Books & Audiobooks
In 1930s Mississippi, magic is only permitted in certain circumstances and by certain people. For those in search of money or thrills, unsanctioned broom racing offers a place to find community and hope.
Brooms by Jasmine Walls, with art by Teo Duvall, mixes history with fantastical magic. Drawing inspiration from the history of underground queer communities, the perspectives of people on the margins that have often been overlooked are given the spotlight. The story takes you to a complex, magical world filled with characters that you can’t help but root for as they fight to carve out their place in the world.
Billie Mae is captain of the Night Storms racing team. With her best friend Loretta, she aims to make enough money to move out west to a state that allows Black folks to legally use their magic and compete in national races. Their three-person team is rounded out with Cheng Kwan, who struggles to be a perfect “son” for her parents but finds a place to be herself while racing with her friends.
Mattie and Emma, two young Choctaw and Black girls, have begun to show magic ability and dodging government officials who want to take them away—either to a residential school or magical academy. Their cousin Luella, who is in love with Billie Mae, had her powers sealed away by the government years ago and will do anything to protect her cousins from the same fate.
As Luella teaches them to use their magic, Mattie and Emma turn to broom racing as a way to make enough money to buy an exemption for practicing magic that will allow them to stay with their family. Joining the Night Storms, they have a chance to enter the biggest race around and winning would give them each enough money to follow their dreams.
One of the aspects of this graphic novel I loved the most was the respectful and thoughtful approach to each character’s identity. Billie Mae has chronic joint pain and Loretta has a physical disability caused by a stroke, both experiences that tie to their use of root magic drawing from the earth and the blessings of their ancestors. Emma is deaf and the creators referenced Indian Sign Language by William Tomkins with the help of language experts from the Mississippi Band of Chocktaw Indians in the book’s art. Luella is of mixed Mexican and Choctaw heritage and attended a residential school as a child. Cheng Kwan is Chinese American and speaks Cantonese in scenes with her parents. Each character has their own personal and family challenges to wrestle with that help the world come to life.
A clear message runs throughout the story: while you may not be able to change the systems working against you, there is strength—and hope—to be found in community.