Black Witch Series is a young adult fantasy series written by Laurie Forest. The series is set in a complex world filled with magic, politics, and oppression. It follows the journey of Elloren Gardner, a young witch who must navigate a society filled with prejudice and discrimination. The first book in the series, "The Black Witch," introduces readers to Elloren as she enters university. Elloren, being the granddaughter of the infamous Black Witch, faces hostility and scrutiny from her peers. Despite her lack of magical abilities, Elloren embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about herself and the world she lives in.
Tell us about you. What's your background, and what other books have you created?
I've been creating stories in comics since I was five, and started doing so professionally about 15 years ago. I've been an illustrator for books and advertising for a little while, too. I moved to New York for a few years and published a few graphic novels there, including Brazen, a series of portraits of incredible women. And then I moved back to my hometown, Paris!
It always appeared to me as the most instinctive way of telling a story, as well as the most complete no restrictions of setting, scenery, costumes, special effects. This story was made to be turned into a graphic novel, it has all the ingredients for it crazy action scenes, terrible villains, and colourful characters.
Despite her lack of magical abilities, Elloren embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about herself and the world she lives in. Throughout the series, Elloren develops strong relationships with diverse characters, including her best friend, Diana, who belongs to the Icaral race, a powerful group that many view with suspicion. As Elloren immerses herself in the world of politics and battles, she realizes that her destiny may be intertwined with the fate of the entire society.
How I transformed Roald Dahl's The Witches into a graphic novel
The Witches is one of Roald Dahl's most iconic stories - and now it's been turned into a graphic novel! We spoke to Pénélope Bagieu about how she adapted such a classic tale.
Photo: Simone Eusebio
Tell us about you. What's your background, and what other books have you created?
I've been creating stories in comics since I was five, and started doing so professionally about 15 years ago. I've been an illustrator for books and advertising for a little while, too. I moved to New York for a few years and published a few graphic novels there, including Brazen, a series of portraits of incredible women. And then I moved back to my hometown, Paris!
How did you become interested in creating graphic novels?
It always appeared to me as the most instinctive way of telling a story, as well as the most complete: no restrictions of setting, scenery, costumes, special effects. it's like directing a movie where everything is free (except for your long hours of drawing!) and you get to be everybody: filmmaker, screenwriter, and all of the actors.
It must have been so exciting to be asked to create the graphic novel version of such a famous story. How did you feel when you started drawing it?
I was so impatient! There were some specific scenes I couldn't wait to draw, especially those that had terrified me when I was eight. This story was made to be turned into a graphic novel, it has all the ingredients for it: crazy action scenes, terrible villains, and colourful characters.
What characters did you enjoy creating the most?
Probably the two heroines of the story: The Grand High Witch and Grandmamma. The two of them are so fascinating and charismatic, in opposite ways. I love this duality and the way they fight each other. But of course my absolute favourite character is truly Grandmamma, because she's super cool.
Was The Witches challenging to recreate, given that Quentin Blake's illustrations and the film version of the book with Anjelica Huston are so well known?
I figured this would be challenging when I started thinking about the little thumbnails of the story, but oddly, it wasn't at all. The characters I created, although based on the original ones, are definitely my own. Grandmamma is my Grandmamma. The Grand High Witch is the one I had in my nightmares. The minute I really defined who my protagonists would be, they immediately gained their own unique appearance, voice, expressions, way to walk and so on. It was never a new version of existing characters to me.
What do you love about graphic novels? And what do you think children love about them?
I love the fact that they can deal with any possible subject - even the most delicate ones - in a very poetic way sometimes. The connection you have as a reader with a drawn, moving, expressive character is like no other. There's more to it than just text and images; a third dimension appears and the story gets real, even the most fantastic one. To me, that's magic.
What books did you love as a child?
To be honest, my favourite author really was Roald Dahl. His books brought me the joy of reading for the first time, of falling into a vortex without being able to put the book down. I loved re-reading his books over and over again, drawing the characters I imagined, and telling the stories to my friends. It led me to both loving reading stories, and telling them. And The Witches has always been my favourite!
The Witches Graphic Novel by Roald Dahl and Pénélope Bagieu is out now in hardback (published by Scholastic).
Roald Dahl Story Day, the global celebration of Roald Dahl stories, is celebrated on September 13th. For more information on what's happening, go to the website here.
Photo: Simone Eusebio
Laurie Forest skillfully weaves together themes of racism, xenophobia, and social injustice in the Black Witch Series. The books delve into the complexities of power dynamics and challenge readers to confront their own beliefs and prejudices. Critics and readers alike have praised the series for its rich world-building and complex characters. The Black Witch Series is noted for its diverse cast and thought-provoking exploration of social issues. It is a gripping and thought-provoking series that tackles important topics in a fantastical setting. Overall, the Black Witch Series is a must-read for fans of fantasy and those interested in stories that address social issues. Laurie Forest's captivating storytelling and exploration of prejudice make this series a standout in the genre. Readers will be left eagerly anticipating the next installment and the resolution of Elloren's journey..
Reviews for "The Black Witch Series: An Exploration of Prejudice and Discrimination"
1. Susan - 2/5 stars - The Black Witch series was a huge disappointment for me. I had heard great things about it and was excited to dive into a new fantasy world. However, I found the characters to be poorly developed and lacked depth. The main protagonist, Elloren, was incredibly passive and it was frustrating to see her make the same mistakes over and over again. The world-building was also lacking, and I never felt fully immersed in the story. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this series.
2. Michael - 1/5 stars - I could not understand the hype surrounding the Black Witch series. The plot was slow and meandering, and I found myself losing interest halfway through the first book. The writing style was also a major turn-off for me, with clunky prose that made it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the book seemed to rely heavily on stereotypes and lacked originality. I was hoping for a unique and captivating fantasy series, but unfortunately, this was not it.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for the Black Witch series, but it ultimately fell flat for me. The pacing was inconsistent and it took way too long for the story to really get going. The author also tried to tackle important social issues such as racism and prejudice, but I felt that it was handled poorly and lacked nuance. The characters felt one-dimensional and it was hard to feel invested in their journey. Overall, I found the series to be underwhelming and would not recommend it.