Tidesong by Wendy Xu is a graphic novel currently scheduled for release on November 16 2021. Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy—the best magic school in the realm—even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met. Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir. Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t—beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?
Tidesong gave me exactly what the blurbs recommending it to fans of Studio Ghibli and my knowledge of the author had me hoping for. A coming of age story full of magic and a young girl figuring out who she is and what is really important. The characters are dynamic and well crafted, even those we do not see for long. The artwork is a perfect match for the characters and story, with some definite influence from anime. It just really worked and I could easily picture this as an animated movie. Sophie's personal struggles in loving herself and dealing with all the challenges that come with the age are on point and I think many readers will relate to her journey. I loved that other characters got to have growth as well, rather than just Sophie, and it shows that no matter how old or set in our ways we may become there is always room for more understanding and personal growth. This is another wonderful book from the author, and I cannot wait to see what she does in the future.
Tidesong is a lovely graphic novel for middle grade and older readers. Magic, coming of age, and brilliant artwork will make this a favorite for many readers. 
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