Witch Hat Atelier Vol 1 by Kamome Shirahama

Here is a cute "magical girl" manga that has just started, so the buy-in price is pretty low.  Witch Hat Atelier is about the exploits of Coco, a young seamstress who always wanted to be a witch, but she wasn't born with the power.  When she accidentally discovers her magical abilities, she freezes her mother and gets swept away by a witch who vows to train her so that she can undo the damage she's done to her mom.  I imagine we will not see this mother again for some time, as this story centers around her training and the trouble she gets in or causes.  The story is sweet and is reminiscent of the "adventuring-to-obtain" storyline of Magic Knight Rayearth. 

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The art style has a heavy influence on lots of ink on the page, and it is absolutely beautiful.  While the ever-popular trope of "main character = special" might be worn out by some other titles, Shirahama's use of it in making Coco special isn't overstated.  Coco makes plenty of mistakes to show that she is not entirely a natural when it comes to her magical abilities.  

Sara's Rating: 10/10
Suitability level: Grades 5-10

​Tags: Rating: 10/10, Suitability: Elementary School, Suitability: Middle School, Suitability: High School, Manga, Fantasy, Magical Girl