Hellaween: Spellbent

Gr 3-6–A clever read from start to finish. Gwen (a witch), Sloane (a werewolf), and Miles (a vampire) are back for a wickedly good adventure in this new addition to the “Hellaween” graphic novel series. The story begins with flashbacks of Halloween’s past. Gwen’s powers start manifesting, and her interest in going to the Hallowlands grows. Miles and Sloane cross over to visit her and see how her powers are growing. Fast-forward to the present: Gwen decides to take getting into the Hallowlands into her own hands. This is when the true adventure begins. With the help of her new and old friends, Gwen’s story is one of both maturing and tweenaged angst. The graphic novel attributes allow for an easy-to-follow experience. Clever illustrations with a neon green, hot pink, and black palette reiterate the Goth aesthetic. Illustrations elevate the story further and only add to the pleasure of reading this.