Young Hag and the Witches' Quest: A Graphic Novel

by Isabel Greenberg

Overview

New York Times bestselling and award-winning author/illustrator Isabel Greenberg’s Young Hag and the Witches’ Quest is a unique YA graphic novel about an epic quest through Arthurian legends and a girl’s journey to believe in magic again after the loss of her mother. ****4 starred reviews!****

Once there was magic in Britain. There were dragons and wizards and green knights and round tables and kings that pulled swords out of stones. But now, the doors to the Otherworld have closed, and the magic is gone.

All that is left are the stories of those bygone days. Young Hag, her mother and her grandmother, Ancient Crone, are the last of the witches in Britain. At least, that’s what Ancient Crone says.

Young Hag has grown up hearing those tales and believing in her the power of her Grandmother. But when tragedy strikes, and their world is shaken, Young Hag turns her back on magic. She is sick of the tales of family curses, faerie doors, lost magic, and ancient swords. If they are witches, where is their magic when they really need it?

And then one day they find a changeling baby in the woods. Confronted with real magic at last, Young Hag has no choice but to believe. She sets off on the greatest quest of her life; to bring the magic back to Britain.

But when faced with magic and myth, can Young Hag put aside her doubts and fears? Or will she simply become a forgotten footnote in the tale of famous kings and wizards?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419765124
Publisher:	Abrams Fanfare
Publication date:	05/14/2024
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	414,375
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Isabel Greenberg is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer and illustrator. Her graphic novels, including The One Hundred Nights of Hero, Glass Town, and the Tales of Great Goddesses series, have received starred reviews, won the Best Book Award at the British Comic Awards, and won the Observer/Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize, among other praise. Isabel has worked with a variety of clients, including The Guardian, Nobrow Press, the National Trust, and the New York Times. She lives in London and enjoys illustrating all things historical.

What People are Saying About This

author of Fingersmith Sarah Waters

“A gorgeous celebration of myths and myth-making, full of wit, wisdom and joy. I devoured this wonderful book in one blissful sitting.”

"Vivid, stirring and magical." - Posy Simmonds

"Vivid, stirring and magical."

author of The Girl of Ink and Stars Kiran Millwood Hargrave

“A gamechanger. Vibrant, vital and galvanic storytelling – Young Hag will win legions of young fans.”

“No one does it like Isabel Greenberg! I love her strange imaginary landscapes and bold, spikey heroines. Young Ha - Lizzy Stewart

“No one does it like Isabel Greenberg! I love her strange imaginary landscapes and bold, spikey heroines. Young Hag had me rapt from start to finish, fun, funny and totally charming!”

author of Alison Lizzy Stewart

“No one does it like Isabel Greenberg! I love her strange imaginary landscapes and bold, spikey heroines. Young Hag had me rapt from start to finish, fun, funny and totally charming!”

“Isabel Greenberg has honed a perfect style that feels timeless.” - Kate Beaton

“Isabel Greenberg has honed a perfect style that feels timeless.”

author of Tamara Drewe Posy Simmonds

"Vivid, stirring and magical."

#1 New York Times Bestseller and Eisner-winning au Kate Beaton

“Isabel Greenberg has honed a perfect style that feels timeless.”

“A gorgeous celebration of myths and myth-making, full of wit, wisdom and joy. I devoured this wonderful book in o - Sarah Waters

“A gorgeous celebration of myths and myth-making, full of wit, wisdom and joy. I devoured this wonderful book in one blissful sitting.”

“A gamechanger. Vibrant, vital and galvanic storytelling – Young Hag will win legions of young fans.” - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

“A gamechanger. Vibrant, vital and galvanic storytelling – Young Hag will win legions of young fans.”

Editorial Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Greenberg’s drawing style is comic but has a skillfully naive, seemingly unpracticed quality that enhances the protagonist’s poignant, youthful courage. Epic tragedy and grave betrayals are conveyed with a light touch, while Young Hag’s arduous personal growth and development have a heartwarming gravitas. Greenberg’s play with her sources...has satisfying imaginative and critical depth."

Horn Book Magazine

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Greenberg confidently presents Young Hag’s story and the mythological world of medieval Britain with inimitable style and freshness in this graphic novel. The embedded narratives are organically arranged, each unraveling the fascinating untold life of Morgan le Fay and her complicated family dynamics...consider this Otherworld worth getting stuck in for a few decades."

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

***STARRED REVIEW***
"In this captivating adventure full of wry humor, intrigue, and magic, Greenberg artfully weaves through meaningful questions about who gets to write legends and what gets left out as a result. Readers who love myths and legends will surely appreciate Greenberg’s sly, fascinating adventure."

Booklist

Isabel Greenberg has honed a perfect style that feels timeless.”—Kate Beaton, #1 New York Times Bestseller and Eisner-winning author of Ducks

“A gamechanger. Vibrant, vital and galvanic storytelling – Young Hag will win legions of young fans.”—Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars

“No one does it like Isabel Greenberg! I love her strange imaginary landscapes and bold, spikey heroines. Young Hag had me rapt from start to finish, fun, funny and totally charming!”—Lizzy Stewart, author of Alison

“A gorgeous celebration of myths and myth-making, full of wit, wisdom and joy. I devoured this wonderful book in one blissful sitting.”—Sarah Waters, author of Fingersmith

"Vivid, stirring and magical."—Posy Simmonds, author of Tamara Drewe

***STARRED REVIEW***
"The storytelling sparkles with irreverent humor, and the characters’ irrepressible personalities jump off the pages with joyful visual flourishes. Quirky, fresh, and full of humor."—Kirkus

***STARRED REVIEW***
"In this captivating adventure full of wry humor, intrigue, and magic, Greenberg artfully weaves through meaningful questions about who gets to write legends and what gets left out as a result. Readers who love myths and legends will surely appreciate Greenberg’s sly, fascinating adventure."—Booklist

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Greenberg confidently presents Young Hag’s story and the mythological world of medieval Britain with inimitable style and freshness in this graphic novel. The embedded narratives are organically arranged, each unraveling the fascinating untold life of Morgan le Fay and her complicated family dynamics...consider this Otherworld worth getting stuck in for a few decades."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Greenberg’s drawing style is comic but has a skillfully naive, seemingly unpracticed quality that enhances the protagonist’s poignant, youthful courage. Epic tragedy and grave betrayals are conveyed with a light touch, while Young Hag’s arduous personal growth and development have a heartwarming gravitas. Greenberg’s play with her sources...has satisfying imaginative and critical depth."—Horn Book Magazine

"Her depiction of a magical world filled with changelings, witches, powerful swords, and goblin markets is a perfect choice for readers who have an affinity for fast-paced stories with high fantasy settings. A fast-paced, fantastical story, full of intrigue, magic, and the female perspective. A perfect addition to any graphic novel collection."—School and Library Journal

From the Publisher

05/01/2024

Gr 9 Up—Rooted entirely in the female perspective, in typical Greenberg fashion, this graphic novel provides a unique spin on the beloved tale of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. Instead of the familiar tale of Arthur and the sword, we meet the Young Hag, a refreshing and unique protagonist who tries to return Excalibur to the world of faeries, all the while trying to uncover why there is no magic in her world. Greenberg, with her signature art style that is both rough and colorful, flawlessly complements the narrative and the unconventional retelling of a classic tale. Her depiction of a magical world filled with changelings, witches, powerful swords, and goblin markets is a perfect choice for readers who have an affinity for fast-paced stories with high fantasy settings. It's a captivating read that leaves readers wanting more and would be ideal for those new to graphic novels or hardcore fans of the form. VERDICT A fast-paced, fantastical story, full of intrigue, magic, and the female perspective. A perfect addition to any graphic novel collection.—Allia Nisa

School Library Journal