Ayaka Witchcraft Works is a popular manga series written and illustrated by Ryū Mizunagi. The story revolves around a high school student named Takamiya Honoka, who is just an average guy with a not-so-average secret. He is the target of the witches, who constantly try to capture him for various unknown reasons. However, Ayaka Kagari, the most powerful witch in his school, steps in to protect him. One of the main aspects of the manga is the concept of witch grafts. In this world, witches possess the ability to use magic, and they can enhance their powers by grafting enchantments onto their bodies.
While the UDM kids expect some trouble from the mean kids from Dunwiddle who always hassle them, they aren’t sure what to expect from the Sage kids. They are in for some surprises – maybe Nory most of all when she sees the impact Sage has on her magic.
Sometimes obstacles make it hard to keep up with everyone else, but sometimes being differently-abled can work to your advantage because there are things that you are capable of doing that no one else can. In this magical world, you are going to interact with Flares, who engage in fire magic, Fuzzies, or the animal magicians and Flickers who make objects and themselves invisible.
In this world, witches possess the ability to use magic, and they can enhance their powers by grafting enchantments onto their bodies. These grafts can take various forms, such as animal parts or mechanical enhancements, and they grant the witches enhanced abilities and specialized magical skills. Ayaka Kagari, the protagonist, is known as the "Fire Witch" due to her ability to control fire.
Deeper Messages in Upside Down Magic
Imagine a world of magic where every child comes into their powers at 10. At that point, they come into their abilities and are “supposed” to fall into the neatly organized categories of magic – fluxer, flicker, flare, fuzzy, and flyer. Now imagine that when your magic comes in, it doesn’t quite fit the “normal” mold. That’s the concept behind the great series by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins, Upside Down Magic.
My 8 year old daughter is in love with this series and I felt that I had to understand what drew her to it so much. Plus, I had listened to pieces of most of the books while with my daughter. The books center on Nory Horrace and her classmates who have magical abilities that don’t fit into the mold that everyone expects. Nory is a fluxer, someone who can change into animals, but rather than a single animal, she typically becomes a combination of things such as a kitten and dragon, a dritten! The problem is that Nory’s father happens to be the headmaster of an elite magical boarding school and they do not accept students who are not “normal.” Because of this, Nory gets sent to live with her aunt and enrolls in a program for kids with “upside down magic.”
Now that I have read and/or listened to most of these books, I have come to realize that there are a number of really important messages that weave their way through every book in the series. Two of my favorites are embracing differences in yourself and others and that it takes a village. Wow. Those are really amazing concepts to instill in kids without bashing them over the head with it. I especially like how they deal with the pressure that Nory gets from her father.
So far, each book focuses on a different kid and how their magic impacts their life, with Nory getting attention in every title. In addition to feeling a bit out of place and celebrating your differences, the three authors try to look at the other issues the class (and kids this age) might be facing.
- The students are often bullied for being different, but the point is also made that bullying can be done both intentionally and unintentionally.
- Stepping out of your comfort zone and into new situations can be scary, but it can also be totally worth it.
- Friendship, and how we treat our friends, is a common theme. You are not always going to agree with your friends and sometimes you are not always treated the way you should be, and vice versa.
- Overcoming obstacles is a way of life for these kids. Sometimes obstacles make it hard to keep up with everyone else, but sometimes being differently-abled can work to your advantage because there are things that you are capable of doing that no one else can.
The quality of books for early middle grade readers these days is phenomenal and this series is one of the reasons why. The characters are just silly enough to keep you from even realizing there is something deeper going on. Nory continues to change into all sort of different animals and the pictures you can create in your head are priceless. Who wouldn’t be shocked by a blue-bird/elephant? The 6th book is coming out in September and I know this will be one of my purchases when our book fair comes around!
Upside-Down Magic
Upside-Down Magic is the first book in the Upside-Down Magic series. The book stars Nory Horace, a nine-year-old girl with magical powers. Nory is brave, resourceful, and a shapeshifter. The young girl can transform into different animals. However, her shape-shifting talent is not as refined, so she fails to pass the Big Test. This means that she cannot join the elite Sage Academy where her sixteen-year-old brother and her sister Dalia go to school. Their father, Dr. Horace, is the principal at the Sage Academy. All is not lost as Nory is sent to live with Aunt Margo, where she can attend Dunwiddle Magic School.
Dunwiddle is a public school that is just starting the Upside-Down Magic class. This class will help children whose magic is different to make better use of their superpower. At her magic class, Nory meets other kids like her. Unfortunately, this is not the place she wants to be in. Nory hopes that she can fix her magic quickly and go back to her life. Life is no fun in a school where this young girl and her classmates are regarded as misfits. The fact that Aunt Margo is like a stranger to her doesn’t help much. However, Ms. Starr, the magic class teacher, makes all the difference in these kids’ lives.
It is in Ms. Starr’s class that Nory and those like her learn how to manage their magic and emotions. When others in school look down upon them, they must rise above it and remain true to themselves. There have been a few mishaps since the class started, but Nory and her friends are among the good guys. Ms. Starr also teaches the kids how to trust and forgive. She hopes that by the time kids are out of her care; they will also have learned that their unique abilities were not anything to be ashamed of.
She has several powerful grafts that give her control over different aspects of fire, such as creating fire shields, launching fire projectiles, and even flying using fire. Her mastery over these grafts makes her one of the most formidable witches in the series. Throughout the story, Ayaka and Honoka face numerous challenges and battles against other witches who try to capture Honoka. The manga explores the relationship between Ayaka and Honoka, as they develop a strong bond and work together to overcome the various threats they encounter. Ayaka's unique abilities and her extensive use of witch grafts add an element of excitement and action to the story. Overall, Ayaka Witchcraft Works is an engaging manga that combines elements of magic, action, and romance. The concept of witch grafts and the abilities they grant the characters introduce a unique twist to the world of witches and adds depth to the storytelling. The dynamic between Ayaka and Honoka, along with the constant battles against other witches, keep readers hooked and eager to discover what happens next..
Reviews for "Ayaka Witch Grafts: Infusing Works with Magical Energies"
- Karen - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Ayaka witch grafts works". The story felt disjointed and the characters lacked depth. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself not caring about what happened to them. The pacing was also off, with slow parts that dragged on for too long and then rushed action scenes that left me confused. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book and wouldn't recommend it.
- Kevin - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish reading "Ayaka witch grafts works". The writing style was incredibly confusing and convoluted. It felt like the author was just throwing random words and phrases together without any clear direction or purpose. The plot was also difficult to follow, with random subplots that didn't seem to tie into the main story. I found myself constantly re-reading paragraphs just to try and understand what was going on, and even then, it didn't make much sense. This book was a complete waste of my time.
- Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Ayaka witch grafts works" but was ultimately let down. The concept was interesting, but the execution fell flat. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, and the characters' actions often didn't make sense. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with more questions than answers. It's frustrating when a book has potential but fails to deliver, and that was definitely the case here. I wouldn't recommend it to others.