Everyday is a little magical for Nova Huang who not only is a witch but works at the family bookshop, the Black Cat Bookseller Cafe, which serves both normal customers and witches with the biggest collection of spellbooks in New England in Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu’s graphic novel Mooncakes. When she investigates the forest near her house after reports of a white wolf, she finds Tam Lang: a werewolf and her childhood best friend and crush.
From the start, Tam and Nova’s relationship is easy to love and the flashbacks of their childhood—from Tam’s struggle with their transformations to the glow in the dark stickers they placed on the ceiling of Nova’s room—only make it easier. Unlike Nova who has been living with her grandmothers ever since her parents’ death, Tam hasn’t had a permanent home, with Nova’s town being the only place they’ve felt enough of a connection to, to want to call it ‘home.’ But Tam is back for business, with a magic cult on their heels that wants to steal and use wolf magic and a demon to fight that’s been plaguing the forest.
In spite of the danger, Tam and Nova are able to build their relationship back up and old feelings reemerge through mid-autumn festivals and the family dinner that comes with it, experimental magic, and investigations of the mystery. Magic can be a touching element to the story, especially when it allows Nova and Tam to connect with each other and Nova’s parents (in a ghost form). The plot can feel a little fast at times, as the two reconnect quickly and the conflict is resolved quickly. There are several more suspenseful moments, but they’re not as strong or frequent as the happier ones, giving the story an overall wholesome feel.
The story however jumps somewhat between different subgenres. In certain parts of the book, although it could focus on its mystery aspect, it seemed to be more of a romance with a significant absence of the mystery as a focus. Overall, it had a strong focus on connection, relationships, and romance which readers should be aware of. Throughout the conflicts they face with their family and evil magic, they’re able to support each other through it all, making Mooncakes the perfect read for readers looking for a colorfully and vividly illustrated story of a found family filled with magic and love.
