Pacheco and the witch of the mountain A graphic novel

Ranging from cozy cottage magic to epic duels and transformation, this debut graphic novel will bring delight and promote authenticity while warning against the fallacy of appealing to tradition. Pacheco, who comes from a line of fishermen, has been taught to fear the witches that live in the distance, but he can't help but admire the lights coming from their tower and dream of practicing magic himself, though boys are forbidden from it. Seeking help for his family, Pacheco bursts into a cottage belonging to Doris, the exiled Witch of the Mountain, who cares for the jungle's magical creatures and who reluctantly takes him on as her apprentice. While Pacheco has longed to enter the world of magic, he must face the prejudiced traditions that plague the island's magical law, which preys upon magical creatures, forbids the use of magic by those considered impure, and is led by a council on a literal witch hunt to root out unregulated magic. Brightly colored and entrancing illustrations will appeal to fans of Raúl the Third, Molly Knox Ostertag's The Witch Boy (2017), and Disney's Luca. Nods to the author's Venezuelan heritage are peppered throughout. Pacheco's journey asks whether any ruling group has the right to dictate who we are and how we live as ourselves. A timely and magical exploration of identity and social constructs that pushes back against harmful traditions and rhetoric and encourages community, growth, and empathy at a time when we all need it.