Doughnuts and Doom

July 11, 2022
When Margot, a teenage witch with performance anxiety, fails her spell licensing exam for the third time, she flies off to Midnight Froth Doughnuts to drown her sorrows in chocolate. There, she meets and immediately clashes with Elena, a human musician struggling to find a following while working a day job at the doughnut shop. After the girls’ blowout argument, Margot accidentally curses a doughnut that Elena subsequently eats. That evening, when Margot learns the curse has caused a disaster at Elena’s gig, she feels guilty and tracks Elena down to deliver an antidote. Once the girls reconcile their initial
animosity, they begin spending time together, quickly but naturally developing a romantic relationship as Elena’s next show and Margot’s next exam approach. Lorinczi uses simple paneling, thin black line art, and varying blue hues paired with splashes of bubblegum pink to strike a lighthearted, low-conflict tone. The characters’ genuine chemistry and uplifting, mutual appreciation and support for one another capably epitomize healthy teen relationships. This fast-paced enemies-to-lovers romance, filled with magic, music, and pastries, is an upbeat confection. Characters cue as white. Ages 13–17.

September 9, 2022

Gr 8 Up-City witch Margot Grapes is struggling with passing her spell exam at the witch hub. Her magic never cooperates, and examiner Katie Banks seems invested in her failure. Dejected, Margot takes herself and Stanley, her good-natured snake familiar, to grab her favorite chocolate doughnuts. Elena the caf� cashier clashes immediately with Margot, who reacts poorly upon hearing the doughnuts have sold out. Heated words and an accidental curse are exchanged, leading to Elena getting electrocuted at her band's show later that night. The girls reconcile, sparking a series of attempts to reverse the curse while nurturing a blossoming romantic connection and evading Katie's evil plans to bar Margot from the magic world. This slice-of-life graphic novel is strongest when focusing on its main characters' romance. Other elements of the plot seem thin, including the strangely intense antagonist whose motivations and plans are never rectified. Characters tend to speak in monologue, providing exposition but slowing the pace of a relatively low-stakes narrative. The muted blue monochrome palette, with charming pink accents emphasizing moments of magic and emotion, is visually appealing but saps dynamism from a story that needs it. Readers will enjoy the creative paneling that showcases Margot's airborne adventures on her broom, Stanley's endearing antics, and the excited thrum of the girls' climactic musical performance. Most main characters are cued as white. VERDICT A pleasant, additional purchase to round out YA graphic novel collections.-Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2022
A fluffy, feel-good story about a witch and a guitarist who cross paths and make sparks fly. Literally. Margot Grapes is a witch who just can't seem to pass the exam to obtain her spell license. Until then she's stuck making potions to earn a living. On the day she fails the test yet again, Margot, in need of cheering up, goes with her snake familiar, Stanley, to buy some chocolate doughnuts. But moments before their arrival, all the chocolate ones were dropped on the floor by shop employee Elena Rogers, who is a punk rock guitarist in the band Bird!Bird!Bird! Feeling frustrated, Margot wreaks havoc in the doughnut shop and accidentally curses Elena. Feeling guilty, Margot tries to make amends, but the curse, which manifests as an electrical charge, just won't let up. The two grow closer as Elena and Margot work together to mitigate the curse's effects and try to avoid the wrath of Katie Banks, a senior witch from the local witch hub who is looking to ban Margot. Lorinczi's whimsical illustration style and pastel blue-and-pink color scheme give this adventure a light and cozy feel, fitting the book's low-stakes, slice-of-life storyline. Readers may find themselves wanting more, as the story concludes a bit abruptly. Most characters read White. A quick and sweet supernatural romance. (Graphic fantasy. 12-17)

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