Ghosts, Raina Telgemeier. 256 pages, 2016.
Ghosts follows Catrina and her family as they move to a
cold, foggy Northern California town. She doesn’t want to be that moody
teenager, but her back is up against the wall—she does not like Bahia de la
Luna. She does like her younger sister Maya, and feels defensive of her. Maya
has cystic fibrosis, and Catrina ends up her caregiver sometimes, and protector
all the time. But is also a sibling, so…you know. It’s complicated.
A cute neighbor boy takes the sisters on a “ghost tour,”
showing them all the (wiggly fingers) spooooky places in town, and Catrina is
unimpressed. Until they reach the ruins of an old mission, pop open some orange
soda bottles, and…ghosts appear. A ring of ghosts, encircling the three kids.
Delighting Maya, and terrifying Catrina. After the cold evening out, Maya’s CF
worsens, and she ends up needing an oxygen tank and is in bed for much of the
rest of the book.
Catrina’s guilt and her fears about Maya’s death are a
shadow over much of the book, but Telgemeier keeps things light enough that
kids are going to keep reading. They want to know how the mystery of the ghosts
resolves, and it does in a delightful way. We also see the traditions of the
Day of the Dead celebration in Bahia de la Luna, and how culture and religion
and tradition all interact to create a unique sense of place in the town.
Catrina’s acceptance of her own fears about Maya, about losing her, are
something that even adults struggle with, and they’re written (and drawn)
beautifully here.
Where a prose book might be frightening following these same
themes, Ghosts’ cartoony (but strong) illustrations keep things safe instead of
horrific, sweet instead of harrowing. It’s just an outstanding read in every
way. Now that I’ve met My First Telgemeier…I’ve got some catching up to do.
What are some of the cheapest places to travel? From Asia to Africa and Europe, Things to do ‘s got a budget breakdowns for the cheapest places to travel.
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