Graphic Novel Review - 'Séance Tea Party' by Reimena Yee

Oh my goddesses.

Was this graphic novel made for me?

How can I relate to a fantasy story this much?

'Séance Tea Party' has practically everything that I love: A cute, soft, cartoony art aesthetic; the theme of the power of imagination and childhood; the theme of growing up; a cute Halloween motif; cute and gorgeous magical creatures, big or little; a POC, LBGTQ, outcast female lead who loves all things witchy and has a distinctive, comfy style (mainly in black and purple fashion); friendship, with no romance to permeate everything; geeky characters and references; a simple but engaging and compelling mystery element; touching, sad and very human subject matters, while the story stays hopeful and sweet; an older, female, POC fantasy and fairy tale writer character; and overall a flawless mixture of fantasy and reality to the narrative.

'Séance Tea Party' is like 'Anya's Ghost' (but without any dark and ulterior motives), the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, and the works of Kay O'Neill (who, incidentally, wrote a glowing review of this book for the blurb).

It's scary how much I relate to the protagonist, Lora Xi. She's a preteen girl who is upset that all her childhood friends are growing up and drifting away from her, expressing new and "mature" interests. It's like they are fading from her life, and so she is lonely and stuck playing make-believe by herself. Lora doesn't want to lose her child's heart and free and easy outlook on life. But it's as hard being a young girl as it is being a woman of any age.

One day, as a "witch", Lora ends up summoning a ghost girl named Alexa while playing at a séance tea party with her imaginary fairy creatures. Alexa was also Lora's "imaginary" friend from when she was younger. Now she's back.

Maybe someone who can't grow up, who will always be around for her, is what Lora wants and needs. They can make magic together, forever.

But what happens when Lora makes up with one of her old friends (Bobby, also a POC and on the LBGTQ spectrum), and makes new ones with some older girls? What will happen to Alexa when she starts becoming the lonely one?

Who is she, anyway? Even she doesn't know that.

What decade did she come from? How did she die? Who were her friends from when she was alive, and where are they now?

Will Alexa want to stay a child and remain stuck in the same place for all eternity? Or will the ghost want to give up the ghost, and want to grow up after all? To just move on, like everyone else she's ever interacted with?

I mentioned how much I relate to Lora, and she is a lot like me; now and from when I was a kid (except that I envy her being able to make friends so easily, even when she's so shy and doesn't believe in herself). We share the same interests and tastes. She is just one powerful touch in a graphic novel full of magic in every single beautiful and darling page.

'Séance Tea Party' is the second graphic novel in a row I've read today that's Halloween themed, contains LBGTQ content, is literally magical and supernatural, and is a sweet, wholesome children's coming-of-age tale; the first book was 'Beetle & the Hollowbones' (they both even feature cat ears as symbols of childhood!). I adore them, but I love 'Séance Tea Party' more for its all-encompassing relatability, and how much it's like the masterpieces that Kay O'Neill creates, such as 'The Tea Dragon Society' (of course). There's a charming, imaginative, whimsical, wistful, poignant and moving feel to it; it never gives up its child's heart to cynicism, nor its faith in human nature and the power of imagination.

Also, that moment when Alexa looks in a mirror and uses Lora's purple lipstick to draw lines on it - age lines, for her face - and she sees herself as she might have looked like if she'd lived long enough to old age, like her childhood friends? That is bone-chilling.

Countless beautiful meanings and life lessons are to be found in 'Séance Tea Party'. It is pure, comfortable, aureate, kind, friendly, tea-and-biscuit-covered love in book form. It has a bit of everything.

One of my new favourite graphic novels of all time, say hello. What a perfect experience for me.

Magic can be found anywhere - in the mind, in the environment, in books, in family, in friendships old and new. And however fleeting all these can be - as time waits on no one and is merciless - like magic, they can last forever. Work hard at it; hold on to them, never take them for granted, believe in yourself, be yourself, keep your child's heart and imagination, and you'll be fine.

So never be afraid to grow up.


"But that's what growing up is, no? Not knowing, and being confused. [...] No adult has any idea what they're doing all the time [...] And that's not a bad thing. [...] You get to make your own choices, and see those choices through. [...] You'll lose yourself sometimes and then discover something new. You'll be remaking and developing who you are as you live and love. [...] Do you see it, Lora? This is magic by another name -- freedom. [...] It's a blessing worth celebrating."


Final Score: 5/5