Graphic Novel Review - 'Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic' by Sangu Mandanna (Writer), Pablo Ballesteros (Artist)

'Learning magic isn't always as bewitching as it sounds.'

'Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic' - there isn't much I can say about it. It's a simple children's magic boarding school graphic novel, about believing in yourself, appreciating what you have and what you can do, appreciating nature and the earth, patience, figuring out where you belong, and how everyone is special and important.

There is a lot of 'The Owl House' in it, as well as Archie's 'Sabrina', 'The Worst Witch', and, ahem, that other children's magic boarding school series that shall not be named. 'Jupiter Nettle' has been compared to 'The Okay Witch', too, which I see, and adore.

There's a sarcastic talking black cat (of course), unicorns, dragons, ghosts, a two-headed dog that's strangely never acknowledged by the characters, and a (useless) monarchy. Additionally, 'Jupiter Nettle' contains a pleasantly surprising number of feminist themes, angles and twists. The comic stars many great female characters, and it has two female witch/mage school professors who are married to each other! We need more LBGTQ+ inclusion and normalisation in middle grade books like this.

The art is cartoony, colourful, and terribly, terribly cute.

Overall, 'Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic' is cute, charming, funny, and is rife with super important messages. It could have had more depth and originality to it, with no need to be limited by its young target demographic; who are smart, and who understand, are thrilled by, and who feel inspired by, more than we give them credit for. Oh, and the magical stardust flower power plot point doesn't really go anywhere.

But oh well, it's nice as it is. This middle grade magic boarding school comic about magical farming contains an abundant growth of beautiful, enchanting, feminist elements and tastes that I love, so I'm keeping it.

I haven't liked anything else by rising-in-sudden-popularity author Sangu Mandanna in the past, but I do like her first children's graphic novel writing outing. I wonder if there will be a sequel...

Huh. It turns out I did have much more to say about 'Jupiter Nettle' than I'd thought. I always end up writing longer reviews than I thought I would. It all just comes out of my heart and mind, to my fingertips!

Well, never mind. I'll write one more thing for now:

What else is 'Jupiter Nettle' about? What are its other themes? - I know! Finding magic in the mundane, the unexpected, the "unmagical", in life. And friendship and community.

Everyone belongs somewhere. Everyone deserves magic in their lives if they want it badly enough. And kinships.

Final Score: 3.5/5