YA Book Review: Ghosts

When I found out that Raina Telgemeier had a new book coming out this fall, I immediately added it to my wishlist. I always enjoy her work (as a former backstage theatre nerd, Drama rings particularly true to me), and I admire her ability to deal with topics in a way that is age appropriate and realistic. This ability comes to the forefront in Ghosts, her latest book, as she addresses themes of illness and death with compassion and sensitivity while tempering the seriousness of the issues with humor.

Cover from the author's website

The story follows Cat as she and her family moves to Bahia de la Luna, a town in Northern California because of her sister Maya's cystic fibrosis. While she is glad that the cool climate and coastal location are better for Maya's health, the change unsettles Cat. Besides having to leave her friends and home behind for a new and unknown place, Cat is disturbed by Bahia de la Luna's preoccupation with ghosts. Her aversion to ghosts stands in sharp contrast with Maya's fascination. Along with Carlos, a local boy who gives ghost tours and knows all about the local lore, Maya and a reluctant Cat explore the haunted areas of the town in search of the supernatural. However, the adventure doesn't go as expected, leaving Cat even more scared by the town's spirits and their intentions regarding her sister. As the days pass and Halloween and Dia de los Muertos come closer, Cat must find a way to overcome her fears of ghosts and make peace with them as well as with Carlos. Most importantly, she must come to terms with her sister's illness, which does not have a cure.

When compared with her other graphic novels, Ghosts is much more serious in terms of topic, and Telgemeier does an excellent job addressing it in a thoughtful and meaningful way without making the story too dire. The details about cystic fibrosis, such as the various everyday treatments that Maya has to undergo, are tempered by the usual worries and concerns that middle schoolers face, such as the stress of leaving behind the familiar and making new friends. Perhaps the best counterbalance that keep the book from becoming too grim are the characters of Maya and Cat. Maya is irrepressible and adventurous, and she doesn't let her illness stop her from being a typical little sister. She also deals with her sickness in a practical and straightforward way. In Cat, Telgemeier does an excellent job of portraying a middle school girl who has the usual concerns but who is also aware of her family's situation. Cat is fiercely protective of her sister, and that serves as one of her driving forces throughout the story.

The darker tone also manifests itself through the pictures. While the graphic novel retains Telgemeier's distinctive drawing style and uses a great deal of color throughout, Braden Lamb's use of darker colors not only reflects the atmosphere but also hints at the pall that surrounds Cat. The pictures also help inform readers of elements of Mexican culture, such as the Day of the Dead figure La Catrina and the practice of making an altar (called an ofrenda) for deceased loved ones.

I greatly enjoyed Ghosts. Besides being a wonderful book and a great story for this time of year, it provides a wonderful example of how to broach and explore serious topics with middle schoolers. I highly recommend it! Also, if you want further insight into the book and Telgemeier's approach, she just did an interview at NPR where she discusses Ghosts and her process writing it.