Graphic Novel: Ghosts

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Telgemeier, Raina. 2016. GHOSTS. New York: Graphix. ISBN 0545540629.

PLOT SUMMARY

Catrina, her little sister and her parents are trading their sunny southern California life for one in cool, humid northern California is hopes of making her little sister, Maya’s, life better. Maya has cystic fibrosis and her parents hope that moving to Bahia de la Luna’s ocean air will benefit her health. Catrina is not happy that they are having to uproot their life just for her little sister. After they are settled in their new home they begin to her rumors that their new town is haunted by the friendly ghosts of their neighbor’s loved ones. Catrina doesn’t buy it but her little sister is intrigued. It doesn’t help when they meet Carlos, a boy whose job it is to give people tours of haunted locations. Carlos drags the sisters around the town where they eventually come fact-to-face with a ghost. The ghosts seem friendly enough but Catrina is still suspicious. The girls finally come to terms with their ghostly neighbors when Carlos invites them to the community Day of the Dead festival and meet some new ghostly friends who make Catrina really think about the importance of life and family.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story of Catrina and Maya will appeal to many young readers. In Ghosts, the character’s deal with themes such as sibling bonds, family, culture and death. Many students will be able to relate to Catrina’s struggle with Maya’s illness. Catrina resents the fact that her family’s life is limited by Maya illness. They must move, Catrina and Maya can’t stay out late, Maya takes expensive breathing treatments. The sisters also must navigate their family’s culture. Their mother is Mexican American while their father is white and each have their own culture and customs.

The setting helps the reader become immersed in the story. Raina Telgemeier does a great job illustrating all the details about the town. Each location has a dreamy quality about it and will keep the reader looking for ghostly faces. Readers are truly able to abandon their own life while reading this story and take up residence in Bahia de la Luna.

Ghosts explores the themes of life and death extensively. Catrina is constantly worried about Maya and has not yet come to terms with the fact that her sister will most likely live a very short life. On the other hand, Maya fully understands her disease and the visits she gets from the ghosts helps her to feel more comfortable about her illness. The end of the book provides you with a satisfying ending when Catrina begins to understand the hard truth about her sister’s illness. Raina Telgemeier writes tells this story with a very distinct style. Her writing allows the reader to connect with the characters, enjoy the scenery and step into the story themselves. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

ALA Notable Book for Children

KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Telgemeier's bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale."

BOOKLIST: "Telgemeier has her finger on the pulse of middle-grade readers, and this might be her best yet."

PUBLISHER’S” WEEKLY: "The story is consistently engaging; the plot is tightly built."

CONNECTIONS

*Students may enjoy exploring the Mexican holiday, the Dia de los Muertos after reading this story.

*Students may want to further research how children like them handle living with a life-changing illness.

*Look for these other graphic novels written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier:

Telgemeier, Raina. DRAMA. ISBN 0545326990

Telgemeier, Raina. SISTERS. ISBN 0545540607

Telgemeier, Raina. SMILE. ISBN 0545132061