This is another wonderful graphic novel I discovered thanks to my kid, who is becoming a connoisseur of the genre. It’s the story of a witch who has brought her vegetables to life because she desperately needed help in the garden. One of these, Garlic, is facing a difficult transition – she might be developing into a new form, and she’s not sure what’s happening to her or why. Or, most importantly, how to feel about it.
As she grapples with these changes, she also begins to realize her feelings for another of the vegetables, and is confused by them. All of this is overwhelming for the little vegetable, and she becomes more and more anxious about what the future is going to hold for her, and how to deal with big change.
There are so many things I loved about this book. It’s a great story in and of itself, and I loved the characters. But it’s also a very gentle tale that connects to what kids are going through as they get older – changing bodies, changing feelings, changing relationships. It’s a difficult and confusing time, but this story tells them that change – though scary – can be a wonderful thing, and can take you somewhere new and just as good. It also tells us how important it is to talk to trusted adults and to find a community who will offer support.
In addition to this, it brings up mental health, and anxiety in particular. It shows how Garlic begins to feel overwhelmed and frozen because of her worries about the future, but it also shows how she learns to navigate it with patience, self-care, mindfulness and the help of important people.
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I actually read Garlic and the Vampire after I read Garlic and the Witch – the wrong way around, I think – but I enjoyed it nearly as much. In this book the group of veggies and their human witch notice smoke emitting from the chimney of a large abandoned castle in the forest above their cottage. At first they think it must just be passing travelers looking for shelter overnight, but when the smoke continues the next day, they begin to worry it’s something more.
The witch fills them in on the castle’s past resident and exactly who he is – and why this is dangerous to the people in the village. The veggies feel that they must do something to protect the people in their community, but how? And more importantly, who will go and suss out what’s happening in the lonely castle?
As anyone who’s read or watched many vampire stories will probably guess, Garlic is nominated due to her lack of appeal to vampires. But Garlic has no intention of putting herself in front of a dangerous being. She’s rightly terrified. So what will happen? Will Garlic deal with her fear and take on a potentially dangerous being to protect her village? Or will she refuse and leave her friends to go instead, or worse, wait for potential danger to find them?
As with the first book, there is a lovely story and fantastic character development in this book. The relationships are sweet and complex, and they all must deal with their own internal dilemmas throughout the story. Like Garlic and the Witch, this book deals with emotions that the kids reading the book might also struggle with – fear of standing up to someone, fear of being singled out, fear of letting their family down, the difficulty of figuring out how to do what’s right even if it is very, very hard. And, above all, the importance of finding out the truth about a situation rather than giving in to rumours and misinformation. I love these stories for their wonderful messages that are gently presented through storytelling, and I love the soft feeling of how these characters work on whatever issue they are facing.
I would definitely recommend these for early middle-grade readers, and any kiddos who are dealing with change, anxiety, fear, and outside pressure from those around them. There’s so much here, but it’s woven into a really cracking set of stories as well. Cosy morality in graphic novel form! I’m hoping there will be more from this author, because I’ve really enjoyed her work so far!
Bree Paulsen’s brave little protagonist, Garlic, is back in this charmingly illustrated standalone companion to Garlic and the Vampire, serving up another tale of friendship, magic, and self-discovery. Give both books to readers who fell in love with Tidesong or Witch Boy!
Garlic loves spending time with Witch Agnes, Carrot, and her new friend, the Count, who has proven to be a delightful neighbor to the village of vegetable people rather than a scary vampire. But despite Agnes’s best attempts to home-brew a vegetarian blood substitute for Count, the ingredient she needs most can only be found at the Magic Market, far from the valley.
Before she knows it, with a broomstick in hand, Garlic is nervously preparing for a journey.
But Garlic is experiencing another change too–finger by finger, she appears to be turning human. Witch Agnes assures her that this is normal for her garden magic, but Garlic isn’t so sure that she’s ready for such a big change. After all, changes are scary…and what if she doesn’t want to be human after all? – Goodreads
Book Title: Garlic and the Witch
Author: Bree Paulsen
Series: Yes – Garlic #2
Edition: Paperback
Published By: Quill Tree Books
Released: September 6, 2022
Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Paranormal, Family, Growing Up
Pages: 160
Date Read: April 11, 2025
Rating: 8/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.35/5 (11,121 ratings)