48 pages • 1 hour read
Claribel A. OrtegaWitchlings
Claribel A. OrtegaFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Themes
Systems of Exclusion and Disenfranchisement
While Witchlings is a fantasy story filled with magic and monsters, the text also functions as a critique of society’s systems of exclusion and disenfranchisement. The protagonist fights against discrimination against Spares as much as she struggles to find the Nightbeast. Seven and Poppy’s strained friendship offers a small-scale example of how the exclusive coven system destroys relationships and generates inequality in the Twelve Towns. The main character being snubbed by a former friend presents the theme in a way that is more accessible to Ortega’s middle grade audience, compared to the novel’s examination of the political processes around disenfranchisement. In Chapter 14, Poppy attempts to justify the fact that she has ignored her former best friend for nearly two weeks: “I just feel weird around you and I don’t know why” (158). Because it’s uncomfortable for Poppy to confront her privilege, she would rather let their friendship die. Seven feels incapable of bridging the gap between them: “[T]hey weren’t just on different paths: They were in two separate worlds” (159). The deterioration of Seven and Poppy’s friendship demonstrates how systems of exclusion damage relationships.
Exclusion and disenfranchisement are deeply rooted in the Twelve Town’s laws and social structure. As is the case for many real-world marginalized identities, individuals do not choose to become Spares, cannot opt to join a more privileged group, and are used as scapegoats by those with power. Spares face poverty, limitations on their autonomy, and a society that is so vehemently prejudiced against them that many withdraw from community life altogether: “Every time they went into a shop, or a library, or walked through town, the anxiety of having someone call them Spare scum [...] made Seven want to stay locked up in her house forever” (180). This corrupt system relies on people not defending the oppressed individuals or even noticing their hardships. For example, Seven guiltily acknowledges that “she’d never cared much about [Spares’] lives until she became one of them” (101). The coven system perpetuates exclusion and disenfranchisement by claiming that the majority deserve privileges denied to Spares.
By defeating the Cursed Toads, the Witchlings create hope for progress, while the novel’s antagonists demonstrate internalized discrimination. Rather than using their positions of power to lift the oppressed, the Cursed Toads seek to make other Spares’ lives even worse because they do not want other members of their marginalized group to gain recognition. Their plot to send Spares to “the island for criminal witches” represents new extremes of exclusion and disenfranchisement (322). The Witchlings’ victory over the Cursed Toads paves the way for the novel’s happy ending and the passage of Amendment S. In addition, the public acclaim and gratitude toward the Witchlings helps to break down the stigma against Spares. Seven’s lawful appointment to the position of Uncle, “the Gran’s right hand in everything she did” (8), represents another important step forward. By earning this position of great authority, Seven defies her society’s preconceptions of Spares’ capabilities and helps to create a more equitable division of power in Ravenskill. Ortega uses her fantasy novel to call for greater inclusion and enfranchisement of marginalized groups.
The Power of Cooperation and Trust
Over the course of the novel, Seven’s adventures with Thorn and Valley teach her the power of cooperation and trust. At first, Seven doesn’t place sufficient value on these qualities because she is gravely disappointed about being a Spare with her purported bully and a stranger. She is resentful toward Valley, harsh toward Thorn, and dismissive of them both, as shown when she invokes the Clause of the Impossible Task without even asking for their input first. The Gran counsels the protagonist to shift her mindset: “You said, ‘I am willing to take that chance,’ Seven, but in a coven there is only we” (23). Although Seven eventually grasps the wisdom of the Gran’s words, for several chapters, she’s more interested in jostling for leadership than in fostering group unity. In addition, her complicated history with Valley hinders her from trusting the girl. The Witchlings have multiple near-death experiences due to Seven’s refusal to listen to Valley, underlining the necessity of cooperation.
The Witchlings’ relationship and the theme of trust reach a turning point when Seven and Valley fight and then have a heart-to-heart conversation. In Chapter 13, Valley demands, “What’s it going to take for you to start trusting me, Seven?” (154). Her frustration is evident, but her question shows that she is somewhat missing the point: Her capabilities as a monster tracker and fighter aren’t enough to earn Seven’s faith because trust requires an emotional connection. Valley’s apology in Chapter 15 allows the girls to move forward, and Seven realizes that Valley’s “mean tricks” were misguided attempts to befriend her. The revelation of Valley’s hidden burdens and struggles adds another layer to Ortega’s message about trust. While Seven realizes that she misjudged Valley and moves forward with an open mind, part of learning to trust someone is being willing to learn and extend grace. The scene in Chapter 15 is instrumental in the development of trust and cooperation between the girls, and Ortega highlights this by ending the girl’s conversation with Valley suggesting, “Let’s try to, like, work together maybe?” (168). After Seven and Valley clear up the misunderstandings between them, the Witchlings work together to reach their goals. The girls are capable of far more together than they are apart because they each possess “strengths that [...] come in handy for this impossible task” (92). Ultimately, Seven, Valley, and Thorn’s trust in each other empowers them to accomplish the ostensibly impossible feats of defeating the Nightbeast and thwarting the Cursed Toads’ plot to take over the Twelve Towns. The Witchlings’ development from three disparate individuals to a close-knit team illustrates the power of trust and cooperation.
Self-Discovery in the Face of Adversity
The Witchlings discover themselves and their potential by undertaking the daunting Impossible Task, demonstrating that self-discovery comes through facing adversity. Names are an important aspect of people’s identity, and they have particular significance for the inhabitants of the Twelve Towns because they offer prophetic clues about their destinies. Seven has “no idea what her name mean[s]” at the start of the novel (3). This reflects how she has yet to find her place in the world or unlock her full capabilities. During the novel’s climax, the three girls discover the meaning behind their names: “Valley, for the place they found the Nightbeast; Thorn, for the way they trapped the monstruo; and Seven, for the number of witches who defeated it” (318). The connection between the characters’ names and their climactic battle adds suspense to the novel and underscores the theme of self-discovery in the face of adversity.
The Witchlings discover their potential and hone their unique skills as they grapple with the Impossible Task. On top of the daunting challenge of stopping the Nightbeast, Valley faces adversity in the form of her father’s abuse. She dreams of becoming a monster hunter, and her knowledge and combat skills help the girls navigate the Cursed Forest, battle the cucos, and defeat the Nightbeast. At the end of the novel, the Gran publicly awards the Witchlings gifts that recognize the distinctive contributions they made to save the town. She gives Valley “twin crystal blades [...] in honor of her exceptional fighting and monstruo-tracking skills” (326). Valley’s blades reinforce that she has overcome hardships and achieved her goal of becoming someone who can protect the Twelve Towns.
Thorn also carries heavy burdens beyond the Impossible Task. She feels grief, fear, and loneliness after the Nightbeast kills her twin, but she courageously faces and subdues the monster. Thorn wants to be a fashion designer, and she uses her tailoring skills to deck the Witchlings out for battle. By the end of the novel, the town of Ravenskill is raving about her designs, and the Gran celebrates her unique skills by giving her a magical golden “needle of never-ending mending” (326). Just as Thorn has a knack for mending clothing, she repairs her confidence by facing the Impossible Task.
Like her friends, Seven gains a deeper understanding of herself, her destiny, and her dreams by striving for the seemingly impossible. She realizes that she can talk to animals, and she uses this power to reason with the Nightbeast at the climax. The Gran bestows on Seven a “pendant of the woods” that identifies her as the next Town Uncle (327). This is the first time that a Spare has been lawfully appointed to the position, so Seven isn’t just demonstrating her abilities but also proving that Spares are capable of more than their society believes. In addition, the protagonist advances the theme of self-discovery in the face of adversity by pursuing her dream career. At the start of the novel, Seven believes her success is contingent on her position within the established social hierarchy: “Seven would have a much better chance of achieving her biggest dream, becoming a witching-world-famous journalist, if she was in one of the powerful covens, like her mom” (3). By the end of the story, she is confident that she has the strength and skills to achieve her goals regardless of the adversity she faces: “It wouldn’t be the first time she ignored the rules and followed her heart. Why not with her biggest, most important dream?” (224). The article that Seven writes about the Impossible Task represents an important step toward reaching her goal. The Impossible Task enables the Witchlings to discover their destinies and unlock their potential, illustrating how challenges can be opportunities for growth and self-discovery.
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