Of Witches, Werewolves, and the Magic of Being Seen
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Recently, the DEAFinitely Readers Book Club read our first graphic novel - a young adult graphic novel that featured a hard-of-hearing character.
Mooncakes is a charming young adult graphic novel that follows Nova, a hard-of-hearing witch, and Tam, a non-binary werewolf as they battle a cult that uses demons to possess werewolves. It has beautiful illustrations, several heartfelt moments - with a touch of magic.
Deaf Representation
Nova wears blue hearing aids, and while the book never explicitly refers to her as “Deaf” or “hard-of-hearing," it’s clear that she has hearing loss. At the end, there was additional content in the form of letters between the nanas (Nova's grandmothers) and a doctor regarding Nova's hearing loss, but that is the first time it is stated.
There are small but meaningful moments I connected with — like Nova removing her hearing aids while flying on her broom due to the wind (I’ve done the same in windy weather), the worry of whether they’re charged and working, or relying on lip-reading.
The story also touches on her past struggles on making friends and trusting people. While I appreciated seeing hearing aids normalized, there were some parts of the book that felt less relatable and/or vague from my own Deaf/HoH experience. For example, she seems to hear her nanas from upstairs while she is listening to music and her windows are open... that would never have worked for me.
Queer Representation
Tam is portrayed as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. This is noted as a change from the past, everyone accepts Tam’s identity without question.
The romance between Nova and Tam is tender and sweet. You’ll find blushing, kisses, and flirty banter (Nova’s “Maybe I will kiss them!” line made me smile). Their relationship adds warmth and emotional depth as they navigate danger and the rediscovery of their friendship and more.
Highlights & Details
The artwork is gorgeous. The colorful magic, the different drawings for the "spirit animals", and Nova’s hearing aids (which match Tam’s blue hair streaks!) are all thoughtful touches. I also liked the unique detail that Tam's wolf features — like ears, canines, and tail (sometimes) — are still visible in human form and not just in their wolf form.
Final Thoughts
Mooncakes is a light, sweet read. Additionally, it shows that people with hearing aids are just as magical and capable as a "normal" experience. The book doesn’t center Deaf culture or sign language, so if you’re looking for strong Deaf representation in that sense, you may be a little let down — as I was. Note, I will be keeping this on my D/HoH Book list as it is a decent showing of hard-of-hearing representation.
Still, the story offers lovely queer representation, magical adventure, and heartfelt moments with some connection to hearing loss. My only wish? More content! It’s just eight chapters, and I was left curious — especially about the actual “mooncakes,” which were only briefly mentioned.
If you’re in the mood for a cozy fantasy with inclusive characters and sweet romance, this is "deafinitely" worth picking up.
Happy Reading!
