The Witch Boy Trilogy
Part of the collectionMolly Knox Ostertag→Best for 9–12s who want graphic-novel fantasy with real emotional substance and an unobtrusive trans-coded reading.
- Books3 / 3
- Arcs1
- Span2017–2019
- StatusComplete
The series
At a glance.
Three graphic novels (The Witch Boy, 2017; The Hidden Witch, 2018; The Midwinter Witch, 2019) about Aster, a thirteen-year-old boy in a magical family where boys are supposed to become shapeshifters and girls become witches. Aster wants to be a witch. The trilogy is at heart a quiet, well-paced story about gender expectations and family, with magic as the medium rather than the message. Ostertag's art is clean, bright, expressive; the storytelling is generous without being soft.
Best for 9–12s who want graphic-novel fantasy with real emotional substance and an unobtrusive trans-coded reading.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Thought provoking
Read in order — the trilogy is one continuous story.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- INarrative arcBooks 1–3 · 2017–2019Moderate sensitivity
Aster's three years
A complete three-book arc: Aster claiming witchcraft, learning to use it well, and competing at the Midwinter festival.
Each book advances the central character work — the first establishes the situation and stakes; the second widens the friendship circle and tests Aster's growing skills; the third brings everything to a public reckoning at the Midwinter festival. The trilogy is self-contained and resolves cleanly.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 9–13
- Read aloud · 8–12
- Independent · 9–13
Reluctant-reader friendliness
High
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Moderate overall, and consistent.
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
Similar in feel
Different shelves, same wavelength.
- The Tea Dragon Society →
About the author