Will I love Snapdragon?

The setting, characters, and lore in Snapdragon are so refreshing, that I consider this a must-read for fantasy fans. It’s about a middle-school outcast named Snapdragon (or just “Snap”) who befriends the local witch, Jacks. Leyh’s story seamlessly bounces back between the present, the past, and Snap’s creepy stories about the ghost who haunts her family: One-Eyed Tom. This is a fun book with a lot to chew on! 

Most towns have stories of the local witch. Snap’s is Jacks: a woman in the woods known for her eccentric ways and tendency to collect local roadkill. But as Snap begins learning more about Jacks, she realizes that Jacks can do real magic as well. Creator Kat Leyh takes stereotypes and challenges them in fresh ways. This story of identity, and what it can mean to embrace and inhabit your identity, is just a dash of magic away from the real world and will appeal to readers starting to pick up fantasy or looking for a bit more realism in… show more.

I love books that have a touch of magic yet still feel realistic. And I think Snapdragon gets the balance just right. Snapdragon is the story of unexpected friendships. The main character, Snapdragon, is lonely until she befriends the town witch and Lu. Kat Leyh has done a wonderful job weaving LGBTQ themes into the story in a way that is natural and meaningful for younger audiences.