In 1930s Mississippi, unlawful broom racing is a banned sport. Yet this doesn’t stop illegal racers from competing for life-changing sums of money. Billie Mae is the fierce captain of the Night Storms. She is determined to win so she and her best friend Loretta can move to a place where they will be safe and accepted. Other team members include Cheng-Kwan, Mattie, and Emma. All of them have dreams and lives that could be changed for the better if they were to win. Meanwhile, Billie Mae and Luella, Mattie and Emma’s cousin, are in love but struggle to see a future. When the government starts to crack down on racing, the team must risk it all to escape danger and fight for their dreams. 

I loved this graphic novel!! The characters were so vivid and real. I loved how they united to form a team and yet also had such individual stories and struggles. Real history is expertly portrayed, while being interwoven with the magic of broom racing. Brooms does not shy away from racism, LGBTQ+ discrimination, and sexism; showing the very real issues and conflicts that arose. The focus on found family and protection being found in working together was so heartwarming. I loved Billie Mae and Luella’s relationship and how well they complemented each other. I felt truly connected to all the characters and was thrilled with the ending. I hope to see more from this author/illustrator duo and perhaps more stories from the world of Brooms! I would highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone. 

Thank you so much to Jasmine Walls, Teo DuVall, Levine Querido, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.