Evil-ish

Gr 7 Up–Nonbinary teen Hawthorne longs to escape the monotony of working at their family’s potion cafe and sees their opportunity when the Brigade of Shade, a notorious group of evildoers led by the fearsome and skeletal Lady Wrath, announces tryouts. But without any magic or special talents, the odds of the brigade accepting Hawthorne seem slim, until the bubbly but powerful Maple brings Hawthorne to the Brigade of Shade’s castle for a second chance. After accidentally killing Lady Wrath while pleading their case, Hawthorne unexpectedly becomes the new leader of the Brigade of Shade but quickly realizes that the organization holds little of the adventure they had imagined. When Maple, their self-appointed second in command, abandons her saccharine exterior and reveals her true intentions for the Brigade of Shade, Hawthorne must act quickly to save the town and family they love. While the graphic novel’s brevity leaves some plot points underdeveloped, teens will enjoy the imaginative and colorful story Tarrell has created. Full-color illustrations capture the whimsical fantasy world and showcase a cast of diverse and endearing characters. Both Hawthorne and Maple are white.