If your kid is reading Hooky: Volume 2, they are officially moving past the "cute twins on a magic bus" phase and into the "generational trauma and political revolution" phase of the story. Míriam Bonastre Tur’s art style stays whimsical and rounded, but the plot in this second installment does some heavy lifting—it’s essentially a YA fantasy drama disguised as a Saturday morning cartoon.
Hooky: Volume 2 by Míriam Bonastre Tur is where the stakes of this Webtoon-turned-graphic-novel series skyrocket, trading whimsical hijinks for a high-stakes story about civil war, prejudice, and escaping a toxic family legacy. It’s a perfect pick for middle schoolers who love The Owl House or Avatar: The Last Airbender and are ready for a narrative that treats them like adults while keeping the visual energy bright and engaging.
If Hooky: Volume 1 was about Dani and Dorian Wytte trying to find their way after missing the bus to magic school, Volume 2 is about them finding their place in a world that is actively trying to tear itself apart.
The story picks up with the twins separated and the tension between witches and "non-magical" humans at a breaking point. This isn't just background noise; it’s the core of the book. We’re talking about a full-blown conflict where characters have to choose between their families and what’s actually right. For a middle school reader, this is the sweet spot: it’s complex enough to be interesting but grounded in the "found family" tropes they already love from shows like Hilda or The Dragon Prince.
In a lot of middle-grade fiction, parents are either dead, missing, or conveniently incompetent. Hooky takes a different, sharper route. The Wytte parents—Hans and Angela—are present, powerful, and genuinely the antagonists.
They aren't "misunderstood" in the traditional sense; they are extremist leaders who view their children as tools for a prophecy. Volume 2 leans hard into the psychological weight of that. Dorian, specifically, struggles with the fear that he is destined to become a villain because of his bloodline. It’s a masterclass in the "nature vs. nurture" debate that hits much harder than your average "magic school" trope. If your kid is into Wings of Fire, they’ll recognize this vibe—the idea that you can be born into a "bad" group but choose to be someone else.
The conflict in Hooky: Volume 2 is built on the historical tension between the King’s citizens and the witches. It’s not subtle, and it’s not meant to be. The book explores:
- Systemic Fear: How the non-magical world treats witches as monsters.
- Radicalization: How the witches (led by the Wytte family) use that mistreatment to justify their own violence.
- The Middle Ground: How Dani, Dorian, and their friends (Princess Monica, Nico, and Mark) try to find a third way.
It’s a great entry point for talking about real-world prejudice without it feeling like a lecture. The characters are making messy, emotional decisions, which makes the "lesson" feel earned rather than forced.
Let’s be real: half the reason kids (and the massive Webtoon fanbase) love Hooky is the "shipping." Volume 2 ramps up the romantic tension between Dani and Nico, and Dorian and Monica.
It’s handled with a lot of charm—lots of blushing, awkward silences, and "do they like me?" angst. It’s age-appropriate for the 11-14 crowd, focusing more on the emotional connection and the "us against the world" feeling than anything heavy. It adds a layer of relatability to the high-fantasy stakes; even if you’re trying to stop a war, you’re still worried about whether the girl you like thinks you're a dork.
If your kid is tearing through these volumes, they’re clearly responding to the "serialized" nature of the storytelling. This is a great time to talk about how stories change when they move from a weekly digital format (Webtoons) to a physical book.
Conversations to start:
- The Prophecy Trap: Ask them if they think Dorian is actually "evil" or if he’s just being told he is. Why do people believe prophecies so easily?
- The Parent Factor: Hans and Angela Wytte are pretty intense. How does that compare to the "good" parents in other books they’ve read, like Percy Jackson?
- Art vs. Story: The art is very "cute" (kawaii-adjacent), but the story has character deaths and betrayal. Ask them why they think the author chose that style for such a serious story.
The biggest friction point in Volume 2 is the escalation of violence and "dark" magic. While it never crosses into graphic horror, there are moments of genuine peril, characters getting badly hurt, and a heavy sense of dread regarding the "Great Witch" prophecy. If your kid handled the later Harry Potter books or The Legend of Korra, they’ll be totally fine here.
Q: Is Hooky: Volume 2 appropriate for a 10-year-old? Yes, generally. While the themes get darker (war, prejudice, toxic parents), the visual style keeps it grounded in the middle-grade/young YA space. It’s no more intense than a typical Marvel movie or a season of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Q: Do they need to read Volume 1 first? Absolutely. Hooky is a continuous narrative with a very dense plot. If they jump straight into Volume 2, they will be completely lost regarding the character relationships and the specific "lore" of the Wytte family.
Q: Is there a lot of "shipping" or romance? There is a significant amount of romantic sub-plot. It’s a major driver for the characters, but it remains "sweet" and focused on emotional stakes rather than physical ones. It’s very much in line with middle school crushes.
Q: How does the book compare to the Webtoon? The physical graphic novels are edited for flow and include some bonus content, but the core story is the same. Many fans find the book easier to follow because the "pacing" of a graphic novel is more consistent than scrolling through hundreds of digital chapters.
Hooky: Volume 2 is a "level up" for the series. It rewards readers who have stuck with the characters by giving them a story with real teeth. It’s one of those rare graphic novels that works for the "I only like pictures" crowd while offering enough narrative depth to satisfy kids who usually prefer prose.
- If they loved the magic and the art, check out our best books for kids list.
- For more high-stakes animation that hits similar themes, see our best shows for kids list.
- If you're navigating the move from middle grade to YA, dive into our digital guide for middle school.
- Check out The Prince and the Dressmaker for another graphic novel with incredible art and deep character work.