Review Detail

WITCH FOR HIRE by Ted Naifeh is an urban fantasy / YA contemporary mash-up that addresses the harmful effects of bullying during high school in the form of a graphic novel. This thrilling mystery begins on Cody's first day of high school when her older sister refuses to let her sit with her and relegates Cody to the Loser table. Here Cody meets Faye, a girl wearing a witch's hat who is more than what the meets the eye. When Cody seeks help from Shy Shelbi, a self help social media star who turns losers into stars, one thing leads to another and she will needs Faye's help to stop her.

What I Enjoyed:
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The overall story is engaging. I think a lot of teens will relate to Cody in being awkward and entering the school cafeteria for the first time. The characters at the losers' table would have been my choice of friends during high school so I loved them. They are a ragtag bunch who don't really care what anyone else thinks of them. They support each other.

Faye is an interesting character. She reminds me a bit of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She's kind and empathetic towards Cody while facing bullying from her peers ranging from spray painting her locker to ganging up on her on her walk home. However, Faye stands up to her bullies and does not let their opinion get to her.

What Left Me Wanting:
I was not enamored with the plot itself. Cyber-bullying is a real problem with today's connected world. Teens can't escape their bullies at home as it is on their social media presence as well. Each section of the book started with Shy Shelbi's social media profile and one of her self-help/transformation rules. It was easy to see how Shy Shelbi gained her following and how she could abuse it. However, it isn't a person running this account and this is were the supernatural/paranormal aspect comes into play. While I did enjoy the paranormal world the author builds, I think it would resonate more if the bully was a really person and not a demon.

Final Thoughts: A thrilling mystery, WITCH FOR HIRE provides a new perspective on bullying in high school.