Half Bad by Sally Green is a book an older teen can really sink their teeth into. This book is the first in a trilogy about Nathan, who is a half white, half black witch. In a world full of white witches and the only one of his kind he is isolated and feared, which creates a mix of resentment and longing in Nathan that many teens may be able to identify with. In Nathan’s world when you turn seventeen you are bestowed powerful gifts by a blood relative, unfortunately for Nathan it is a constant struggle to survive long enough to be given his adulthood powers and have the ceremony performed. Being a ‘half code’ as they call it he is constantly watched by the council of white witches, checking to see if he will follow in his mother’s footsteps of a reputable white witch, or his fathers and infamous black witch, deemed a murderer who is constantly on the run from Hunters, witches from the white witch council charged with destroying black witches. When Nathan is taken away from his home and his accepting family due to council fears he will go black he must learn how to survive on his own in the wild and find his father, his only living relative who might be willing to perform his gift giving ceremony. This book was thrilling and wonderfully crafted with a hero who is genuine and resourceful. This is definitely a recommended read.
Half Bad, All Good
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