Elber, comes home to their family's Oklahoma farm after serving on the front lines of World War I, things aren't what she expects. His experiences have changed him into a serious and responsible man who doesn't have time for Vonceil anymore. He even marries the girl he had left behind.
Then a mysterious and captivating woman shows up at the farm and confronts Elber for leaving her in France. When he refuses to leave his wife, she puts a curse on the family well, turning the entire town's water supply into saltwater. Who is this lady dressed all in white, what has she done to the farm, and what does Vonceil's old uncle Dell know about her?
To find out, Vonceil will have to strike out on her own and delve deep into the world of witchcraft, confronting dangerous relatives, shapeshifting animals, a capricious Sugar Witch, and the Lady in White herself--the foreboding Salt Witch. The journey will change Vonceil, but along the way she'll learn a lot about love and what it means to grow up.
Hope Larson is the author and illustrator of the Eisner Award nominated All Summer Long and the illustrator of the Eisner Award winning A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. Salt Magic is an utterly unique graphic fairy tale complete with striking illustrations by Rebecca Mock.
Content Tags:
Perfect for readers who want:
- Graphic novels that’ll sweep readers into them.
- A historical setting that feels authentic, with just a touch of magic.
- The perils of jealousy and growing up and letting go.
- Really sweet, charming magic . . . but not too charming!
- An adventure across the desert on horseback.
Many thanks to Margaret Ferguson Books and Rockstar Book Tours for an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The cover of this book immediately grabbed my attention, because it looked like something my young patrons would absolutely love. We’ve got a lot of little girls, especially, who love books with horses, especially historical fiction, and this looked absolutely perfect for them! I’m happy to say that my instincts were right.
Salt Magic is a historical fiction graphic novel filled with heart and magic. When Vonceil’s family is cursed. she decides she’ll go to any lengths to lift it . . . even if that means growing up along the way.
This was such a cute book! The ending was very sweet, but felt rather rushed. I don’t think kids will mind so much, though. I loved the blend of historical fiction with just a little bit of magic and the idea of family and growing up. The illustrations are absolutely adorable, too, and very engaging. My library’s already ordered this one, and I can’t wait to start handing it to patrons!
Vonceil has quite the character arc in this book. While she starts off a bit bratty (and rather upset that her brother would dare get married!), she soon realizes jealousy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Vonceil’s struggles are relatable. Her and Elber used to be really close before he went to war, which was a whole two years ago. that’s a long time for a kid. Now that he’s back, he’s different. He doesn’t play like he used to, and he’s determined to get married and settled down—a desire that utterly baffles Vonceil.
While she definitely starts off bratty, I think Vonceil is an all-too-relatable character. We’ve all let our jealousy get the best of us, especially at that age. Especially when things are changing and we don’t quite understand it and we don’t want them to change. I love Vonceil’s character growth in this respect, though, as she realizes how toxic jealousy can be and that her brother is just looking for his own slice of happiness. The sibling bonds in this are utterly adorable, and Vonceil’s emotional journey is just *chef’s kiss*.
The historical setting of this novel really comes to life as Vonceil’s brother Elber comes to grips with his time in the war, combined with all the lovely desert scenes while Vonceil is on her grand adventure.
The war is a fairly prominent background feature. Elber isn’t quite the same since he returned from it, not to mention the scars he carries from his time away—both the physical as well as the mental. Even worse, he’s followed by a French nurse he met who has less-than-honorable motives. In fact, she’s a witch. Literally. And if she can’t have Elber’s heart, she intends to make him (and the family that stole him away) suffer!
The artwork in this book does such a fantastic job of setting the scene, though. There are sweeping desert landscapes, old-fashioned attire, and lots of horses! I was immediately pulled into this world, and I loved every minute of my stay there.
While the book is officially titled Salt Magic, that’s far from the only type of magic. In fact, it’s filled to the brim with little forms of magic, each charming in its own way!
Liiiike . . . sugar magic! Don’t be fooled, though. It’s not as sweet and innocent as it sounds. I usually enjoy the historical + magical combination, and this book was no exception! Both aspects tied beautifully together to create a fairy tale-esque adventure that was as charming as it was fun.
Plus, not all of the characters will be quite what you think! Vonceil meets all sorts on her brief journey, some just a teensy less human than others. But you’ll just have to read it yourself to see what I mean. 😉
About Hope Larson
Hope Larson has written and illustrated many graphic novels including All Summer Long, which was a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018 and an Eisner Award nominee, as well as its recently published sequel, All Together Now. She adapted and illustrated A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, which spent forty-four weeks on the New York Times graphic novel bestseller list and for which she won an Eisner Award. She is also the author of Compass South (A New York Times Bestseller), and its companion volume, Knife's Edge, both illustrated by Rebecca Mock. She lives in North Carolina.
About Rebecca Mock
Rebecca Mock is an illustrator and comics artist. They illustrated the graphic novels Compass South and Knife's Edge, both written by Hope Larson. Their work has also appeared in various publications, including the New York Times and The New Yorker. They are the co-organizer of the Hana Doki Kira anthology. They live in Brooklyn, New York. Visit their website at https://rebeccamock.com
3 winners will receive a finished copy of SALT MAGIC, US Only.
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Great post and I’m sure your patrons will love the book.
By the way, miss seeing your posts at Book Beginnings, but totally understand.
Thanks! I think they will. It looks perfect for them. 😀 Our copy should be hitting the shelves next week, so I’m excited.
I really miss participating! I’ve just been so ridiculously busy lately. I need to get back to some sort of schedule so I can get back to it! Was always the highlight of my week, seeing what everyone was sharing. 😀