Publisher's Weekly Review
When 11-year-old Effie's mother dies, she is given into the care of her elderly aunt Selimene and partner, Carlota, acupuncturists and herbalists living in Brooklyn. At first angry and hurt, Effie rails against the women but is soon won over by their big personalities and rambling home, visually detailed in satisfying bird's-eye view cross-sections. Lucking into a pair of good friends on her first day of school, Effie is settling into her new life when her favorite pop star secretly comes to the house, looking for help. Through this arrival, Effie discovers that her aunts' healing methods veer into the magical and begins to realize her own magical powers. Escabasse's character design stands out, particularly wonderfully distinct faces and variously shaped bodies that populate a stylish, boldly colored world. Though initial exposition and character relationships feel rushed, each individual displays a unique personality, and the straightforward plot allows for a focus on evolving relationships. A warm story of found family and healing that stands on its own while setting the stage for further adventures. Ages 8--12. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Sept.)■
Horn Book Review
In this lighthearted, sweet, and entertaining fantastical graphic novel, eleven-year-old Effie is (unexpectedly for all parties involved) sent to live with her elderly, odd-couple aunts after her mother's death. Selimene and Carlota run a holistic healing practice out of their enormous Brooklyn house, and late one night, Effie's idol, pop star Tily Shoo, and her entourage barge in to beg their help. Vain, self-absorbed Tily has turned her face bright red -- possibly permanently -- with a new skin product. That night Effie learns that the aunts' healing is enhanced by benevolent witchcraft and that her own magical powers are emerging; her apprenticeship begins immediately, as she helps the aunts find a solution to Tily's problem. While Effie's coming into her own as a witch is the main plot line, the blossoming of her loving relationships with her newfound family and friends is equally compelling. The personality-filled art features effectively paced, dynamically sized panels. First in a projected series. Katie Bircher September/October 2020 p.88(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When a young girl comes to a new home, her family's magical secrets are unveiled in this graphic-novel series opener. When 11-year-old Effie's mother dies, she is taken to live with her elderly, snarky, fashion-forward aunt, Selimene, and her partner, Carlota, in Brooklyn. Until Effie's music idol, Tily Shoo, arrives with an incurable curse, Effie thinks her aunts are herbalists and acupuncturists. Secretly, they're also witches! Is Effie a witch too? Magic or no magic, Effie learns there's power in finding one's true self and that the path to happiness comes from serving others. The full-color illustrations mix warm earth tones and enticing pastels to create a realistic, comforting world. Clever embellishments, such as floor plans detailing the nooks and crannies of Selimene and Carlota's house, expand the setting and encourage readers to linger. Leaning heavily on speech-bubbled dialogue and avoiding narration, the text uses an assortment of fonts and line weights to convey emotion and develop characters in tandem with the illustrations. The relationships among Effie and her aunts are nuanced and distinct, with humor to spare. Effie's backstory is vaguely constructed, but the specificity of her current story compensates for this minor flaw. Visual elements hint at Effie's probably mixed (Asian/white) heritage; both aunts have gray hair and fair complexions. Supporting characters are depicted with a variety of skin tones and hair colors/textures, although specific cultural markers are seldom provided. A mixture of everyday adventures and enchanting fantasy, this lighthearted story will delight readers. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
After Effie, recently orphaned, is left at the suburban home of her two estranged, elderly aunts, she wants nothing to do with them. A little compassion, humor, and quiet magic soon win her over, though, and after settling in and making friends at her new school, Effie's own latent powers manifest, leading to the discovery that she, like her aunts, is a witch. When Tily Shoo, a Taylor Swiftesque pop megastar, comes to them in need of a magical skincare remedy, it takes the charm and skill of all three witches to save the diva's day. In her graphic novel debut, Escabasse establishes a wonderfully cozy suburban fantasy, rooted largely in the crabby spunk and sly magic of Effie's lovable aunts. Slightly exaggerated character features--and brisk pacing--lighten the tone considerably, with bold linework, soft pastels, and dynamic lettering contributing to a distinctly appealing style. A charming middle-grade take on Sabrina the Teenage Witch that only scratches the surface of this new series' enormous potential.
