Be Wary of the Silent Woods (The Weirn Books #1)

Weirns, or witches “born with a demon guardian spirit bound to them for life,” star in this engaging series starter. In the small New England town of Laitham, weirn-in-training Ailis Maeve Thornton lives with her grandma, who runs a magic shop. Ailis attends night school alongside her dragon-obsessed, fellow-weirn biracial cousin Na’ya; their neighbor-frenemy weirn Jasper; and Russ, a werewolf neighbor Ailis is crushing on. Taking a shortcut through the Silent Woods, Ailis, Na’ya, and Na’ya’s younger brother D’esh are confronted near the Woods’ central haunted mansion by a Night Thing who’s been following Ailis. Home to events that left a generation of weirn children missing, the mansion’s lurking darkness almost captures D’esh and subsequently succeeds in capturing Patricia Chow, Ailis and Na’ya’s weirn nemesis. As the cousins investigate, family history comes to light, complicating matters. Classic manga visuals enrich Chmakova’s charming, full-color art: sweeping magic amid serene concentration, shadows accentuating fear-inspiring retorts from authority figures, and facial contortions add humor to life-and-death stakes. Though the graphic novel is packed with disparate elements, it’s accessible: Chmakova smartly keeps the focus on family, friendship, and the relatable struggles of fitting in. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. [em](June) [/em]