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Hexed #1
Hexed
Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Sex Education - Jessie Jones has just discovered she's a witch. Too bad there isn't a hex to make slimy Callum Henderson and his friends disappear ... yet. A feisty, funny YA series about discovering your place and your power.
New girl, new school, new life on stupid island - thanks Mum. All Jessie Jones wants is to keep her head down, avoid school douchebag Callum Henderson, and coast - middle-of-the-road-like. But when strange powers start to manifest during crippling period pains, flying under the radar seems highly unlikely.
Can Jessie embrace her new-found witchiness, control her erratic powers and work out a way to bring down Callum and his cult of toxic masculinity?
New girl, new school, new life on stupid island - thanks Mum. All Jessie Jones wants is to keep her head down, avoid school douchebag Callum Henderson, and coast - middle-of-the-road-like. But when strange powers start to manifest during crippling period pains, flying under the radar seems highly unlikely.
Can Jessie embrace her new-found witchiness, control her erratic powers and work out a way to bring down Callum and his cult of toxic masculinity?
329 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2021
13 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
December 27, 2021
Wonderfully witty and fabulously feisty, Julia Tuffs’ spellbinding YA debut delivers hilarious one liners and sarcastic quips to rival even the Queen of YA, Holly Bourne.
Jessie Jones has just discovered she’s a witch.
Having been forced to move back to her mother’s hometown,start a new school and a whole new life—she never once imagined that she could possibly be a witch.
All she wants to do is stay invisible and unnoticed by the rest of the school. But when her powers manifest with crippling period pains during a maths lesson seated next to the schools most popular bully, she realises staying invisible is going to be highly unlikely.
I absolutely loved it! Fast paced and packed with humour (and a heap of pop culture references) I literally couldn’t put this down, it was soo addictive.
Jessie was an incredibly entertaining and well written character,though at times she was a little self absorbed. I absolutely loved her Nonna and think her cat,Dave (who is female) definitely needed more page time.
Watching Jessie’s magic attempts was Incredibly amusing—though, it’s her resolute fight for justice against the sexist double standards and misogyny that makes her such a great character.
I loved feminist themes of equality and empowerment, I thought it worked well with our witchy protagonist’s ancestral legacy (as women have historically been prosecuted as witches for not following societal norms) and giving it a modern contemporary setting was simply perfect.
Though there was a hint of romance I liked that the story doesn’t only revolve around it —focusing instead on the bonds of family and friendship.
Overall, it’s a really solid and enjoyable read if you’re a fan of Holly Bourne then I’d definitely suggest picking this one up, it’s good!
I also just want to thank Orion Children's Books and Net Galley for the ARC.
Jessie Jones has just discovered she’s a witch.
Having been forced to move back to her mother’s hometown,start a new school and a whole new life—she never once imagined that she could possibly be a witch.
All she wants to do is stay invisible and unnoticed by the rest of the school. But when her powers manifest with crippling period pains during a maths lesson seated next to the schools most popular bully, she realises staying invisible is going to be highly unlikely.
I absolutely loved it! Fast paced and packed with humour (and a heap of pop culture references) I literally couldn’t put this down, it was soo addictive.
Jessie was an incredibly entertaining and well written character,though at times she was a little self absorbed. I absolutely loved her Nonna and think her cat,Dave (who is female) definitely needed more page time.
Watching Jessie’s magic attempts was Incredibly amusing—though, it’s her resolute fight for justice against the sexist double standards and misogyny that makes her such a great character.
I loved feminist themes of equality and empowerment, I thought it worked well with our witchy protagonist’s ancestral legacy (as women have historically been prosecuted as witches for not following societal norms) and giving it a modern contemporary setting was simply perfect.
Though there was a hint of romance I liked that the story doesn’t only revolve around it —focusing instead on the bonds of family and friendship.
Overall, it’s a really solid and enjoyable read if you’re a fan of Holly Bourne then I’d definitely suggest picking this one up, it’s good!
I also just want to thank Orion Children's Books and Net Galley for the ARC.
July 6, 2021
After reading the blurb, I knew I had to read this! So I was very excited when I received a copy. Thank you Hachette Australia!😁
After her mother decides to move them to the Isle of Wight, Jessie becomes the new girl in school. She also hates everything about the old crumbling hotel she's forced to call home, wants to blend in without getting attention, but suddenly finds herself caught in the dangerous web of the school social elite. If only her witchy powers hadn't decided to manifest at the same time...
OMG. I loved this!
I was sucked into Jessie's story as soon as I started reading because her voice was so witty and funny, and the witchy side hits pretty quickly. So I was equal parts interested and intrigued.
This book is full of great characters and terrible characters, and their arcs are very cool. I absolutely loved how they all fit into Jessie's life and how they affected the overall conflict and resolution.
Jessie goes through a really hard time when she's targeted by a terrible sexist bully and things get pretty dark. And sometimes she even makes some frustrating mistakes, but the charming quality of the narrative is never lost. She goes through a lot of ups and downs, causing several angry situations, which are dealt with in a very teenage way.
How well the good, bad and in between is balanced while never dragging down the good vibes, is a testament to the awesome writing style.
Also, I absolutely LOVED Jessie's family. Her grandmother, mother and sister are a great group of women. And Nonna was the best! She's hilarious and super intuitive. Yeah, I have a weakness for awesome and cool grandmothers. 👵
Asides from the fun factor, this book deals with some very serious issues that affect girls and women every single day at work and school. The way everything was dealt with was creative and empowering.
HEXED: Don't Get Mad, Get Powers is a totally cute and super fun tale told by a witty and awesome narrator. It deals with some pretty serious issues: bullying, lies, consent and sexism, to name a few. And all of the awful consequences that follow these toxic situations. Along with these very real issues, the witchy angle works well too.
This is a fantastic feminist YA.
After her mother decides to move them to the Isle of Wight, Jessie becomes the new girl in school. She also hates everything about the old crumbling hotel she's forced to call home, wants to blend in without getting attention, but suddenly finds herself caught in the dangerous web of the school social elite. If only her witchy powers hadn't decided to manifest at the same time...
OMG. I loved this!
I was sucked into Jessie's story as soon as I started reading because her voice was so witty and funny, and the witchy side hits pretty quickly. So I was equal parts interested and intrigued.
This book is full of great characters and terrible characters, and their arcs are very cool. I absolutely loved how they all fit into Jessie's life and how they affected the overall conflict and resolution.
Jessie goes through a really hard time when she's targeted by a terrible sexist bully and things get pretty dark. And sometimes she even makes some frustrating mistakes, but the charming quality of the narrative is never lost. She goes through a lot of ups and downs, causing several angry situations, which are dealt with in a very teenage way.
How well the good, bad and in between is balanced while never dragging down the good vibes, is a testament to the awesome writing style.
Also, I absolutely LOVED Jessie's family. Her grandmother, mother and sister are a great group of women. And Nonna was the best! She's hilarious and super intuitive. Yeah, I have a weakness for awesome and cool grandmothers. 👵
Asides from the fun factor, this book deals with some very serious issues that affect girls and women every single day at work and school. The way everything was dealt with was creative and empowering.
HEXED: Don't Get Mad, Get Powers is a totally cute and super fun tale told by a witty and awesome narrator. It deals with some pretty serious issues: bullying, lies, consent and sexism, to name a few. And all of the awful consequences that follow these toxic situations. Along with these very real issues, the witchy angle works well too.
This is a fantastic feminist YA.
July 11, 2021
Jessie Jones has got used to moving schools regularly, being the new face and trying to do enough not to get noticed. However, when her mum moves the family back to her hometown, things are not quite as straightforward as she might have hoped.
Trying to fly under the radar might work out okay for most…but when you find your darkest wishes suddenly manifesting in front of you it’s a sign something strange is going on. Jessie finds herself wondering how she’s managed to turn the face of popular bully boy Callum acne-ridden, and how her desire for a boy to get caught out in his lies can result in his nose suddenly growing. What she’s not expecting is the revelation that she’s a witch.
The stereotype of witches is definitely challenged here. Jessie and her family come from a long line of witches, and their powers can come in useful.
There’s a bit of silliness at first with talk of witchcraft being used to rectify awful cooking or to conjure up the perfect bath. But in Hexed we have a superficially funny tale - of a girl who learns she’s a witch coming into her powers - that is used to deliver a very important message about women in society.
From early on we can see things on the island are not quite right. Women are treated badly…and these misogynistic views are held under scrutiny with the focus on behaviour in Jessie’s school. From the casual scoring system of rating girls’ attractiveness to the leery comments and tales of poor behaviour. There’s a clear culture of sexism and this book shows one girl’s attempts to take on and challenge these views.
While it might not exactly be smashing the patriarchy Hexed shows sexism is still an issue and ought to be challenged, by everyone. Along the way, there’s some other useful life lessons challenging attitudes and pushing back bit by bit. A tale that should be shared every day…not just Wednesdays!
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publication.
Trying to fly under the radar might work out okay for most…but when you find your darkest wishes suddenly manifesting in front of you it’s a sign something strange is going on. Jessie finds herself wondering how she’s managed to turn the face of popular bully boy Callum acne-ridden, and how her desire for a boy to get caught out in his lies can result in his nose suddenly growing. What she’s not expecting is the revelation that she’s a witch.
The stereotype of witches is definitely challenged here. Jessie and her family come from a long line of witches, and their powers can come in useful.
There’s a bit of silliness at first with talk of witchcraft being used to rectify awful cooking or to conjure up the perfect bath. But in Hexed we have a superficially funny tale - of a girl who learns she’s a witch coming into her powers - that is used to deliver a very important message about women in society.
From early on we can see things on the island are not quite right. Women are treated badly…and these misogynistic views are held under scrutiny with the focus on behaviour in Jessie’s school. From the casual scoring system of rating girls’ attractiveness to the leery comments and tales of poor behaviour. There’s a clear culture of sexism and this book shows one girl’s attempts to take on and challenge these views.
While it might not exactly be smashing the patriarchy Hexed shows sexism is still an issue and ought to be challenged, by everyone. Along the way, there’s some other useful life lessons challenging attitudes and pushing back bit by bit. A tale that should be shared every day…not just Wednesdays!
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publication.
February 16, 2022
3.5 - 4 /5
May 24, 2021
I loved this witchy debut - it made me think of Carrie, but with the smart feminist humour of Laura Stevens’ The Exact Opposite of Okay. Definitely one to add to your summer reading list!
October 12, 2021
Well, for what this book was trying to do, it certainly wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Maybe it would also suit a younger audience better.
Personally the book just felt like a rewrite of other similar girl-stands-up-to-misogyny-at-school books, like The Burning or Blood Moon, which in my opinion, were better done. The only difference was the “witchiness” which didn’t make the book any more enjoyable for me. The characters felt two-dimensional and the story felt flat and completely transparent.
It was still enjoyable to read though and a nice message.
Personally the book just felt like a rewrite of other similar girl-stands-up-to-misogyny-at-school books, like The Burning or Blood Moon, which in my opinion, were better done. The only difference was the “witchiness” which didn’t make the book any more enjoyable for me. The characters felt two-dimensional and the story felt flat and completely transparent.
It was still enjoyable to read though and a nice message.
August 7, 2022
WHY is this not more popular??? it was sO good! aaaaah
August 27, 2021
“Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Sex Education” is a perfect leading quote for this highly entertaining supernatural comedy set on the Isle of Wight. Fifteen-year-old Jessie Jones moves to the island with her single parent mother and struggles to settle in her new school, with a few amusing mishaps along the way. Jessica believes her mother to be having a mid-life crisis, but in actual fact her mother is descended from a long line of witches, but their power is only potent when they are on their island turf (this was a quirky spin). Early in her new school career weird things begin to happen when Math geek Jessie is around, and she begins to suspect she is the cause. Sure enough, now that she is back on her family’s island, she is beginning to develop the family’s witching powers. Interestingly, this is connected to her period, so although Hexed is a teen comedy, there is a lot of open talk of menstruation. It does not particularly read like a horror novel and is more in tune with teen dramas by the likes of Holly Bourne, with a feisty and very engaging teen negotiating the dangers of high school, boys, social media and fitting in without selling her soul.
Amazingly, when we get beyond the humorous aspects of Jessie trying to get a handle on her clumsy magical skills Hexed has a powerful message which is uncannily similar to the current media stories of rape culture and sexism in British secondary schools. In fact, Hexed completely nails this subject to the wall and does it with some style and good humour whilst making revealing observations. If you’re after something similar, but slightly darker, then The Burning by Laura Bates is another top recommendation. Incredibly, when Julia Tuffs wrote Hexed the website Everyone’s Invited did not exist, but it covers the same ground as Jessie finds herself being filmed and mocked. As a result, she is shocked by the level of sexism in her school and the fact that the teachers are aware of it but do little or nothing about it. This was an interesting development which took Hexed beyond the story of a normal girl developing supernatural powers. The final sequences in the assembly hall might have been lifted from an American high school teen drama, but I was still smiling and cheering Jessie on. Go girl! AGE RANGE 12/13+
Amazingly, when we get beyond the humorous aspects of Jessie trying to get a handle on her clumsy magical skills Hexed has a powerful message which is uncannily similar to the current media stories of rape culture and sexism in British secondary schools. In fact, Hexed completely nails this subject to the wall and does it with some style and good humour whilst making revealing observations. If you’re after something similar, but slightly darker, then The Burning by Laura Bates is another top recommendation. Incredibly, when Julia Tuffs wrote Hexed the website Everyone’s Invited did not exist, but it covers the same ground as Jessie finds herself being filmed and mocked. As a result, she is shocked by the level of sexism in her school and the fact that the teachers are aware of it but do little or nothing about it. This was an interesting development which took Hexed beyond the story of a normal girl developing supernatural powers. The final sequences in the assembly hall might have been lifted from an American high school teen drama, but I was still smiling and cheering Jessie on. Go girl! AGE RANGE 12/13+
October 31, 2021
Imagine Sabrina The Teenage Witch meets Sex Education and you’ve got it in one. It’s fierce, suuuper witchy and feminist AF! I can see Holly Bourne fans loving this!
🎃
I was totally taken by surprise reading this. I expected a cute YA witchy story but it’s an absolute powerhouse of feminism. Julia Tuffs balances the fun of a young witch discovering her incredible powers for the first time (loved how the magic is linked to periods) with laying bare the reality of how bad sexism and bullying is in schools today from the students to the teachers. The story really champions female empowerment and smashing the patriarchy whilst also being hilarious and full of love. I wanted to scream at the toxic masculinity at points and I now want my own magical powers to tackle misogyny immediately!
🎃
I was totally taken by surprise reading this. I expected a cute YA witchy story but it’s an absolute powerhouse of feminism. Julia Tuffs balances the fun of a young witch discovering her incredible powers for the first time (loved how the magic is linked to periods) with laying bare the reality of how bad sexism and bullying is in schools today from the students to the teachers. The story really champions female empowerment and smashing the patriarchy whilst also being hilarious and full of love. I wanted to scream at the toxic masculinity at points and I now want my own magical powers to tackle misogyny immediately!
July 21, 2021
A fun feminist book about a teen girl dsicovering she is a witch and tackling gender inequality while discovering the value of female friendships. Perfect summer read
Read
March 22, 2022A gripping feminist YA novel that reads like MEAN GIRLS meets THE CRAFT.
April 12, 2022
Jessie has moved to the Isle of Wight after her mum had a health scare that made her rethink her life and move back where she was raised. Jessie is not happy about it. She has moved mid-year and her classmates are bullies. However, strange things start happening when she's menstruating and Jessie finds out that she's a witch. She actually comes from a long line of witches and her mother, grandma and sister all are. Jessie now needs to come to terms with this new aspect of her life while also dealing with bullies.
This was a strong feminist story told in a YA book. I loved how the author connected menstruations with being powerful and how Jessie grows as a person and into her powers. She has always taken everything lying down, but now she wants to put a stop at the bullies and show everyone what kind of harassment her and her peers go through daily at their high school. I also loved how Jessie is not perfect—she makes mistakes but she learns from them (mostly) and finds better solution to deal with the issues instead of magic.
This was a strong feminist story told in a YA book. I loved how the author connected menstruations with being powerful and how Jessie grows as a person and into her powers. She has always taken everything lying down, but now she wants to put a stop at the bullies and show everyone what kind of harassment her and her peers go through daily at their high school. I also loved how Jessie is not perfect—she makes mistakes but she learns from them (mostly) and finds better solution to deal with the issues instead of magic.
November 15, 2021
this is better than three stars but not four stars and i know this is all meaningless in the grand scheme of things but i didn’t enjoy it as much as other four star ratings so it’s a three but also that’s not an entirely correct rating either so alas here we are !
February 1, 2023
this was really enjoyable and so easy to read! great discussions of feminism for a younger audience & anything witchy is automatically a good read!
3 stars because it didn’t have a storyline i was really invested in & it was definitely for a younger audience
3 stars because it didn’t have a storyline i was really invested in & it was definitely for a younger audience
May 9, 2021
A witchy take exploring micro-aggressions of boys and toxic culture. A reminder that it still happens.
October 23, 2022
4.5 stars
September 30, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐
June 13, 2021
Okay so before I start this review, I have to get the important bit out of the way first: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS. I knew going in that the premise sounded epic but I didn’t think the actual book could ever possibly live up to it, so I’d just like to put it out there that I was completely and utterly wrong, and if you consider yourself a feminist you’re going to want to read this. It’s about Jessie Jones, who just wants to blend in and fly under the radar at her incredibly sexist new high school on the Isle of Wight, where her mum has moved the whole family after an enlightening health scare. But then strange things to start to happen, and Jessie realises she’s a witch with menstrual-cycle related powers, and she decides she wants to try and take down the patriarchy with them. I absolutely adored Jessie. She thinks she’s pretty average, but she’s actually very funny and empathetic and someone I’d love to be friends with, so I absolutely did not agree with her assessment of herself (at the beginning of the book, at least). I also really liked her friends Tabitha and Summer (who Jessie very aptly nicknames Badass before they meet properly!), I didn’t exactly like Libby but I did feel sympathy for her a fair bit, and Jessie’s family were all such strong, cool women and I loved them. And there’s a very cute cat too, whose presence allows for one of my very favourite comedy in the whole book. On that note, this book is hilarious. There was barely a single page where I didn’t laugh at least once, but it also deals with the very serious theme of sexism really well, and I found the finale to the book so empowering. Think Holly Bourne crossed with Sarah Mlyknowski’s All About Rachel books, and you’ll get a taste of just how fabulous this book is!
July 26, 2021
Absolutely loved this! Great for fans of things such as Practical Magic, Sabrina, Sex Education, The Craft, Witches of Eastwick and others.
This is so witty and engaging with a feisty but loveable main character, with the sort of friends and family I'd love!
A powerful and empowering story that tackles toxic behaviour within high schools and misogyny endemic within our culture. This is the sort of book every teen should read and have access too.
I feel bereft now I've finished this and can't wait for book 2!
This is so witty and engaging with a feisty but loveable main character, with the sort of friends and family I'd love!
A powerful and empowering story that tackles toxic behaviour within high schools and misogyny endemic within our culture. This is the sort of book every teen should read and have access too.
I feel bereft now I've finished this and can't wait for book 2!
August 9, 2021
Fabulous, feminist, witchy fun. It's brilliantly written and I romped through. Got a real sense of place and time, and was given a window into a teenage girl's mind. It shows life in all its messy glory and deals with things often left unsaid. Really hoping they make a movie out of it soon!
June 15, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A non-American YA novel? How exciting! (And actually written by a Brit!!)
For about a third of this book, I was feeling pretty middle of the road. I wasn't so sure of anything, and I was wondering if it was a bit young for me. But, as I went on, I started to really like Jessie's arc, and her new relationships. It definitely is a YA novel, but that is a benefit for it. Jessie feels like a teenager. She's confused, weird, and vaguely mad a lot of the time. It was very empowering to watch Jessie learn to stand up for herself, and that she is allowed to be angry and take action about the way she and other women are treated.
I was very frustrated by how much the adults in this book sucked, as they seem incapable of helping anyone. I kept wondering who hired these people to work in a school. And I love Dave. She is my favourite character, and I don't care that she's a cat. Also, loved the TSwift references, always a good sign in a book.
I really appreciated the depth to the "mean girls", and they weren't jusst cardboard cut-outs from 90's movies. They all were revealed to be people, which I think is such an important thing for teenagers to be exposed to.
The whole
All in all, I enjoyed this one. I did feel a little like I was reading something written for a younger person, but that makes sense as I'm 22 and this is written for teens! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
A non-American YA novel? How exciting! (And actually written by a Brit!!)
For about a third of this book, I was feeling pretty middle of the road. I wasn't so sure of anything, and I was wondering if it was a bit young for me. But, as I went on, I started to really like Jessie's arc, and her new relationships. It definitely is a YA novel, but that is a benefit for it. Jessie feels like a teenager. She's confused, weird, and vaguely mad a lot of the time. It was very empowering to watch Jessie learn to stand up for herself, and that she is allowed to be angry and take action about the way she and other women are treated.
I was very frustrated by how much the adults in this book sucked, as they seem incapable of helping anyone. I kept wondering who hired these people to work in a school. And I love Dave. She is my favourite character, and I don't care that she's a cat. Also, loved the TSwift references, always a good sign in a book.
I really appreciated the depth to the "mean girls", and they weren't jusst cardboard cut-outs from 90's movies. They all were revealed to be people, which I think is such an important thing for teenagers to be exposed to.
The whole
All in all, I enjoyed this one. I did feel a little like I was reading something written for a younger person, but that makes sense as I'm 22 and this is written for teens! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
May 28, 2023
HEXED is a funny, feminist contemporary fantasy about finding your confidence and standing up to sexist and misogynistic in school.
This book tackles the "lad behaviour" culture in schools - scoring girls, bullying them for not being into them (despite them being utterly reprehensible boys), the way they shame girls who are into them, and how they force girls to compete for space in order to avoid being challenged. Tuffs brings the secondary school experience vividly to life with a mix of humorous observations about how lessons go and painfully relatable sexist bully. She dives into how school management can be complicit by either sharing the same beliefs or passing it off as "boys will be boys", and thus not making any effort to stop the issue.
Into the mix comes magic. On her period, Jessie can hex people - and what better way to get back at all the boys than that? Except magic comes with a price and the hexes don't come with signs explaining the everyone what they mean or why, It's a really fun balance of magic enhancing girl power but also needing non-magical solutions to force the truth into the light where no one can avoid it.
It's also really nice to find a book on the slightly lower end of YA. Jessie is in year 10, just starting GCSEs - not a year 13 about to leave. The topics this book deals with affects girls at all stages in secondary school, and it's nice to get something that engages with it for younger readers, with all the humour that makes lower YA so fun and readable.
This book tackles the "lad behaviour" culture in schools - scoring girls, bullying them for not being into them (despite them being utterly reprehensible boys), the way they shame girls who are into them, and how they force girls to compete for space in order to avoid being challenged. Tuffs brings the secondary school experience vividly to life with a mix of humorous observations about how lessons go and painfully relatable sexist bully. She dives into how school management can be complicit by either sharing the same beliefs or passing it off as "boys will be boys", and thus not making any effort to stop the issue.
Into the mix comes magic. On her period, Jessie can hex people - and what better way to get back at all the boys than that? Except magic comes with a price and the hexes don't come with signs explaining the everyone what they mean or why, It's a really fun balance of magic enhancing girl power but also needing non-magical solutions to force the truth into the light where no one can avoid it.
It's also really nice to find a book on the slightly lower end of YA. Jessie is in year 10, just starting GCSEs - not a year 13 about to leave. The topics this book deals with affects girls at all stages in secondary school, and it's nice to get something that engages with it for younger readers, with all the humour that makes lower YA so fun and readable.
June 25, 2021
This is such a fun, witchy debut! If I had read this YA as a teenager I would have eaten it up, good thing I also felt the same way as a 25yr old!
How. Very. Relatable.
Jessie Jones is quite a typical teenager. As an older reader I found myself shaking my head at her often, but remembering how I felt at the same age and the struggles she is going through? I loved her!
We get good female friendships, supportive family - slimy, gross boys. You get it all in Hexed and the cherry on top is that there's some magic sprinkled in. I loved that whilst everything happened as it did because Jessie is a witch and so are her female family members, that wasn't the overt main focus of the book. We're stamping down the patriarchy here and supporting our friends as we go.
Dave the cat also playing a very important part to the story - who doesn't love a black cat that may or may not be a witchy familiar? My boyfriend's parents also had a female pet named Dave so of course I couldn't help but love this little familiar nod.
I hoped Hexed can be picked up and treasured by those who need it. Every female has at least one experience with "boys being boys" and needing to "have a sense of humour" so if this book helps in aiding some female empowerment, then all the better for it.
A really great debut. Easy to read and flows page to page, chapter to chapter. With a gorgeous cover to boot and some great witchy references from being a teenager.
How. Very. Relatable.
Jessie Jones is quite a typical teenager. As an older reader I found myself shaking my head at her often, but remembering how I felt at the same age and the struggles she is going through? I loved her!
We get good female friendships, supportive family - slimy, gross boys. You get it all in Hexed and the cherry on top is that there's some magic sprinkled in. I loved that whilst everything happened as it did because Jessie is a witch and so are her female family members, that wasn't the overt main focus of the book. We're stamping down the patriarchy here and supporting our friends as we go.
Dave the cat also playing a very important part to the story - who doesn't love a black cat that may or may not be a witchy familiar? My boyfriend's parents also had a female pet named Dave so of course I couldn't help but love this little familiar nod.
I hoped Hexed can be picked up and treasured by those who need it. Every female has at least one experience with "boys being boys" and needing to "have a sense of humour" so if this book helps in aiding some female empowerment, then all the better for it.
A really great debut. Easy to read and flows page to page, chapter to chapter. With a gorgeous cover to boot and some great witchy references from being a teenager.
October 28, 2021
This book contains themes that include bullying, sexism, misogyny and harassment, reader discretion advised for readers sensitive to these topics. Jessie Jones has been uprooted. Her life completely changed as her family have moved from the hustle and bustle of Manchester for the coastal quiet of the Isle of Wight. Frustrated and trying to fly under the radar as she adjusts to her new school and home, Jessie runs into an unexpected complication. She’s a witch, powers be damned. This young lady grapples with accepting her newfound gifts and family secrets all while dealing with the trials and tribulations one must face during their time at high school. Riding the highs and lows of a teenage girl in year ten, unruly boys and catty girls, Jessie has to learn that real power is standing up for yourself and leading a United front instead of spelling your way out. A super fast and fun read, certainly catering to a large audience, this coming of age tale tackles issues young women face today with a marvellous witchy spin. It highlights issues so very prevalent to young women today and is a great example of the way that we as a society can do more and do better by simply working together. It shows growth, inner strength and the strength it must take to stand above the crowd and think freely. The young women written about in this book are badass and a wonderful example for the young women of the future. Witchy, wisecracking and worth adding to your list! 4/5
May 27, 2021
I'll be honest with you, when I first started reading this teen novel, I found the premise laughably daft... a girl moves to the Isle of Wight, gets her period, and starts to have magical powers. And wow, does it go on about periods!
However, when I got further into the novel, I enjoyed the strong characterisation of females in this teen novel. Jessie is not just a witch, but is also being bullied, is also dealing with moving to a new school, is also dealing with mean girls. Plenty of girls will relate to her and find the novel's ending, which celebrates female unity, rather empowering. Jessie's sister, mum and grandmother are equally endearing. If anything, I think that there's plenty of scope for a sequel in this witchy coven - I can see readers enjoying finding out what may happen as Jessie grows up and grows into her powers.
The boys in this novel are all a bit wet and pathetic, but that seems to be pretty deliberate and I think that teenage girls will enjoy the contrast. And whilst I don't believe in shelving books by their intended genre, I really do think that this is one for the girls (unless any male readers are particularly enthralled by drawn out passages describing tampons, blood leakage and period pains.
Overall, this novel has a really good 'heart' to it. I think that girls from 11 to 13 would particularly enjoy this one, as would all fans of 'Mean Girls' and 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'.
However, when I got further into the novel, I enjoyed the strong characterisation of females in this teen novel. Jessie is not just a witch, but is also being bullied, is also dealing with moving to a new school, is also dealing with mean girls. Plenty of girls will relate to her and find the novel's ending, which celebrates female unity, rather empowering. Jessie's sister, mum and grandmother are equally endearing. If anything, I think that there's plenty of scope for a sequel in this witchy coven - I can see readers enjoying finding out what may happen as Jessie grows up and grows into her powers.
The boys in this novel are all a bit wet and pathetic, but that seems to be pretty deliberate and I think that teenage girls will enjoy the contrast. And whilst I don't believe in shelving books by their intended genre, I really do think that this is one for the girls (unless any male readers are particularly enthralled by drawn out passages describing tampons, blood leakage and period pains.
Overall, this novel has a really good 'heart' to it. I think that girls from 11 to 13 would particularly enjoy this one, as would all fans of 'Mean Girls' and 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'.
June 3, 2021
I had already decided to write a glowing review of this funny, heartfelt, honest book. Then I read the author's note and found out that Julia collected the Storyteller magazine as a child. Julia, let's be friends.
Feminism is a huge issue nowadays. I don't know if there's genuinely more trouble around, or if social media is just making it easier to see what's happening. (I hope for the second but fear it's the first.) Either way, books like this are important, to show young girls they don't have to put up with this, to show young boys they shouldn't either. It's only mildly touched on here, but Freddie is also forced to go along with things until quite near the end.
I loved the humour in this. It's hard to find properly funny books for teens, and I think this qualifies. I'm still remembering random lines and giggling. Poor Jessie has a lot to deal with. Speaking of...I do think her mother could have warned them before they reached the island! It's not as though she couldn't demonstrate. Instead she let them blunder around, at risk of hurting people and wearing out poor Nonna trying to clean up behind them.
Apart from that tiny gripe, which honestly only occurred to me after a lot of thinking, I really enjoyed this fantastic book and I can't wait for the next one. I hope this series runs and runs.
Feminism is a huge issue nowadays. I don't know if there's genuinely more trouble around, or if social media is just making it easier to see what's happening. (I hope for the second but fear it's the first.) Either way, books like this are important, to show young girls they don't have to put up with this, to show young boys they shouldn't either. It's only mildly touched on here, but Freddie is also forced to go along with things until quite near the end.
I loved the humour in this. It's hard to find properly funny books for teens, and I think this qualifies. I'm still remembering random lines and giggling. Poor Jessie has a lot to deal with. Speaking of...I do think her mother could have warned them before they reached the island! It's not as though she couldn't demonstrate. Instead she let them blunder around, at risk of hurting people and wearing out poor Nonna trying to clean up behind them.
Apart from that tiny gripe, which honestly only occurred to me after a lot of thinking, I really enjoyed this fantastic book and I can't wait for the next one. I hope this series runs and runs.
June 19, 2021
Hexed: Don’t Get Mad, Get Powers is a brilliantly funny and relatable debut novel for teens.
Admittedly the plot does sound a little silly, a girl gets powers on her period and learns that she, and all the women in her family, are witches. But, it is so good, who wouldn’t want to get powers on their period?! There have to be some positives to it!
This book takes the YA trope of moving home, changing school, and trying to ‘fit in’, then adds the spin of discovering you have powers and accidentally hexing your new classmates! It makes for a really fun read.
Alongside the wit and laughs are deeper themes of bullying, sexism, and equality. Jessie is determined not to let the culprits get away with it, and when her anger and unruly powers have negative consequences, she turns to her friends and family for help and backup.
I love the female characters in this book, Jessie, her mum, sister, and Nonna have such wonderful dynamics. Her friends Summer and Tabitha always have her back, and even the back and forth unfolding friendship with Libby was a realistic insight into the teenage girl psyche, the bitchiness and backstabbing.
I see that there is a sequel coming out in 2022, which I am very much looking forward to.
If you are looking for a book that oozes girl power, friendship, and fighting against misogyny this is for you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Children’s Books for the e-arc to review.
Admittedly the plot does sound a little silly, a girl gets powers on her period and learns that she, and all the women in her family, are witches. But, it is so good, who wouldn’t want to get powers on their period?! There have to be some positives to it!
This book takes the YA trope of moving home, changing school, and trying to ‘fit in’, then adds the spin of discovering you have powers and accidentally hexing your new classmates! It makes for a really fun read.
Alongside the wit and laughs are deeper themes of bullying, sexism, and equality. Jessie is determined not to let the culprits get away with it, and when her anger and unruly powers have negative consequences, she turns to her friends and family for help and backup.
I love the female characters in this book, Jessie, her mum, sister, and Nonna have such wonderful dynamics. Her friends Summer and Tabitha always have her back, and even the back and forth unfolding friendship with Libby was a realistic insight into the teenage girl psyche, the bitchiness and backstabbing.
I see that there is a sequel coming out in 2022, which I am very much looking forward to.
If you are looking for a book that oozes girl power, friendship, and fighting against misogyny this is for you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Children’s Books for the e-arc to review.
September 15, 2021
'Hexed' is Julia Tuffs' debut novel, aimed at young adults and balancing a fun story of a witch discovering their incredible powers alongside a scathing examination of sexism and bullying in schools. Jessie and her family move to the Isle of Wight, coinciding with Jessie and her sister discovering they are, in fact, from a long line of witches. Jessie experiences some awful bullying at the hands of boys at her new school... making this the perfect time to use her powers to get some sweet revenge.
This book tackled a range of more serious topics than I was expecting. It is important for teenagers to see that the types of behaviours depicted in the novel, particularly from the male characters, may be recognisable but are far from acceptable. This feminist treatise did not quite gel with the part of the story where Jessie was discovering her powers, but it did give her treatment at school and her reactions an interesting edge.
Overall, this is a promising start to Tuffs portrayal of Jessie's story and I look forward to seeing where she takes the narrative next. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book tackled a range of more serious topics than I was expecting. It is important for teenagers to see that the types of behaviours depicted in the novel, particularly from the male characters, may be recognisable but are far from acceptable. This feminist treatise did not quite gel with the part of the story where Jessie was discovering her powers, but it did give her treatment at school and her reactions an interesting edge.
Overall, this is a promising start to Tuffs portrayal of Jessie's story and I look forward to seeing where she takes the narrative next. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2021
(Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Children's Group for an eARC in exchange for a honest review)
Jessie has just been forced to move back to her mothers home town and is struggling to settle into her new life and new school. To make matters worse, she's just discovered that she's a witch. All Jessie wants to do is blend in and stay invisible but when popular kid Callum starts spreading rumors about her, maybe her new witchy powers aren't that annoying after all.
Hexed is a fantastic YA novel about feminism and standing up to bullying whilst also involving the fantasy element of witches, I loved it! Our main character Jessie is such a well written character and has some amazing one liners. I felt so attached to her from the beginning and loved reading from her point of view. The books overall message is about standing up to sexism and misogyny and it is conveyed so so well. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Holly Bourne and witches!
Jessie has just been forced to move back to her mothers home town and is struggling to settle into her new life and new school. To make matters worse, she's just discovered that she's a witch. All Jessie wants to do is blend in and stay invisible but when popular kid Callum starts spreading rumors about her, maybe her new witchy powers aren't that annoying after all.
Hexed is a fantastic YA novel about feminism and standing up to bullying whilst also involving the fantasy element of witches, I loved it! Our main character Jessie is such a well written character and has some amazing one liners. I felt so attached to her from the beginning and loved reading from her point of view. The books overall message is about standing up to sexism and misogyny and it is conveyed so so well. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Holly Bourne and witches!
June 3, 2022
Jessie and her older sister Bella come to learn that they are from a long line of Witches, unbeknown to them until a few incidents occur when they are on their periods....Who would have thought that a period could trigger magical powers!
I personally feel that tackling the stigma of menstruation in a YA book is a great way to bring comfort to younger readers who may be embarrassed by it or not confident enough to speak about it.
Hexed contains an important narrative of how Jessie Jones tackles sexism, bullying and patriarchal issues which are a regular issue at her school. (She's in Year 10 btw).
I felt like there could have been more magical elements but there will be a second book so I look forward to seeing what else Jessie gets up to!
I feel this book will resonate with a lot of younger readers as they may well relate to Jessie or any of the issues raised.
Thank you to Netgalley for my arc copy!
I personally feel that tackling the stigma of menstruation in a YA book is a great way to bring comfort to younger readers who may be embarrassed by it or not confident enough to speak about it.
Hexed contains an important narrative of how Jessie Jones tackles sexism, bullying and patriarchal issues which are a regular issue at her school. (She's in Year 10 btw).
I felt like there could have been more magical elements but there will be a second book so I look forward to seeing what else Jessie gets up to!
I feel this book will resonate with a lot of younger readers as they may well relate to Jessie or any of the issues raised.
Thank you to Netgalley for my arc copy!
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