Snapdragon

The opening half of Part 1 establishes the graphic novel’s setting and the initial relationship between Jacks and Snap: specifically, the ways in which external, social perceptions of them do not reflect their real characters.

The first scene opens as Snap confronts the town “witch,” later revealed to be Jacks. Though Snap doesn’t put stock in the rumors about Jacks being a witch, The Intersection of Magic and Reality is close enough in local lore that she feels like she must check Jacks’s house to rule it out entirely. The setting of the graphic novel, though never stated outright, is heavily implied to be a rural, racially diverse low-income community in the Deep South of the United States in the late 20th century. Most characters have regional accents that drop the final “g” of their verbs—such as when Violet, Snap’s mom, gets home late and asks Snap, “Whatchu still doin’ up?” (9). Snap lives in a trailer park within biking distance of Jacks’s house, which is isolated and rural. Around Jacks’s house are large, old growth trees draped in Spanish moss, such as in the illustrations on page 21. Though the specific geographical location isn’t named, it is thus heavily implied. However, Jacks’s house is within walking distance of Snap’s school, since Snap walks to her house from school with the baby possums.

Southern folklore influences the people in Snap’s town. Jacks works closely with animal spirits, though her intentions are compassionate and empathetic, as Snap will find in later sections. Jacks has similarities to “granny witches,” a type of practitioner unique to Southern folk practice. Granny witches are real people whose cultural circumstances and the oppression they face influence their role in society. Granny witches historically use “healing and ritual outside the bounds of the Christian Church” (Cieslik, Emma. “Appalachian Folk Magic: Generations of ‘Granny Witchcraft’ and Spiritual Work.” Folklife, 2023) and are heavily inspired by the practices of Black and Indigenous knowledge.

Snap’s expectations of Jacks are immediately subverted. Jacks saves G.B. after he is injured, and later immediately agrees to help Snap save the baby possums. Though Jacks wears a wide-brimmed black hat and a black robe outside, her inside clothes are bright and casual. An illustration on page 18 shows Jacks wearing hibiscus-print shorts, bright green Crocs, and a bright orange graphic shirt depicting a cat in a cowboy hat saying “Meowdy!” This shocks Snap into saying, “—Uh. Uh. Uuuuhhhh…” (18). Jacks does not fit Snap’s preconception of a witch, and Snap is shocked. Upon meeting Jacks, she sees through Jacks’s joke about eating G.B.’s leg. She says, “You’re a liar and I’m not afraid of you!!” (8). Initially, Jacks played into the perceptions about her, thinking Snap would run away in fear. Just like Jacks defies Snap’s expectations, Snap defies Jacks’s. Snap is not afraid: Illustrations on page 8 depict her brows downturned in defiance, fists clenched, and lips pressed together. This surprises Jacks into saying, “Oh?” and then admitting the truth.

Snap is uniquely positioned to accept Jacks and not be afraid of her. Snap personally understands The Social Effect of Being Perceived As Different. In contrast to Jacks, who initially doesn’t seem to mind being alone, Snap is isolated and bullied at school. A group of bullies call her “Snotty,” say “she bites,” and accuse her of eating a dead possum (11-13). Snap is distressed by this bullying. On pages 14-15, she is illustrated with knitted brows, a downcast gaze, slumped shoulders, and bags under her eyes. The only kid who is kind to Snap is Lulu. Lulu is not yet out at school, and at this point her peers use her deadname. Lulu’s brothers tease her when they see her with Snap, telling her she likes “weird ones” (28). On page 29, Snap is illustrated walking away, frowning and blushing, hurt by the teasing.

Snap tells Violet, “Everyone thinks I’m weird” (47). Snap is so overwhelmed with the judgement she feels for having different interests from other girls that she doesn’t see that Lulu wants to be friends. Violet makes Snap reassess her judgement when she asks, “You sure that’s what everyone thinks…—or is that what you’re afraid of?” (47-48). This helps Snap see that even one person’s willingness to see past external perceptions can make a difference: Lulu takes on this role this for Snap, while Snap takes on this role for Jacks.