Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Title: Ghosts
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Published:September 2016, Graphix
Genre: Young adult graphic novel
How I got the book: I bought it

Summary:

Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn’t happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister’s sake – and her own.

My Review:

I’ve read Smile and Drama by Raina Telgemeier and enjoyed both of those graphic novels a lot. When I found out she had come out with another, Ghosts, I was excited. I love Telgemeier, graphic novels, and ghosts (despite how easily spooked I get). So, I definitely had to pick this one up.

We follow two sisters, Cat her little sister, Maya. Maya has cystic fibrosis so their family moved to a new town as the salty sea air would help Maya’s lungs. I absolutely loved both girls, Cat being the protective and worrisome older sister and Maya being a child, carefree and innocent, not bothering to let her illness stand in her way.

Both characters easily made this book enjoyable and they both developed quite nicely throughout the story, despite how short it is.

Day of the Dead is approaching in their new town. Maya is intrigued, Cat is scared. Cat doesn’t like ghosts while Maya loves them. However, we don’t know the reason as to why until near the end of the story. The reason why brings the story full circle and really brings out both of their personalities.

Cat tries to keep the ghosts away while Maya keeps trying to speak to them. For spoiler reasons, I’ll let you speculate why that is, but you should just read the book for yourself.

The pictures really make the story what it is. The dialogue is great, but I really do enjoy the pictures more so. There are many pages where there’s no dialogue at all. Pictures really are worth one thousand words and that’s true in this story.

Ghosts is a super quick read being a little over 200 pages, but being a graphic novel I read it in 30 minutes. I laughed, I cried, I was intrigued by the whole ghost scene. It’s a sweet book about sisters and an interesting message about death. It’s definitely worth a read for everyone.

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier gets…
5 out of 5 stars