Wildseed Witch (Book 1): A Novel

by Marti Dumas

Overview

Wildseed Witch is the first book in Marti Dumas’s fun middle-grade contemporary fantasy series with an all-BIPOC cast, about a social-media-loving tween who gets sent to an ultra-private witch camp.

Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how to get her parents back together. What she does NOT expect is that an emotional outburst will spark a latent magical ability in her. Or that the magic will be strong enough to attract the attention of witches. Or that before she can say #BlackGirlMagic, she’ll be shipped off on a scholarship to a fancy finishing school for talented young ladies.

Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet.

While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. “Wildseed” may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419755613
Publisher:	Amulet Books
Publication date:	05/10/2022
Series:	Wildseed Witch , #1
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	1,086,047
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Marti Dumas taught elementary school literacy for 10 years, conducts teacher literacy trainings, and is the author of Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest. She lives in New Orleans with her family.

Editorial Reviews

"Readers will love the world [Dumas] creates, which brims with Black Girl Magic. Most, if not all, of the characters are Black, and Dumas weaves Louisiana’s history of slavery into the girls’ lessons and legacy of magic. She also intertwines magic with technology, giving this series starter a decidedly modern feel."

Booklist

This book is pure magic and I was hooked from the very first page! My main question now is: how can I get Hasani to be my best friend?

author of the My Life in Pink & Green trilogy Lisa Greenwald

This book is pure magic and I was hooked from the very first page! My main question now is: how can I get Hasani to be my best friend?”—Lisa Greenwald, author of the My Life in Pink & Green trilogy

“Set in a modern-day Louisiana where technology and magic intertwine, Wildseed Witch is charming and intriguing, just like the Les Belles Desmoiselles witches. Readers will cheer Hasani, vibrant as a morning glory, as she embarks on a quest to own her magic and to find friendship, family, and forgiveness.”—Rajani LaRocca, Newbery honor-winning author of Red, White, and Whole

"Readers will love the world [Dumas] creates, which brims with Black Girl Magic. Most, if not all, of the characters are Black, and Dumas weaves Louisiana’s history of slavery into the girls’ lessons and legacy of magic. She also intertwines magic with technology, giving this series starter a decidedly modern feel."—Booklist

"Dumas invites readers into a wonderful world of witchcraft that highlights the contributions of the diaspora; the infusion of Creole heritage and the acknowledgement of enslavement grounds this world without dimming its light. Readers will relate to the struggles of standing out, feeling inadequate, and accepting change." —Kirkus Reviews

"Dumas has crafted a delightful light fantasy novel filled with a diverse cast, fun, drama, and some lessons. . .Even with their magical abilities, Hasani and her classmates are a relatable and nuanced portrayal of girls their age." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

05/01/2022

Gr 5 Up—Soon-to-be eighth grader Hasani is a daughter, friend, aspiring YouTuber, and a wildseed witch. While heading to her dad's house for the weekend, the drawbridge they have to cross suddenly raises covered in vines. Hasani unknowingly caused the event, only discovering it was her fault when she is offered a full scholarship to the charm school Les Belles Demoiselles to learn to control her magic. Being a wildseed (meaning she is a stray witch from a family of non-witches) doesn't make things easy for Hasani at school. If only sticking out was the sole trouble she had to deal with; she also has to navigate her classmates, manage her YouTube account, and try to get her father away from his girlfriend and back with her mother. Dumas has crafted a delightful light fantasy novel filled with a diverse cast, fun, drama, and some lessons. The story is a marvelous blend of magical elements with modern times, with Hasani even unknowingly using her magic to control YouTube. Even with their magical abilities, Hasani and her classmates are a relatable and nuanced portrayal of girls their age. While elements of this book may not stand the test of time, today's readers will gobble up Hasani's story. Hasani is Black, as are most of the characters. VERDICT Hand to those who already love realistic fantasy or are looking to dip their toes into the genre.—Amanda Borgia

School Library Journal

2022-03-02
A young African American witch learns that magic makes life quite complicated.

School is out in New Orleans, and Hasani Schexnayder-Jones is grateful for summer vacation. She’s free to work on her YouTube channel, MakeupontheCheapCheap. Unfortunately, the free time also allows Hasani to see her dad’s new girlfriend, Sandy, flaunting herself all over Instagram. She cannot understand why her parents separated, and after learning that Sandy has moved in with her dad, Hasani’s magic springs to life in a burst of emotion. Les Belles Demoiselles: Finir l’École des Sorcières, the premier charm school for witches, catches wind of Hasani’s raw magical promise and invites her to enroll. Hasani believes this will be a welcome distraction, but coming from a nonmagical family, she encounters a frosty roommate, unspoken rules that everyone else knows, and magic that she struggles to control. Even worse, there’s barely any signal to upload her YouTube videos. As she slowly learns the ways of magic, Hasani tries to apply it to her problems, but her meddling is not without consequences. When her favorite subscriber goes missing, Hasani must muster all her talents to find her before it’s too late. Dumas invites readers into a wonderful world of witchcraft that highlights the contributions of the diaspora; the infusion of Creole heritage and the acknowledgement of enslavement grounds this world without dimming its light. Readers will relate to the struggles of standing out, feeling inadequate, and accepting change.

A delightful start to a fresh series. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

Set in a modern-day Louisiana where technology and magic intertwine, Wildseed Witch is charming and intriguing, just like the Les Belles Desmoiselles witches. Readers will cheer Hasani, vibrant as a morning glory, as she embarks on a quest to own her magic and to find friendship, family, and forgiveness.

Rajani LaRocca