Wildseed Witch

Gr 5 Up–Soon-to-be eighth grader Hasani is a daughter, friend, aspiring YouTuber, and a wildseed witch. While heading to her dad’s house for the weekend, the drawbridge they have to cross suddenly raises covered in vines. Hasani unknowingly caused the event, only discovering it was her fault when she is offered a full scholarship to the charm school Les Belles Demoiselles to learn to control her magic. Being a wildseed (meaning she is a stray witch from a family of non-witches) doesn’t make things easy for Hasani at school. If only sticking out was the sole trouble she had to deal with; she also has to navigate her classmates, manage her YouTube account, and try to get her father away from his girlfriend and back with her mother. Dumas has crafted a delightful light fantasy novel filled with a diverse cast, fun, drama, and some lessons. The story is a marvelous blend of magical elements with modern times, with Hasani even unknowingly using her magic to control YouTube. Even with their magical abilities, Hasani and her classmates are a relatable and nuanced portrayal of girls their age. While elements of this book may not stand the test of time, today’s readers will gobble up Hasani’s story. Hasani is Black, as are most of the characters.