The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
Summary
Aster is a boy – and in his family, that means he should be able to shapeshift. But lacking the knack for shifting means that he’s far more interested in the girls’ magic lessons. No one in his family can understand, constantly pushing him to be the shapeshifter they want him to be. When a boy disappears in the night, though, Aster’s magic may be the only thing that can save him.
Review
The Witch Boy is absolutely magical – and I say that with no pun intended. Okay, maybe a little pun intended. There’s something about this book that just draws you into its world. It’s not so different from ours, after all, all you’d need is a magical family living across town to be set. Everything from Aster’s family to his own self-doubt is completely immersive.
Crushing gender norms isn’t just for girls. I haven’t seen any books quite like The Witch Boy before where it’s a boy breaking gender roles and stereotypes. While Aster doesn’t act or dress in a particularly feminine way, there’s something to be said about breaking your family’s traditional gender roles. In the end, maybe we all just need to see past the traditional and the normal to accept everyone how they truly are.
Yours in love and literature, Page.
Content warning(s): manipulation, kidnapping, blood, violence
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