GHOSTS - Book Review

1.   BIBLIOGRAPHY

Telegemeier, Raina, 2016. GHOSTS, New York, NY:  Graphix, ISBN 9780545540612

2.   PLOT SUMMARY

GHOSTs is a amusing graphic novel that is about a girl named Cat and her family that moves to California because her sister is sick with Cystic Fibrosis.  She is sad to leave her friends behind.  She meets a boy next door that believes in ghosts and takes her and her sister on a ghost tour.  Sister gets sick “hiking” and chasing ghost and Cat blames her neighbor Carlos.  Later they meet ghosts and become friends.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This fantasy graphic novel is an easy read.  It is exciting and heart felt yet simple. The cartoon imagery is detailed and colorful.  The characters are believable except for the ghost characters, which appear to be oddly oozing things. It is touching how in the end of the story, the characters are visited by their ghost grandmother who makes them a feast.  The author includes life like events and real problems, which can be discussed with children including death and illness.  

4.   REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author for SMILE and SISTERS

Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids 2017

2018 Good Reads Choice Award

5.   CONNECTIONS

·      Other stories by this author are “SMILE”, “SISTERS”, and “DRAMA”

·      Students can research Dia De Los Muertos and Mexican culture.

·      Student can extend learning by reading about Cystic Fibrosis