Ghosts
by Raina Telgemeier
Graphic Novel
Realistic Fiction
Supernatural
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Cat and her family move to the coastal town of Bahia de la Luna to help with her little sister Maya’s health issues (she has cystic fibrosis). The whole town seems to be obsessed with spirits and Dia de los Muertos is coming up fast! Maya, too, becomes interested in ghosts – she has questions about death and the afterlife that she feels only they can answer. Cat is terrified of the ghosts, particularly after Maya has an episode with them that lands her in the hospital. With some encouragement from her friends and the ghosts themselves, Cat gradually learns to overcome her fears – particularly when she sees how brave her little sister is. Filled with well-drawn, diverse characters and cultural details surrounding the Dia de los Muertos traditions, this rich offering in Raina Telgemeier’s growing oeuvre is sure to delight her many fans. The difficulties of CF and the close integration of the spirit world in this story may seem like disparate elements, but Telgemeier brings them together gracefully.
Reviewed by YA Librarian
