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Wildseed Witch #1
Wildseed Witch
Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how to get her parents back together. What she does NOT expect is that an emotional outburst will spark a latent magical ability in her. Or that the magic will be strong enough to attract the attention of witches. Or that before she can say #BlackGirlMagic, she’ll be shipped off on a scholarship to a fancy finishing school for talented young ladies.
Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet.
While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. "Wildseed" may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.
Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet.
While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. "Wildseed" may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2022
39 people are currently reading
7389 people want to read
About the author
Marti Dumas
27 books196 followersWriter:
Marti Dumas is a native New Orleanian with a passion for storytelling. When she is not teaching or parenting, she is reading or writing. She prefers to do some combination of the above within view of ancient oak trees or the banks of the river. Or both.
Narrator:
For over a decade Marti has narrated and produced audio books for use in educational settings, using her melodic voice to captivate audiences of children and adolescents. More recently, her honeyed tones have been featured in radio plays and television spots, and her first commercially available audio books were released in December of 2012.
Marti is a bel canto trained mezzo soprano and a versatile vocal performer, with a wide dramatic range and more than 20 years of experience in the performing arts. She speaks English and French, and works in a variety of accents and dialects.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
May 12, 2022
This wasn't quite what I expected, but I ended up really liking it. Because Wildseed Witch might get marketed alongside other magic Black girl books like Amari and the Night Brothers, it's worth noting that this is a very different sort of book. Less whimsical magic school that feels like another world and more somewhat magical finishing school with elite mean girls and a main character with a makeup YouTube channel. Very different vibes and project.
The summer before eighth grade Hasani discovers that she has magic and is invited to attend a magical finishing school for the summer. Hasani wants to learn magic, save her parents marriage, and grow her YouTube channel. But she struggles to fit in with girls from families with a long line of witches. She struggles to learn the high class etiquette, and a lot of the girls are kind of awful to her. Though Hasani herself can be pretty self-centered and must grow through the course of the book, and come to accept that her parents don't want to be married anymore and she can't fix it. Even with magic.
Part of me wishes there was less of this mean girl stuff, but at the same time I think a lot of it is realistic to the experience of being a young teen who thinks the world revolves around you with other teens who are trying to act like they have things more together than they really do. I could see it resonating with actual middle school students quite a lot. Parts of the middle did drag a bit, and as a YouTuber myself I had some questions about how that was depicted, but by the end I think things were explained in a way that made sense. The audio narrator is great! I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The summer before eighth grade Hasani discovers that she has magic and is invited to attend a magical finishing school for the summer. Hasani wants to learn magic, save her parents marriage, and grow her YouTube channel. But she struggles to fit in with girls from families with a long line of witches. She struggles to learn the high class etiquette, and a lot of the girls are kind of awful to her. Though Hasani herself can be pretty self-centered and must grow through the course of the book, and come to accept that her parents don't want to be married anymore and she can't fix it. Even with magic.
Part of me wishes there was less of this mean girl stuff, but at the same time I think a lot of it is realistic to the experience of being a young teen who thinks the world revolves around you with other teens who are trying to act like they have things more together than they really do. I could see it resonating with actual middle school students quite a lot. Parts of the middle did drag a bit, and as a YouTuber myself I had some questions about how that was depicted, but by the end I think things were explained in a way that made sense. The audio narrator is great! I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 21, 2021
Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas is a middle grade coming of age story about a girl named Hasani. She doesn't know that she is a witch until she gets invited to a charm school for young witches.
This book touched on so many things that young modern girls go through. From finding where you fit in to trying to be ok in your own skin. The story also dealt with online bullying, social media ethics, and changing family dynamics.
Wildseed Witch takes place in a lush and magical New Orleans. A little bit of culture is infused with some French and Creole language speaking and a very diverse group of girls.
I only have a small nitpick in that I wish the story had balanced the whimsy of magic a bit more with the many real world topics that were explored. I have been reading a lot of middle grade for black and brown kids. They all seem to lean in to the difficulties these communities face. But I want our black and brown kids to have just as many light and fluffy fairytale as anyone else.
This book touched on so many things that young modern girls go through. From finding where you fit in to trying to be ok in your own skin. The story also dealt with online bullying, social media ethics, and changing family dynamics.
Wildseed Witch takes place in a lush and magical New Orleans. A little bit of culture is infused with some French and Creole language speaking and a very diverse group of girls.
I only have a small nitpick in that I wish the story had balanced the whimsy of magic a bit more with the many real world topics that were explored. I have been reading a lot of middle grade for black and brown kids. They all seem to lean in to the difficulties these communities face. But I want our black and brown kids to have just as many light and fluffy fairytale as anyone else.
April 15, 2022
Wildseed Witch will inevitably get compared to other magic school books by authors of color like Amari and the Night Brothers but I can truly say that other than having Black leads they're nothing alike. And that's not a bad thing at all just don't set your expectations going into this expecting a book that reads similarly.
Hasani is a young girl who is very passionate about her Youtube channel and finding ways to grow it. She discovers she's a witch after a viral video and an invitation to attend a magical charm school. When she gets there she's soon realizes she's not like the other girls despite everyone having magical abilities. She's what they call a "wildseed", a witch who doesn't come from a strong legacy of witches and doesn't know how to control her powers. Most of the girls who she's attending the charm school with have been practicing magic for a couple of years. At Les Belles Demoiselles they are taught that magic is unruly and that charm is good and proper. She doesn't know the rules the other girls do and the faculty hasn't done the best job to prepare her. She's also insecure because everyone's so pretty and put together.
I like how this book incorporated culture from Louisiana from real Creole to using the names of real cities and towns. I really liked Grandme Annette and her sage advice and lessons. One thing that stuck out to me is how the history of sugarcane is brought up in this story. Some witches at the school feel like they're rebelling against slavery by denouncing sugar while also having it on the table at every meal. And Grandmere points out that just because someone did an evil thing with a thing doesn't make the thing evil.
There was a lot of cattiness and competitiveness amongst the girls that felt unnecessary at times because this isn't the type of situation where the girls are competing for a particular title or spot. Most of the girls seem to also come from money too which is played up and down during this book depending on the scenes. At the same time it did show the downside to popularity as Hasani uses her influence to make a name for herself and the girls seem to flock to whichever girl is most popular at the moment.
Hasani is not the easiest main character to love because she spends most of the story focused on her own interests. She has come to terms with her parent's separation yet so throughout the book she's also plotting ways to have them end up back together again. And I did like that he was allowed to be angry while also having to come to an understanding that her parents no longer make each other happy.
There were some sections the pacing was a little slower than I would've liked I do think it's worth a read. The magic system felt unique and there's some good lessons here about family and friendship.
Hasani is a young girl who is very passionate about her Youtube channel and finding ways to grow it. She discovers she's a witch after a viral video and an invitation to attend a magical charm school. When she gets there she's soon realizes she's not like the other girls despite everyone having magical abilities. She's what they call a "wildseed", a witch who doesn't come from a strong legacy of witches and doesn't know how to control her powers. Most of the girls who she's attending the charm school with have been practicing magic for a couple of years. At Les Belles Demoiselles they are taught that magic is unruly and that charm is good and proper. She doesn't know the rules the other girls do and the faculty hasn't done the best job to prepare her. She's also insecure because everyone's so pretty and put together.
I like how this book incorporated culture from Louisiana from real Creole to using the names of real cities and towns. I really liked Grandme Annette and her sage advice and lessons. One thing that stuck out to me is how the history of sugarcane is brought up in this story. Some witches at the school feel like they're rebelling against slavery by denouncing sugar while also having it on the table at every meal. And Grandmere points out that just because someone did an evil thing with a thing doesn't make the thing evil.
There was a lot of cattiness and competitiveness amongst the girls that felt unnecessary at times because this isn't the type of situation where the girls are competing for a particular title or spot. Most of the girls seem to also come from money too which is played up and down during this book depending on the scenes. At the same time it did show the downside to popularity as Hasani uses her influence to make a name for herself and the girls seem to flock to whichever girl is most popular at the moment.
Hasani is not the easiest main character to love because she spends most of the story focused on her own interests. She has come to terms with her parent's separation yet so throughout the book she's also plotting ways to have them end up back together again. And I did like that he was allowed to be angry while also having to come to an understanding that her parents no longer make each other happy.
There were some sections the pacing was a little slower than I would've liked I do think it's worth a read. The magic system felt unique and there's some good lessons here about family and friendship.
May 4, 2022
This was an enjoyable middlegrade read.
The MC is interesting and real with her feelings of confusion and insecurity.
The witch aspect adds enough fun and blunders to make it even better.
I do think the author tried to pack too much into the story though.
Hasani discovering she is a witch and her development at the school was more than enough to drive a book.
The youtube side story and conflict between parental units pulled me from the witch driven aspects I was really enjoying. As a result the story went on too long.
With this already going to be a series, it 100% could have been broken into two books to allow for more focus on each storyline.
The narration was stellar and I am totally picking up the next book despite all that.
Much love to NetGalley and RB Media for my DRC.
The MC is interesting and real with her feelings of confusion and insecurity.
The witch aspect adds enough fun and blunders to make it even better.
I do think the author tried to pack too much into the story though.
Hasani discovering she is a witch and her development at the school was more than enough to drive a book.
The youtube side story and conflict between parental units pulled me from the witch driven aspects I was really enjoying. As a result the story went on too long.
With this already going to be a series, it 100% could have been broken into two books to allow for more focus on each storyline.
The narration was stellar and I am totally picking up the next book despite all that.
Much love to NetGalley and RB Media for my DRC.
May 9, 2022
Hasani has one big goal – become the next big sensation on YouTube for her makeup tutorials. But she’s distracted from that when she finds out her dad, who was recently separated from her mom, is dating another woman. Unable to control her temper, she feels her first surge of magic. It’s not long before she receives an invitation to attend a prestigious magical academy. As she struggles to learn about her magic and maintain her YouTube followers, Hasani begins to realize she has much more to learn about herself.
This was a coming-of-age story that takes place in New Orleans with a focus on some Creole cultural aspects. The author did a good job at incorporating the culture of New Orleans as well as including the actual names of locations. Some of the history of sugar plantations was also brought in with a magical twist, which was an interesting and meaningful inclusion.
I did feel that the author tried to pack too many things into one book. The main focus felt like it should have been on Hasani discovering her magic and learning how it was used, but then there was also the social media plot as well as the family conflict plot. It felt as if none of the plots were as fully developed or in depth as they should have been just because there were too many things going on. This also left some gaps in explanations that should have been included to make a more meaningful read. As this is the first book in a series, it could have easily been split down a bit.
The author did a good job with Hasani. She was flawed but realistically so, and she had meaningful character growth by the end of the work. The rest of the characters I didn’t find to be particularly compelling though, and I would have liked to see a bit more depth to them.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. She did an excellent job, and the quality was superb. The cover of this book is also gorgeous. This would likely be a compelling read for older children and young adults (ages 9 to 15 probably).
I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was a coming-of-age story that takes place in New Orleans with a focus on some Creole cultural aspects. The author did a good job at incorporating the culture of New Orleans as well as including the actual names of locations. Some of the history of sugar plantations was also brought in with a magical twist, which was an interesting and meaningful inclusion.
I did feel that the author tried to pack too many things into one book. The main focus felt like it should have been on Hasani discovering her magic and learning how it was used, but then there was also the social media plot as well as the family conflict plot. It felt as if none of the plots were as fully developed or in depth as they should have been just because there were too many things going on. This also left some gaps in explanations that should have been included to make a more meaningful read. As this is the first book in a series, it could have easily been split down a bit.
The author did a good job with Hasani. She was flawed but realistically so, and she had meaningful character growth by the end of the work. The rest of the characters I didn’t find to be particularly compelling though, and I would have liked to see a bit more depth to them.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. She did an excellent job, and the quality was superb. The cover of this book is also gorgeous. This would likely be a compelling read for older children and young adults (ages 9 to 15 probably).
I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 1, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for this audiobook Arc.
A very modern take on a young girls life. Hasani is the top youtuber of her age, parents are split up with a new step. Mother looming in, and the discovery that she has magic in her veins throws some really hard life choices her way.
This book will be big with all the young little girls out there that love a bit of fantasy. A really good read with loads of little teaching moments.
A very modern take on a young girls life. Hasani is the top youtuber of her age, parents are split up with a new step. Mother looming in, and the discovery that she has magic in her veins throws some really hard life choices her way.
This book will be big with all the young little girls out there that love a bit of fantasy. A really good read with loads of little teaching moments.
July 20, 2022
Today I am reviewing Wildseed Witch by Marti Dumas, a middle grade fantasy featuring an all-BIPOC cast. This is about an aspiring and raising makeup YouTuber who learns that she’s a witch and gets sent off to a private Witch Camp/finishing school. While at Les Belles Demoiselles, she learns to be a witch alongside extremely talented and powerful girls; however, she is a “Wildseed” as she comes from a family of non-witches, unlike the other girls who attend the school. Hasani must learn how to succeed and harness her magical abilities in her own way.
I thought that this book was a lot of fun and very thoughtful. Hasani is a very relatable and likeable character that has flaws, insecurities, and also amazing strengths, thus making her an awesome protagonist. You see how she learns to navigate exclusive social groups within her school, forming friendships and facing obstacles within them. You also see her grow personally within domains in her life, be it: accepting responsibility, learning to live with difficult family dynamics, and learning how to forgive others (and herself). Additionally, I enjoyed the incorporation of Creole heritage and New Orleans/Louisiana history into the book.
In regards to pacing, the first half of the book is pretty easy to fall into as you learn about Hasani and her background and I felt like this was fairly quickly paced. Towards the middle it was a bit slow, but then it picked right back up again in the last third of the book.
I’m looking forward to reading more in the series as I want to learn more about how the magic system works and know the range of Hasani’s potential magical capabilities. My cat Olivia and I would also like to see more cat appearances in the future! And, gosh, Erick Davila is such a talented artist. This author illustrated the covers for: The Inheritance of Zoraida Cordova, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land (among others!)- I can’t wait to see what book cover number 2 will look like.
Olivia and I definitely recommend this book and hope you will enjoy it! It’s perfect if you would like a book about young witches that ultimately shows character development, friendships, and family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publish for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Discussed here:
Recent Reads Video https://youtu.be//
Blog Post https://sarasreadingnook.ca/2022/07/2...
Content Warnings: Classism, Toxic Friendship, Bullying, Slavery, Colonisation, Infedility, Suicide, Abandonment.
I thought that this book was a lot of fun and very thoughtful. Hasani is a very relatable and likeable character that has flaws, insecurities, and also amazing strengths, thus making her an awesome protagonist. You see how she learns to navigate exclusive social groups within her school, forming friendships and facing obstacles within them. You also see her grow personally within domains in her life, be it: accepting responsibility, learning to live with difficult family dynamics, and learning how to forgive others (and herself). Additionally, I enjoyed the incorporation of Creole heritage and New Orleans/Louisiana history into the book.
In regards to pacing, the first half of the book is pretty easy to fall into as you learn about Hasani and her background and I felt like this was fairly quickly paced. Towards the middle it was a bit slow, but then it picked right back up again in the last third of the book.
I’m looking forward to reading more in the series as I want to learn more about how the magic system works and know the range of Hasani’s potential magical capabilities. My cat Olivia and I would also like to see more cat appearances in the future! And, gosh, Erick Davila is such a talented artist. This author illustrated the covers for: The Inheritance of Zoraida Cordova, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land (among others!)- I can’t wait to see what book cover number 2 will look like.
Olivia and I definitely recommend this book and hope you will enjoy it! It’s perfect if you would like a book about young witches that ultimately shows character development, friendships, and family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publish for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Discussed here:
Recent Reads Video https://youtu.be//
Blog Post https://sarasreadingnook.ca/2022/07/2...
Content Warnings: Classism, Toxic Friendship, Bullying, Slavery, Colonisation, Infedility, Suicide, Abandonment.
May 29, 2023
Such a cute magical middle grade book and about a new witch going to school and learning more about herself and her powers.
Hasani is a newbie YouTuber who just gets her foot in the door of popularity when her world is turned upside down and she’s thrown into a magical girl school.
I loved how relevant this book is and if you have a kid who says dope and is addicted to YouTube, this is definitely a good read to add to their repertoire.
I only took a star bc I felt the end wasn’t as fleshed out as I liked with her friends and schooling but loved the closure with her parents.
Hasani is a newbie YouTuber who just gets her foot in the door of popularity when her world is turned upside down and she’s thrown into a magical girl school.
I loved how relevant this book is and if you have a kid who says dope and is addicted to YouTube, this is definitely a good read to add to their repertoire.
I only took a star bc I felt the end wasn’t as fleshed out as I liked with her friends and schooling but loved the closure with her parents.
July 20, 2023
Pros: The title, the cover, the unique magic system, the concept of "wildseed witches", and the inclusion of the Creole language and New Orleans history within the story. I perked up whenever a character spoke Creole, or when history was mentioned, like that of sugar cane and of the enslaved Senegalese people who built the magic school the main character attends. I really wish that history aspect had been explored more.
Cons: The main character herself was 50/50 for me. She was quite self-centered, but I think that's pretty realistic for a child character. However, she could be very annoying sometimes... not sure how else to explain it. Another problem for me was that there seemed to be too much crammed into this story. The magic should have been first and foremost, but the storylines about the main character's parents getting divorced, as well as the main character's YouTube channel, felt disjointed. I feel it would have been better to maybe cut one of these side plots out of the story and just focus on the magic + one of the side plots, so that the story didn't feel so busy.
Cons: The main character herself was 50/50 for me. She was quite self-centered, but I think that's pretty realistic for a child character. However, she could be very annoying sometimes... not sure how else to explain it. Another problem for me was that there seemed to be too much crammed into this story. The magic should have been first and foremost, but the storylines about the main character's parents getting divorced, as well as the main character's YouTube channel, felt disjointed. I feel it would have been better to maybe cut one of these side plots out of the story and just focus on the magic + one of the side plots, so that the story didn't feel so busy.
April 17, 2022
3.5 stars
I am so glad to see that this is the start of a series because I am ready to read more about Hasani and her fellow young witch friends (and foes).
Hasani, the m.c., notices that strange things happen when she gets fired up, and these happenings make a little more sense when she gets a sudden invite (and full ride) to a special charm school...for young witches. The reception Hasani receives is less than enthusiastic, and for a variety of reasons, she has a hard time fitting in with both her classmates and many instructors' expectations. Readers watch Hasani grow, learn difficult lessons, and try to control her feelings.
There is A LOT going on in this novel. In addition to Hasani's magic/charm/introduction to the wonderful world of witchery, Hasani is a NewTouber whose goals for her budget makeup channel start small and expand exponentially. She is quite devoted to this pursuit, and while the tie Dumas creates between witchery and technology is super intriguing in theory, it didn't totally come together for me by the book's end. I'm really interested to see how this aspect evolves along with the series. Also, Hasani is going through some familial disruptions. Her parents have split, and as an only child, she's pretty isolated when it comes to understanding and processing. Her dad's new girlfriend fulfills her anticipated trope for sure, and she becomes an interesting focal point as the story progresses. Additionally, Hasani's fellow young witches, teachers, and members of the external witching community all will get (I hope!) more airtime in upcoming books. Some of the relationships need more development, and many of the characters' actions later in the book feel a bit inconsistent with who and what they are leading up to that point. I really enjoy the potential but found some info/explanation gaps at times that I hope will be resolved moving forward.
Hasani is a great character, and frankly, that's an uncommon feeling for me when it comes to middle grade protagonists: what an age! She's definitely flawed, but she's also complex, desiring of being a good person (and witch), and capable of making a positive difference in the world around her. I'm excited to see how she continues to evolve and hope readers get to know more about the ties between the region's roots and the movement to change the landscape in the future. Clearly, I'm already looking forward to upcoming installments in this series!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I am so glad to see that this is the start of a series because I am ready to read more about Hasani and her fellow young witch friends (and foes).
Hasani, the m.c., notices that strange things happen when she gets fired up, and these happenings make a little more sense when she gets a sudden invite (and full ride) to a special charm school...for young witches. The reception Hasani receives is less than enthusiastic, and for a variety of reasons, she has a hard time fitting in with both her classmates and many instructors' expectations. Readers watch Hasani grow, learn difficult lessons, and try to control her feelings.
There is A LOT going on in this novel. In addition to Hasani's magic/charm/introduction to the wonderful world of witchery, Hasani is a NewTouber whose goals for her budget makeup channel start small and expand exponentially. She is quite devoted to this pursuit, and while the tie Dumas creates between witchery and technology is super intriguing in theory, it didn't totally come together for me by the book's end. I'm really interested to see how this aspect evolves along with the series. Also, Hasani is going through some familial disruptions. Her parents have split, and as an only child, she's pretty isolated when it comes to understanding and processing. Her dad's new girlfriend fulfills her anticipated trope for sure, and she becomes an interesting focal point as the story progresses. Additionally, Hasani's fellow young witches, teachers, and members of the external witching community all will get (I hope!) more airtime in upcoming books. Some of the relationships need more development, and many of the characters' actions later in the book feel a bit inconsistent with who and what they are leading up to that point. I really enjoy the potential but found some info/explanation gaps at times that I hope will be resolved moving forward.
Hasani is a great character, and frankly, that's an uncommon feeling for me when it comes to middle grade protagonists: what an age! She's definitely flawed, but she's also complex, desiring of being a good person (and witch), and capable of making a positive difference in the world around her. I'm excited to see how she continues to evolve and hope readers get to know more about the ties between the region's roots and the movement to change the landscape in the future. Clearly, I'm already looking forward to upcoming installments in this series!
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
May 8, 2022
Wildseed Witch is a whimsical and charming story all about finding your place and loving the skin you're in.
While this book is definitely on the younger side of middle grade that didn't make the author shy away from important topics like being a responsible internet citizen, parental conflict and divorce, and bullying.
The main character Hasani is determined and whole hearted, a character that I could really see kids loving and growing with over the course of the series.
I personally loved the New Orleans history and the discussion of the sugar cane slavery, not only was it informative (non American so I didn't know about this) but I thought it was also told in am accessible way to the books young audience.
Overall this book was a little too young for me and I worry the pop culture references will unfortunately date it in a couple of years. I would recommend this to a 9-10 year old though!
Lastly the narrator did an amazing job and needs to take a bow for the French pronunciations.
.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for an audio Ard of this book in exchange for my honest review.
While this book is definitely on the younger side of middle grade that didn't make the author shy away from important topics like being a responsible internet citizen, parental conflict and divorce, and bullying.
The main character Hasani is determined and whole hearted, a character that I could really see kids loving and growing with over the course of the series.
I personally loved the New Orleans history and the discussion of the sugar cane slavery, not only was it informative (non American so I didn't know about this) but I thought it was also told in am accessible way to the books young audience.
Overall this book was a little too young for me and I worry the pop culture references will unfortunately date it in a couple of years. I would recommend this to a 9-10 year old though!
Lastly the narrator did an amazing job and needs to take a bow for the French pronunciations.
.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for an audio Ard of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 10, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I was really looking forward to reading this book as magical middle grade is one of my favorite things to read. Unfortunately, this one just didn't click with me. I could not connect with Hesani at all. The story just didn't pull me in and make me care.
While this book clearly wasn't for me I do think others would enjoy it. I feel like when my daughter gets a little older this is exactly what she would want to read. There is strong YouTube representation here that I think kids of this social media age will appreciate and relate too. The story is simple and fun with a slight twist that will entertain young readers.
If you have a middle school aged girl, or even a little younger/older, who enjoys magic, nature or wants to be an influencer this is something I'd recommend picking up.
I was really looking forward to reading this book as magical middle grade is one of my favorite things to read. Unfortunately, this one just didn't click with me. I could not connect with Hesani at all. The story just didn't pull me in and make me care.
While this book clearly wasn't for me I do think others would enjoy it. I feel like when my daughter gets a little older this is exactly what she would want to read. There is strong YouTube representation here that I think kids of this social media age will appreciate and relate too. The story is simple and fun with a slight twist that will entertain young readers.
If you have a middle school aged girl, or even a little younger/older, who enjoys magic, nature or wants to be an influencer this is something I'd recommend picking up.
May 27, 2022
Hasani is a YouTuber and her summer plan is to get to about 100 subscribers by the end of the summer, get her parents back together, and post videos on her blog daily. But, when a strange woman arrives at her door, most of those summer plans are thrown right out of the window.
She gets invited to a fancy school called Les Belles Desmoiselles in Vacherie, LA. There are no applications and offers are by invitation only. She got to skip the whole entire waiting list with a full scholarship to hone her magic! She learns so many things about herself that she never knew before.
I really liked this book, and even before I read it, I knew I would like it because it was recommended to readers who liked Amari and The Night Brothers. That was a really good book also and if you liked it, I assure you, that you will like this book a lot more! If you don’t read Wildseed Witch, you will really be missing out. I probably shouldn’t say any more because if I do, then I’ll probably give away a spoiler.
Reviewed by: Inde M., grade 5
She gets invited to a fancy school called Les Belles Desmoiselles in Vacherie, LA. There are no applications and offers are by invitation only. She got to skip the whole entire waiting list with a full scholarship to hone her magic! She learns so many things about herself that she never knew before.
I really liked this book, and even before I read it, I knew I would like it because it was recommended to readers who liked Amari and The Night Brothers. That was a really good book also and if you liked it, I assure you, that you will like this book a lot more! If you don’t read Wildseed Witch, you will really be missing out. I probably shouldn’t say any more because if I do, then I’ll probably give away a spoiler.
Reviewed by: Inde M., grade 5
August 2, 2022
*3.5 stars rounded up
I was a bit unsure about this book when I first picked it up on audiobook. I decided to get it physically instead, and it did not disappoint. Wildseed Witch follows a young witch named Hasani, who, along with dealing with her parents’ divorce, discovers that she is a witch. She’s invited to a school to learn more about her powers and control them. The book addresses a variety of difficult topics, such as bullying, divorce, and struggling in a new social environment. I really liked being able to see Hasani’s character grow despite these challenges.
I’m 90 percent sure that this is a new series, so I’ll definitely pick up the next book!
I was a bit unsure about this book when I first picked it up on audiobook. I decided to get it physically instead, and it did not disappoint. Wildseed Witch follows a young witch named Hasani, who, along with dealing with her parents’ divorce, discovers that she is a witch. She’s invited to a school to learn more about her powers and control them. The book addresses a variety of difficult topics, such as bullying, divorce, and struggling in a new social environment. I really liked being able to see Hasani’s character grow despite these challenges.
I’m 90 percent sure that this is a new series, so I’ll definitely pick up the next book!
August 12, 2022
This book was not what I was expecting based off of the summary. I was anticipating something closer to Amari and the Night Brothers, but this was less adventure and more *drama*. The novel deals with themes of friendship, bullying, cliques, and family. I felt like these themes were fully explored for a 6th grade novel. The characters were clear and defined and the plot, while not the main focus, was interesting and well paced. Reminded me of a younger version of Hex Hall.
June 26, 2022
NetGalley Audio ARC.
I've never read anything by this author before or even heard of her. But now she's on my radar because this was a great middle grade fantasy novel. First off, I loved the flower affinity mixed in with the magic! And look at that gorgeous cover!! 😍 Such a great representation of what you'll find inside. Hasani is just like every other 13/14-year-old girl. She wants her parents to get back together, she has a makeup channel on Youtube, and she is a Wildseed aka someone who has magic when their mother doesn't. Because this magic is usually matrilineal and only pops up in females. At least that's what we've seen! Hasani makes friends, makes enemies, and learns what it is to be part of a magical community. This book is steeped in New Orleans roots and it was very fun to read! I did not care for how Hasani treated Sandy BUT I had to remember that she is just a young teenager and they are ruled by their immediate emotions. Can't wait to see what else is in store!
I've never read anything by this author before or even heard of her. But now she's on my radar because this was a great middle grade fantasy novel. First off, I loved the flower affinity mixed in with the magic! And look at that gorgeous cover!! 😍 Such a great representation of what you'll find inside. Hasani is just like every other 13/14-year-old girl. She wants her parents to get back together, she has a makeup channel on Youtube, and she is a Wildseed aka someone who has magic when their mother doesn't. Because this magic is usually matrilineal and only pops up in females. At least that's what we've seen! Hasani makes friends, makes enemies, and learns what it is to be part of a magical community. This book is steeped in New Orleans roots and it was very fun to read! I did not care for how Hasani treated Sandy BUT I had to remember that she is just a young teenager and they are ruled by their immediate emotions. Can't wait to see what else is in store!
February 22, 2025
My biggest problem with this book is that I understand this book is about making mistakes and that we’re not perfect, but I honestly don’t think the MC should make do many mistakes and be such a jerk that I don’t like them AT ALL.
Even though it was an interesting new perspective, the whole “it’s not magic it’s ✨charm✨” was not my jam. It was too prim and proper for my tastes. Also I didn’t understand why the only powers people had were flowers. And also somehow coding and tech (which had something to do with ✨charm✨ that I still don’t understand). Also the whole plot with Hasani, her dad and her dad’s new girlfriend seemed very problematic. Also I feel like the author should have indicated(not translate, just indicate) that characters were speaking Creole so that I didn’t think it was phonetically spelled French.
Overall, I did enjoy the side characters and their personalities. There was clearly a lot of thought out into creating the magic that I appreciated.
So in the end, it was meh.
Even though it was an interesting new perspective, the whole “it’s not magic it’s ✨charm✨” was not my jam. It was too prim and proper for my tastes. Also I didn’t understand why the only powers people had were flowers. And also somehow coding and tech (which had something to do with ✨charm✨ that I still don’t understand). Also the whole plot with Hasani, her dad and her dad’s new girlfriend seemed very problematic. Also I feel like the author should have indicated(not translate, just indicate) that characters were speaking Creole so that I didn’t think it was phonetically spelled French.
Overall, I did enjoy the side characters and their personalities. There was clearly a lot of thought out into creating the magic that I appreciated.
So in the end, it was meh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2021
** Thank you for this copy***
This middle-grade novel kept me entertained from the very beginning. I loved that Mart Dumas incorporated New Orleans/Louisiana History. This is a coming-of-age story that everyone can relate to. Wildseed Witch is all about finding out who you are and who you want to be. It's a feel-good story with pure magic.
This middle-grade novel kept me entertained from the very beginning. I loved that Mart Dumas incorporated New Orleans/Louisiana History. This is a coming-of-age story that everyone can relate to. Wildseed Witch is all about finding out who you are and who you want to be. It's a feel-good story with pure magic.
April 19, 2022
It started out strong with a lot of promise, Harry Potter meets Creole NOLA. Since I was born in NOLA, it grabbed my attention right away. Then it got bogged down to way too many issues: mean girls, class, divorce, stepmothers, self-image, social media, social media influencers, the algorithms in social media....PHEW.
February 27, 2024
3.5 stars
rambly review ahead
I loved the magic system of each witch having a personal flower! *not me looking up all the flowers mentioned* Though now I wished that the Morning Glories would have found their way more prominently onto the cover (which is still really pretty by the way).
I like how Hasani was confronted with prejudice (against coming from a non-witch-family) and even hatred and did struggle with self-doubt occasionally, but she was still somewhat self-confident. It is refreshing to see a protagonist stumble upon hidden powers and be unafraid of them, finding them cool and only later learn more about the downfalls that come with said power. Though it did irk me, that a lot of drama happened because nobody bothered sitting Hasani down and giving her a magic 101. That would have helped a lot and I always find it somewhat unrealistic, that everyone is so tight-lipped about how magic actually works, when Hasani literally visits a school to learn magic…
I liked the setting, even though I had wished for a little more magic. I especially liked the addition of creole and French (I’m always here for more languages!)
The friend crush on Angelique was relatable. I also sometimes just stare at pretty people with perfect hair…
In the beginning, I didn’t get the obsession with being a Youtuber, but maybe I am too old for that (girl, you have 400 subscribers, that shouldn’t be making up your entire personality). That part of the story generally felt a little weird to me. Like, we get magical lessons about how to bond with animals and Hasani first thought is “oh, I got to make a Youtube video with this!” That just wasn’t for me.
The story had a lot going on from the magical finishing school, to Hasani’s Youtube venture, her parents break-up and a bunch of side stories, I sometimes felt like I missed the overall central plot, but the book managed to tie everything up nicely, no loose threads in the end.
I do also like how the split up of parents is handled with a lot of nuance, though I feel like again: more communication would have made the story go smoother. I also get slightly irritated if the story cannot create problems without them stemming from missing information that could have been readily given.
Overall: I liked this okay! If I have a chance to, I will continue with the series, even though this installment can very well be read as a standalone story!
rambly review ahead
I loved the magic system of each witch having a personal flower! *not me looking up all the flowers mentioned* Though now I wished that the Morning Glories would have found their way more prominently onto the cover (which is still really pretty by the way).
I like how Hasani was confronted with prejudice (against coming from a non-witch-family) and even hatred and did struggle with self-doubt occasionally, but she was still somewhat self-confident. It is refreshing to see a protagonist stumble upon hidden powers and be unafraid of them, finding them cool and only later learn more about the downfalls that come with said power. Though it did irk me, that a lot of drama happened because nobody bothered sitting Hasani down and giving her a magic 101. That would have helped a lot and I always find it somewhat unrealistic, that everyone is so tight-lipped about how magic actually works, when Hasani literally visits a school to learn magic…
I liked the setting, even though I had wished for a little more magic. I especially liked the addition of creole and French (I’m always here for more languages!)
The friend crush on Angelique was relatable. I also sometimes just stare at pretty people with perfect hair…
In the beginning, I didn’t get the obsession with being a Youtuber, but maybe I am too old for that (girl, you have 400 subscribers, that shouldn’t be making up your entire personality). That part of the story generally felt a little weird to me. Like, we get magical lessons about how to bond with animals and Hasani first thought is “oh, I got to make a Youtube video with this!” That just wasn’t for me.
The story had a lot going on from the magical finishing school, to Hasani’s Youtube venture, her parents break-up and a bunch of side stories, I sometimes felt like I missed the overall central plot, but the book managed to tie everything up nicely, no loose threads in the end.
I do also like how the split up of parents is handled with a lot of nuance, though I feel like again: more communication would have made the story go smoother. I also get slightly irritated if the story cannot create problems without them stemming from missing information that could have been readily given.
Overall: I liked this okay! If I have a chance to, I will continue with the series, even though this installment can very well be read as a standalone story!
May 4, 2023
I was thoroughly enjoying this book for most of it, but it started to go off the rails for me in the final 1/3 or so.
I really loved the concept of a school for witches who were mostly Black girls from Louisiana, and how their magic manifested in the form of flowers. The school itself was kind of shitty, honestly. The teachers were awful! I could not believe how there was no basic orientation or intro for Hasani, a brand new student. No one told her where the bathrooms were or what the rules were, and then she kept getting in trouble for not knowing stuff. That's on the ADULTS, not the literal child! Come on.
The students at the school were also a bunch of mean girls. It was hard to read at times, but also probably realistic. I liked her friendship with Dee and loved seeing them go to the coven in Vacherie with Dee's grandma.
In the final third, we get more into social media, YouTube, and influencing, and the way this author wrote about algorithms made no fucking sense. Basically if you're a witch, your wishful thinking, subconscious or not, can alter YouTube's algorithms??? What even. Also thought it was absolutely ridiculous that Sandy, the stepmother character, deleted her Insta after a few negative comments, then made a completely new account and had almost as many followers again in just 2 days. I work in social media and THAT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS!!!
Sigh. Lol.
There were too many plot points going on and some things were not tied up in the end. For example, someone posted pics of Hasani on the internet at school twice, and it's never revealed who did it. Was it LaToya??? The feud with Angelique was gotten over far too quickly for how big that beef was. Idk, this book was just a mess in the end.
Lovely for an actual middle grade reader, I'm sure! I'm not usually someone who craves elaborate world building, but the sloppiness of it in this book really got to me. Still a cool concept and I'm happy it exists!!
I really loved the concept of a school for witches who were mostly Black girls from Louisiana, and how their magic manifested in the form of flowers. The school itself was kind of shitty, honestly. The teachers were awful! I could not believe how there was no basic orientation or intro for Hasani, a brand new student. No one told her where the bathrooms were or what the rules were, and then she kept getting in trouble for not knowing stuff. That's on the ADULTS, not the literal child! Come on.
The students at the school were also a bunch of mean girls. It was hard to read at times, but also probably realistic. I liked her friendship with Dee and loved seeing them go to the coven in Vacherie with Dee's grandma.
In the final third, we get more into social media, YouTube, and influencing, and the way this author wrote about algorithms made no fucking sense. Basically if you're a witch, your wishful thinking, subconscious or not, can alter YouTube's algorithms??? What even. Also thought it was absolutely ridiculous that Sandy, the stepmother character, deleted her Insta after a few negative comments, then made a completely new account and had almost as many followers again in just 2 days. I work in social media and THAT'S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS!!!
Sigh. Lol.
There were too many plot points going on and some things were not tied up in the end. For example, someone posted pics of Hasani on the internet at school twice, and it's never revealed who did it. Was it LaToya??? The feud with Angelique was gotten over far too quickly for how big that beef was. Idk, this book was just a mess in the end.
Lovely for an actual middle grade reader, I'm sure! I'm not usually someone who craves elaborate world building, but the sloppiness of it in this book really got to me. Still a cool concept and I'm happy it exists!!
May 18, 2022
Hasani wants to be a YouTuber, she loves make-up and is confident that creating content is what she wants to do. But more than anything, Hasani wants her parents to get back together. If it was up-to her, she'd parent trap her parents into staying together forever and yet all her hopes shatter when she finds out about her father's Instagram model girlfriend. Heartbroken and enraged, Hasani gets into an argument with her father and unknowingly sets off hidden magic from within. The very next day she and her mom gets an unexpected visitor, the Principal of Les Belles Demoiselles, a charm school for talented young witches. It's quite unusual to have powers and be a witch without coming from a line of witches but Hasani is unique and powerful, a 'wildseed' in a world of surety. Hasani is offered a full scholarship with every expense taken care off and she quickly agrees.
Hopeful and optimistic, Hasani embraces her powers and her new identity. But nothing comes easy; Hasani quickly realizes that in a world where everybody has been training since they were kids and everyone knew who they were supposed to be, she's the only one with no knowledge of magic. It'll be an uphill battle for her learning something she has no idea about.
This MG-YA fantasy has Harry Potter vibes, a school for witches and the friendships that are forged there. Wildseed Witch is an easy read and the since I listened to the audiobook, it felt a lot different. The narration was brilliant and I really enjoyed listening to the story.
Thanks NetGalley, for this audiobook!
Hopeful and optimistic, Hasani embraces her powers and her new identity. But nothing comes easy; Hasani quickly realizes that in a world where everybody has been training since they were kids and everyone knew who they were supposed to be, she's the only one with no knowledge of magic. It'll be an uphill battle for her learning something she has no idea about.
This MG-YA fantasy has Harry Potter vibes, a school for witches and the friendships that are forged there. Wildseed Witch is an easy read and the since I listened to the audiobook, it felt a lot different. The narration was brilliant and I really enjoyed listening to the story.
Thanks NetGalley, for this audiobook!
April 17, 2022
Wow. I was not expecting to be impacted by this middle grade novel, in the sense that it made me think about my own social media habits. The book is written for children, a group whom I am very sure will connect with and appreciate the main character’s situation, but I, as an adult also connected with Hasani. Additionally, Hasani reminded me of my own daughter when she was just slightly older than Hasani. My daughter was an up-and-coming YouTube influencer (Yes, companies sent her free products to promote, plus she made money from YouTube.), so, much of what the author wrote about I witnessed through my daughter, who is now a young adult. She shut down her channel at age 18 because she felt there was too much responsibility attached to being a social media “influencer.” I also saw this played out in the plot of Wildseed Witch. Overall, this is an excellent middle grade book that will surely resonate with young readers and hopefully open their eyes to the dangers of pursuing fame online. The book also made me wonder whether some of those who are online “influencers” might be using magical powers to increase their follower count. (Just kidding.)
February 19, 2023
I was not sure if I was going to like this book but I loved the concept of a witch school full of black girls FROM LOUISIANA especially when tech is involved because it just makes it more interesting for me personally. The main character wants to become a Youtuber which is pretty accurate since it is set now. It reminds me sort of like Harry Potter but better and there is no sorting hat stuff. The reasoning for Hasani to accept the offer to go to the summer school (I am still trying to figure out what exactly it is because it is only 6 weeks long) is because she was told she can make it big after graduating but beyond that she is also trying to make her parents get back together. The morals that the story is telling underneath it all that you have to ask for your community for help and lean into them. That you cannot fix other people’s problems all the time it is not your place to make those calls. Not everyone will be your friend and that is okay but there will be people out there who will be. SAY YOU ARE SORRY WHEN YOU MESS UP!!! Also work towards being and doing better after you apologize but remember you will mess up again and again that doesn’t mean you're a bad person or not trying. This book was so good and I WILL be buying the second one.
March 27, 2022
Quick Stats
Age Rating: 8+
Over All: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Special thanks to TLC Book Tours and Amulet Books for an ARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I shall call this… mixed feelings. This book had a lot of potential. Black girl magic summer camp? Sign me up. I love magical boarding school books, and the magic and world of this one was fascinating. The writing and actual plot just… didn’t quite live up to that. I had a hard time getting into it, and some of the writing was clunky, and the way things were worded was confusing. And if I had a hard time understanding what the author was trying to say, someone in the age range this book was written for will probably have an even harder time.
I really liked the social media aspect of the book. I love books about kids wanting to be influencers, and I think that aspect of the book, for the most part, was interesting and fun. I wasn’t a fan of the intersection of the youtube and magic. I don’t think they meshed well. There were a lot of things we were just told about magic and tech, and expected to believe, but it didn’t make sense to me.
All in all, it was good, but it had so much potential to be better.
Age Rating: 8+
Over All: 3.5 stars
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Special thanks to TLC Book Tours and Amulet Books for an ARC of this book! All thoughts and opinions reflected in this review are my own.
I shall call this… mixed feelings. This book had a lot of potential. Black girl magic summer camp? Sign me up. I love magical boarding school books, and the magic and world of this one was fascinating. The writing and actual plot just… didn’t quite live up to that. I had a hard time getting into it, and some of the writing was clunky, and the way things were worded was confusing. And if I had a hard time understanding what the author was trying to say, someone in the age range this book was written for will probably have an even harder time.
I really liked the social media aspect of the book. I love books about kids wanting to be influencers, and I think that aspect of the book, for the most part, was interesting and fun. I wasn’t a fan of the intersection of the youtube and magic. I don’t think they meshed well. There were a lot of things we were just told about magic and tech, and expected to believe, but it didn’t make sense to me.
All in all, it was good, but it had so much potential to be better.
September 8, 2022
This book was charming! I love the world Dumas has crafted, with its blend of flower witchcraft and technology all in an original magic school setting. Hasani is a vibrant protagonist, her sights laser-focused on her goal to grow her YouTube channel at all costs. The result is a story that weaves through modern challenges of cyber-bullying, social media addiction, and divorce within the setting of a school steeped in classism, colonialism, and slavery, handling each of these topics through Hasani's point of view so that the topics are accessible for any young reader. This is a world worth revisiting, and I'm glad to hear there will be sequels so readers can continue to immerse themselves in the conflict and wonder of Les Belles Demoiselles.
August 28, 2024
Wildseed Witch was such a cute witch middle grade book. Hasani wakes up to find a lady dressed in pink in her living room telling her she is a witch and that she has powers. She invites Hasani to a school for witches where she can learn how to use her gifts. When she arrives at school she has so much to learn. I loved the story of her in school ad there is even a bit of a mystery which is always fun! I will be reading the next one for sure. I enjoyed the narration for this one. Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 24, 2025
Hassani is trying her best to build a makeup-temed YouTube channel while wishing her dad would just get back together with her mom already. Suddenly, wildflowers everywhere. And Hassani is invited to an extremely exclusive magic finishing school. She suddenly finds she doesn't know any of the rules—of the school or of social life.
I can see why some people like this book. It has some really lovely friendship and magic vibes. But I just couldn't stomach the bullying. And also, I think MekeupontheCheapCheap is a stupid name for a YouTube channel.
I can see why some people like this book. It has some really lovely friendship and magic vibes. But I just couldn't stomach the bullying. And also, I think MekeupontheCheapCheap is a stupid name for a YouTube channel.
May 22, 2022
I enjoyed this Middle Grade coming to age story about Hasani, a YouTuber that discovers that she is a witch while she also deals with her parents divorce. She is offered a spot at a charm school for other young witches. While there she deals with juggling her popular YouTube channel, trying to fit in and make friends, harnessing her power and working to get her parents back together. The magic system was interesting and I loved the history we learned about some of the secret societies and families. I will say that there are some mean girl catty moments, self esteem issues and classism. There was allot of plot lines happening and at times made it hard to focus. Overall, I enjoyed the story and it’s perfect for your middle grade readers.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.
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