Molly Knox Ostertag

Molly Knox Ostertag is an American graphic novelist whose work occupies the queer-positive, contemporary-fantasy middle-grade and YA space. The Witch Boy Trilogy (2017–2019), about a boy who wants to learn witchcraft in a community where boys do shapeshifting and girls do magic, was an early standout of the post-Smile graphic novel boom; The Girl from the Sea (2021) is a queer YA selkie romance; The Deep Dark (2024) is heavier YA horror. Pitched at upper-MG and YA respectively; queer experience is foregrounded, never tokenistic.

Quietly important graphic novelist on the queer-positive MG/YA spectrum, start with The Witch Boy Trilogy for 9–12s, The Girl from the Sea for teens.

Primary themes

• Acceptance of others
• Family
• Gender identity
• Identity
• Love

Tone palette

• Warm
• Heartwarming
• Thought provoking
• Suspenseful