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Snapdragon



written and illustrated by
Kat Leyh

Edition
Paperback
Publisher
Macmillan
Imprint
First Second
ISBN
9781250171122

Awards and Honors
Publisher's Weekly Top 10 Best Middle Grade Books of 2020
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: Cruelty to Animals, Violence: General
$20.76   $17.30
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QTY
Out of stock

Snap’s town has a witch.

And when Snap’s dog goes missing, the first place she looks is the witch’s house. She finds her dog there, recovering from being hit by a car, in the care of a woman named Jacks. She is a crocks-wearing, internet-savvy older woman who collects roadkill, put their spirits to rest, and cleans and sells their articulated skeletons online.

They make a deal: If Jacks teaches Snap how to take care of a crate of orphaned baby opossums that Snap rescued, Snap will assist Jacks with her work. But as Snap starts to gain an appreciation for what Jacks does and their friendship deepens…she realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic, and that she also may have a connection with Snap's family’s past.Development sketches and alternate cover designs. Full-color illustrations created in Photoshop.

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Violence: Cruelty to Animals, Violence: General

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

240

Trim Size

8" x 5 1/2"

Dewey

F

AR

2.4: points 1

Lexile

GN210L

Genre

Fiction

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

May 2020

Book Genres

Fantasy, Graphic Novels

Topics

Graphic novels. Family secrets. Witches. Magic. Fantasy. Friendship. LGBTQ.

Standard MARC Records

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Cover Art

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Praise & Reviews

Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:

Publishers Weekly*, Kirkus Reviews*, School Library Journal*, Booklist*

School Library Journal

She fed her eye to the devil. She eats roadkill and casts spells with her bones.” Middle school student Snapdragon has heard the rumors about the so-called witch who lives in her town, and when Snap’s dog disappears, she goes to the witch’s house, assuming the worst. But she finds only a quiet old woman, Jacks, who was nursing the dog back to health after an accident. Jacks spends her days burying animals and reassembling their skeletons, both to sell to collectors and to preserve the memory of their living days. As Snap gets to know Jacks, she slowly unravels a family secret…and realizes that maybe there is a witch in town after all. Leyh draws from her experience working on the “Lumberjanes” series to craft a work that centers inclusion and acceptance. Snap learns that often those who buck societal convention are marginalized, and her detailed, sprawling world includes several queer women of color, alongside parental figures who understand and nurture their children. Leyh makes bold choices with her cartoonish artwork; while many artists might have opted for a more somber aesthetic to depict this occasionally unsettling narrative, Leyh’s anime-esque panel structure and imagery keep the content light and engaging even as the text grapples with the complexity of identity, family, and friendship. This sensitive, slightly spooky tale will spur middle graders to mull the importance of fostering welcoming communities.

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

She fed her eye to the devil. She eats roadkill and casts spells with her bones.” Middle school student Snapdragon has heard the rumors about the so-called witch who lives in her town, and when Snap’s dog disappears, she goes to the witch’s house, assuming the worst. But she finds only a quiet old woman, Jacks, who was nursing the dog back to health after an accident. Jacks spends her days burying animals and reassembling their skeletons, both to sell to collectors and to preserve the memory of their living days. As Snap gets to know Jacks, she slowly unravels a family secret…and realizes that maybe there is a witch in town after all. Leyh draws from her experience working on the “Lumberjanes” series to craft a work that centers inclusion and acceptance. Snap learns that often those who buck societal convention are marginalized, and her detailed, sprawling world includes several queer women of color, alongside parental figures who understand and nurture their children. Leyh makes bold choices with her cartoonish artwork; while many artists might have opted for a more somber aesthetic to depict this occasionally unsettling narrative, Leyh’s anime-esque panel structure and imagery keep the content light and engaging even as the text grapples with the complexity of identity, family, and friendship. This sensitive, slightly spooky tale will spur middle graders to mull the importance of fostering welcoming communities.

Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
For Grades 5-8

Book-length narratives presented in comic book style, graphic novels foster both visual and verbal comprehension skills while exposing readers to interesting dialogue and satire, as well as affirming diversity.

JLG's selection of these unique books, some of them only published in softcover, are ideal for attracting reluctant readers and introducing them to literature they might not encounter otherwise. You may find that the 12 books in this category will turn your reluctant readers into eager readers.

14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year
Interests
Diversity,ESL,Fiction,Graphic Novels,Reluctant Readers,Transitional Readers,Funny/Humorous
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Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year

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