Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Synopsis
For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and The Okay Witch comes a hilarious and affirming cozy fantasy about the adventures of a girl who discovers she is the descendant of a powerful witch coven. Becca Slugg is bored. It's the tail end of summer, and it feels like she's done nothing but run errands for her family's Cape Disappointment Beach Inn, argue with her frustratingly overprotective mother, and have one-sided conversations with the giant spider living by the dumpsters out back. When Becca wishes for something to happen, she doesn't expect her wish to manifest in the form of an unwelcome visit from her mom's sinister and estranged sister, Malatrice. It turns out Becca's aunt is a powerful witch--and when she doesn't get the help she wants from Becca's mom, she unleashes a devastating ink spell. Becca is left with a mindless puppet for a mother and a whole lot of questions--like Can I castspells with the ink in my veins, too? With the help of Natalya, her mother's tarantula familiar, and Oddvar, a friendly troll living in the motel's ice machine, a distraught but determined Becca sets out to uncover her own magical abilities and find the ingredients for a potion that will cure her mother. Besides, how hard can it be to find mermaid eggs, troll teeth, and the most precious possession of a Witch-Queen? This magical adventure is equal parts hilarious and exhilarating, with a sassy, talking tarantula being just the tip of the iceberg.
Is The Ink Witch appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 10 and up.
Parents should know this is a lighthearted middle grade fantasy with a cursed mother (rendered mindless by magic) and mild peril as the protagonist seeks ingredients for a cure. The tone is humorous and affirming with talking animal companions.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include manipulation, loss of agency, and family conflict.
Who'll love this
Kids will love the sassy talking tarantula, the troll living in an ice machine, and Becca's quest to save her mom using her newfound magical powers.