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Don't Be Scared: A Graphic Novel
Riz is determined to prove to his dad that movies matter and ghosts are real, but he and his friends might be in over their head when they investigate the local creepy mansion. Join for the spooky adventure full of family drama, folklore from different cultures, and new-found friendships from acclaimed author Saadia Faruqi and artist Shadia Amin!
Riz Choudhry lives for two movies and anything spooky. His dad? Not so much. While Riz dreams of filmmaking and jump scares, his father dreams of Riz going to med school or law school—and neither one includes ghosts.
But the film club is Riz’s safe haven, a place where other supernatural-obsessed first-gen kids swap scary stories from their cultures. So, when the group decides to film a documentary about the creepy old mansion in town, Riz is all in. But there’s a problem. His dad wants Riz to quit the club. AND the building is about to be demolished. Now Riz and his friends must use the power of filmmaking to save the mansion…before it vanishes forever.
Packed with shivers, laughter, and heart, Don’t Be Scared celebrates friendship, heritage, and daring to fight for what matters—even if it means disagreeing with your family.
Riz Choudhry lives for two movies and anything spooky. His dad? Not so much. While Riz dreams of filmmaking and jump scares, his father dreams of Riz going to med school or law school—and neither one includes ghosts.
But the film club is Riz’s safe haven, a place where other supernatural-obsessed first-gen kids swap scary stories from their cultures. So, when the group decides to film a documentary about the creepy old mansion in town, Riz is all in. But there’s a problem. His dad wants Riz to quit the club. AND the building is about to be demolished. Now Riz and his friends must use the power of filmmaking to save the mansion…before it vanishes forever.
Packed with shivers, laughter, and heart, Don’t Be Scared celebrates friendship, heritage, and daring to fight for what matters—even if it means disagreeing with your family.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Saadia Faruqi
99 books514 followersSaadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series “Yasmin” published by Capstone and other books for children, including middle grade novels “A Place At The Table” (HMH/Clarion 2020) co-written with Laura Shovan, and “A Thousand Questions” (Harper Collins 2020). She has also written “Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan” a short story collection for adults and teens. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry and prose, and was featured in Oprah Magazine in 2017 as a woman making a difference in her community. She resides in Houston, TX with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Max, Amy and Riz are all in the same afterschool film club, and they are all first generation Americans. Max’s parents were from Pakistan, Amy’s from South Korea and Max from Mexico. And none of their parents want them to study film. But they all enjoy it, and do it anyway.
In their town is an old Victorian, boarded up, about to be torn down, that they think would be a great thing to do a documentary about for their film club. They learn that there are two ghosts in the house, when they start doing research. And they think that adds to the story.
To top it off, they all trade stories from their cultures about ghosts.
This is a fun story about being a first generation kid, and investigating ghosts. The pictures are fun, the plot is plausible, and the kids are all earnest. I love reading the various ghost stories from the various cultures that were sprinkled into the story. Also showing the jerk of a kid that keeps saying nesting things in the club, is unfortunately, something that happens often enough, it too has to be portrayed.
Good for kids that like to be scared, at least a little bit. All the stars, really.
Thanks to Netgalley and First Second for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be coming out on the 8th of September 2026.
In their town is an old Victorian, boarded up, about to be torn down, that they think would be a great thing to do a documentary about for their film club. They learn that there are two ghosts in the house, when they start doing research. And they think that adds to the story.
To top it off, they all trade stories from their cultures about ghosts.
This is a fun story about being a first generation kid, and investigating ghosts. The pictures are fun, the plot is plausible, and the kids are all earnest. I love reading the various ghost stories from the various cultures that were sprinkled into the story. Also showing the jerk of a kid that keeps saying nesting things in the club, is unfortunately, something that happens often enough, it too has to be portrayed.
Good for kids that like to be scared, at least a little bit. All the stars, really.
Thanks to Netgalley and First Second for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be coming out on the 8th of September 2026.
Want to Read
January 3, 2026Riz is determined to prove to his dad that movies matter and ghosts are real, but he and his friends might be in over their head when they investigate the local creepy mansion. Join for the spooky adventure full of family drama, folklore from different cultures, and new-found friendships
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
Saadia Faruqi has quickly become one of those authors whose books I automatically pick up, and Don't Be Scared did not disappoint. It is the perfect blend of spooky fun, friendship, family, and cultural storytelling. If you have middle grade readers who enjoy ghost stories that are more mysterious than terrifying, this is an easy recommendation.
Riz is a wonderfully relatable main character. He loves horror movies, filmmaking, and anything creepy, while his father would much rather see him focus on a future in medicine or law. I appreciated that the conflict between them never felt forced. Instead, it highlighted something many first-generation families experience as children and parents try to balance different expectations, cultures, and dreams.
My favorite part of the book was how Faruqi weaves ghost stories and folklore from different cultures throughout the narrative. As Riz and his friends investigate a local haunted mansion for their film club project, they begin sharing supernatural stories from their Pakistani, Korean, and Mexican backgrounds. Those moments added so much richness to the story and reminded me how powerful storytelling can be in preserving culture and connecting generations.
The artwork by Shadia Amin is expressive, colorful, and perfectly captures both the humor and the spooky atmosphere. The haunted house has just enough creepiness to keep readers turning the pages without becoming too frightening for the target audience. I also loved the filmmaking aspect of the story. It gives the characters a shared purpose while celebrating creativity and showing that the arts have value, even when others may not immediately recognize it.
Beyond the ghost story, this is really a book about belonging. It explores friendship, family relationships, racism, cultural identity, and learning to appreciate where you come from. Those themes are handled thoughtfully while still allowing the story to remain fun and adventurous.
As a school librarian, I can already see this being popular with students who enjoy graphic novels like Ghost Roast or other spooky middle grade mysteries. It offers just the right amount of suspense while opening the door to conversations about heritage, empathy, and following your passions. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and hope we get to spend more time with Riz and his friends in future adventures.
Saadia Faruqi has quickly become one of those authors whose books I automatically pick up, and Don't Be Scared did not disappoint. It is the perfect blend of spooky fun, friendship, family, and cultural storytelling. If you have middle grade readers who enjoy ghost stories that are more mysterious than terrifying, this is an easy recommendation.
Riz is a wonderfully relatable main character. He loves horror movies, filmmaking, and anything creepy, while his father would much rather see him focus on a future in medicine or law. I appreciated that the conflict between them never felt forced. Instead, it highlighted something many first-generation families experience as children and parents try to balance different expectations, cultures, and dreams.
My favorite part of the book was how Faruqi weaves ghost stories and folklore from different cultures throughout the narrative. As Riz and his friends investigate a local haunted mansion for their film club project, they begin sharing supernatural stories from their Pakistani, Korean, and Mexican backgrounds. Those moments added so much richness to the story and reminded me how powerful storytelling can be in preserving culture and connecting generations.
The artwork by Shadia Amin is expressive, colorful, and perfectly captures both the humor and the spooky atmosphere. The haunted house has just enough creepiness to keep readers turning the pages without becoming too frightening for the target audience. I also loved the filmmaking aspect of the story. It gives the characters a shared purpose while celebrating creativity and showing that the arts have value, even when others may not immediately recognize it.
Beyond the ghost story, this is really a book about belonging. It explores friendship, family relationships, racism, cultural identity, and learning to appreciate where you come from. Those themes are handled thoughtfully while still allowing the story to remain fun and adventurous.
As a school librarian, I can already see this being popular with students who enjoy graphic novels like Ghost Roast or other spooky middle grade mysteries. It offers just the right amount of suspense while opening the door to conversations about heritage, empathy, and following your passions. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and hope we get to spend more time with Riz and his friends in future adventures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 stars
I enjoy Faruqi's writing so much, regardless of the genre or age group, and this newest graphic novel is a blast, especially for those of us who like a dash of spookiness in our lore and entertainment in general!
Riz loves Film Club, and he's thriving there. Despite one kid who is a racist creep (geographically, some of us may have...incoming expectations and biases about this?), the rest of the group offers all kinds of opportunity for community. Riz makes friends there, not only with other kids who like movies but with others who like SCARY (age appropriate!) stuff! It's so fun to see this group bond not only over the fun of the thrills but also to tie these thrills to stories from cultures they connect to in different ways. These vignettes were my favorite part of the experience!
Running a close second to that aforementioned favorite is Riz's relationship with his dad. Readers learn Riz lost his mom some time ago, and so Riz and his dad are on their own. There are a lot of challenges associated with this, but watching the two of them find each other throughout the text is extremely touching.
In a perfect world, I'd have loved to have even more of those examples of culturally connected lore. I can also see this as the start of a series. Riz is an intriguing character, and he has a lot of growing left to do. I wanted to spend more time with him and to see what he might create next.
I came in a fan of this author and feel even more strongly about that position now.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and First Second for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I enjoy Faruqi's writing so much, regardless of the genre or age group, and this newest graphic novel is a blast, especially for those of us who like a dash of spookiness in our lore and entertainment in general!
Riz loves Film Club, and he's thriving there. Despite one kid who is a racist creep (geographically, some of us may have...incoming expectations and biases about this?), the rest of the group offers all kinds of opportunity for community. Riz makes friends there, not only with other kids who like movies but with others who like SCARY (age appropriate!) stuff! It's so fun to see this group bond not only over the fun of the thrills but also to tie these thrills to stories from cultures they connect to in different ways. These vignettes were my favorite part of the experience!
Running a close second to that aforementioned favorite is Riz's relationship with his dad. Readers learn Riz lost his mom some time ago, and so Riz and his dad are on their own. There are a lot of challenges associated with this, but watching the two of them find each other throughout the text is extremely touching.
In a perfect world, I'd have loved to have even more of those examples of culturally connected lore. I can also see this as the start of a series. Riz is an intriguing character, and he has a lot of growing left to do. I wanted to spend more time with him and to see what he might create next.
I came in a fan of this author and feel even more strongly about that position now.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and First Second for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 5, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and First Second for the chance to read this early! Thank you Saadia Faruqi and Shadia Amin for such a fun book! I truly enjoyed it.
This was a fun graphic novel that honestly I loved. I may be an adult, but I just loved the story and the illustration! It was expressive and unique, plus it taught me a few things. I enjoyed the look into different cultures. I loved I learned a little something!
Don’t Be Scared follows Riz, a first generation Pakistani American, who enjoys spooky stories and movies. He joins a film club at his school, much to the dismay of his father, who would much rather see him prepare for a future in medical or law school.
While in film club, Riz meets Amy, a first generation Korean American, and Max, a first generation Mexican American. Together they talk about different spooky stories from their cultures, like La Llorona, Gwisin, and Churail. They decide to make a spooky documentary about a local haunted house because of their love for spooky stories.
As the story progresses, Riz has to deal with racism, his father pressuring him to quit film club, and the demolition of the house they choose to do their documentary on.
Overall I loved, loved, loved the story! I read it pretty quickly, in one sitting. I feel like it would be a great book for kids who enjoy something spooky and I also feel like it would show kids that even though someone looks different, we are all human.
My one and only complaint is I want more! Like give me a whole series!
This was a fun graphic novel that honestly I loved. I may be an adult, but I just loved the story and the illustration! It was expressive and unique, plus it taught me a few things. I enjoyed the look into different cultures. I loved I learned a little something!
Don’t Be Scared follows Riz, a first generation Pakistani American, who enjoys spooky stories and movies. He joins a film club at his school, much to the dismay of his father, who would much rather see him prepare for a future in medical or law school.
While in film club, Riz meets Amy, a first generation Korean American, and Max, a first generation Mexican American. Together they talk about different spooky stories from their cultures, like La Llorona, Gwisin, and Churail. They decide to make a spooky documentary about a local haunted house because of their love for spooky stories.
As the story progresses, Riz has to deal with racism, his father pressuring him to quit film club, and the demolition of the house they choose to do their documentary on.
Overall I loved, loved, loved the story! I read it pretty quickly, in one sitting. I feel like it would be a great book for kids who enjoy something spooky and I also feel like it would show kids that even though someone looks different, we are all human.
My one and only complaint is I want more! Like give me a whole series!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to First Second Books for an ARC of Don't Be Scared!
I liked the idea of this story. It did a great job of blending the cultures of the main characters. I liked getting to learn about the ghost stories of their cultures, but I do wish we got more Korean and Mexican stories from Riz's friends since we got a lot from his father. I also liked getting to learn a bit about Pakistani culture and a bit more on Muslim culture since I don't know much about them.
I did find this story to be a lot more emotional than I was expecting. That's not a bad thing, though. I could kind of relate to Riz being disconnected from his culture as I'm 5th gen Japanese American and I didn't really grow up learning about the culture because of how much my grandmother assimilated and we were the only Asian family in my hometown. It was also frustrating seeing what Riz had to deal with in terms of racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. Much like Amy, it made me angry and I wanted to fight that Jason kid and that cashier at the grocery store.
Something I wanted more of was exploration of the manor. I wanted to spend a bit more time inside. The ending was a bit rushed, in my opinion. I understand they were under a time crunch with the manor being torn town but it felt very glossed over. The ending was also a bit cheesy, like it was tied in too perfect of a bow.
Overall, it was an interesting read and I learned some things, but I just wanted a bit more from it.
I liked the idea of this story. It did a great job of blending the cultures of the main characters. I liked getting to learn about the ghost stories of their cultures, but I do wish we got more Korean and Mexican stories from Riz's friends since we got a lot from his father. I also liked getting to learn a bit about Pakistani culture and a bit more on Muslim culture since I don't know much about them.
I did find this story to be a lot more emotional than I was expecting. That's not a bad thing, though. I could kind of relate to Riz being disconnected from his culture as I'm 5th gen Japanese American and I didn't really grow up learning about the culture because of how much my grandmother assimilated and we were the only Asian family in my hometown. It was also frustrating seeing what Riz had to deal with in terms of racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. Much like Amy, it made me angry and I wanted to fight that Jason kid and that cashier at the grocery store.
Something I wanted more of was exploration of the manor. I wanted to spend a bit more time inside. The ending was a bit rushed, in my opinion. I understand they were under a time crunch with the manor being torn town but it felt very glossed over. The ending was also a bit cheesy, like it was tied in too perfect of a bow.
Overall, it was an interesting read and I learned some things, but I just wanted a bit more from it.
September 10, 2026
Easily a 3.5, but rounded up.
Riz, a first generation Pakistani American, wants nothing more than to fit into his American life and become a film maker. However, he faces racism from classmates and strangers that make it hard to want to accept his Pakistani roots. That is until he meets two other first generation Americans who like horror just as much as he does. He discovers that even his Pakistani culture has cool horror stories and has his dad tell them to him.
Overall, this book is cute. I love the Arabic woven into the story as well as the horror stories from Korea, Mexico, and Pakistan. Watching the trio bond over being first generations who have parents with high expectations to their love of horror, it is a fun read that I feel so many will relate to. I really felt for Riz trying to get his father to understand his passion and why he enjoys film making and ghost stories. As an adult, you know his father just wants to make sure Riz has a successful life, but isn't worried about what would make him happy.
My only critic is the ending. It was so rushed in terms of the film project and the demolition of the haunted house that I wish it was longer. The situation with the haunted house felt like it was a secondary plot of the story, but more of a 'oh, we forgot this was important' kind of feel with it. I kind of wish either it was longer and more drawn out about the history and tying it in with the story or that it was just not really in the story.
Riz, a first generation Pakistani American, wants nothing more than to fit into his American life and become a film maker. However, he faces racism from classmates and strangers that make it hard to want to accept his Pakistani roots. That is until he meets two other first generation Americans who like horror just as much as he does. He discovers that even his Pakistani culture has cool horror stories and has his dad tell them to him.
Overall, this book is cute. I love the Arabic woven into the story as well as the horror stories from Korea, Mexico, and Pakistan. Watching the trio bond over being first generations who have parents with high expectations to their love of horror, it is a fun read that I feel so many will relate to. I really felt for Riz trying to get his father to understand his passion and why he enjoys film making and ghost stories. As an adult, you know his father just wants to make sure Riz has a successful life, but isn't worried about what would make him happy.
My only critic is the ending. It was so rushed in terms of the film project and the demolition of the haunted house that I wish it was longer. The situation with the haunted house felt like it was a secondary plot of the story, but more of a 'oh, we forgot this was important' kind of feel with it. I kind of wish either it was longer and more drawn out about the history and tying it in with the story or that it was just not really in the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Riz is your typical middle schooler, his interests include film and all things spooky-dooky. There seems to be a cultural disconnect between him and his father, since he was born in the USA, and his father and mother immigrated from Pakistan. His father does not understand Riz’s interests and would prefer him prepare for a career in respectable field like medicine or law. They must find a way to compromise and meet in the middle.
Meanwhile, Riz had joined the Film Club at school and finds comradery in other First-Generation Immigrant kids. They both have stories stemming from their Korean and Mexican cultures, which Riz is lacking due to his disinterest in the subject. Perhaps this is the way for his father and him to connect via scary stories!
Riz and his friends decide to do their film club project on a local piece of spooky lore, the Hollister Manor. The librarian’s is the last of the Hollister family that owned the building where two young girls bodies went missing during a fire and were never found. The deadline quickly approaches for the Manor is set to be demolished shortly. Can Riz find a middle ground with his father? Can the kids save the Hollister Manor with their film project? You’ll have to read to find out!
#ThxNetGalley #SaadiaFaruqi #DontBeScared
Meanwhile, Riz had joined the Film Club at school and finds comradery in other First-Generation Immigrant kids. They both have stories stemming from their Korean and Mexican cultures, which Riz is lacking due to his disinterest in the subject. Perhaps this is the way for his father and him to connect via scary stories!
Riz and his friends decide to do their film club project on a local piece of spooky lore, the Hollister Manor. The librarian’s is the last of the Hollister family that owned the building where two young girls bodies went missing during a fire and were never found. The deadline quickly approaches for the Manor is set to be demolished shortly. Can Riz find a middle ground with his father? Can the kids save the Hollister Manor with their film project? You’ll have to read to find out!
#ThxNetGalley #SaadiaFaruqi #DontBeScared
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Riz Choudhry is obsessed with films and all things spooky. When he joins his school’s film club, he and two other first-generation kids decide to make a movie about a local haunted house. When Riz’s dad finds out, he doesn’t understand. Why waste time on film club when you could be studying math or science? But when his dad starts sharing ghost stories from Pakistan, Riz finds a way to connect with his father. In the meantime, the city has plans to demolish the haunted manor. Can the kids make a film that will sway the city council to save it?
Don’t Be Scared is a heartfelt exploration of being a first-generation kid and the difficulty of navigating cultures. I loved that the family connected over ghost stories. However, I do with the central ghost story of the haunted manor had been a bit more fleshed out. All in all this was a fun read with expressive, colorful artwork.
Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
Don’t Be Scared is a heartfelt exploration of being a first-generation kid and the difficulty of navigating cultures. I loved that the family connected over ghost stories. However, I do with the central ghost story of the haunted manor had been a bit more fleshed out. All in all this was a fun read with expressive, colorful artwork.
Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A new middle grade graphic novel by @saadiafaruqi & the illustrator that brought us Shiny Misfits & Mixed Feelings @shadiaminart
👻
Riz loves horror movies, ghost stories, and filmmaking, but his dad wants him focused on a more practical future. When Riz and his film club investigate a supposedly haunted mansion that’s about to be demolished, they uncover more than they expected while learning about friendship, family, and the power of preserving stories.
🎥
This was such a fun mix of spooky mystery and heartfelt family drama. I loved how the story celebrated first-generation experiences and wove folklore from different cultures into the mystery. The filmmaking angle will pull readers in, and the friendships felt genuine. A fantastic middle grade read for kids who enjoy just the right amount of creepy without being too scary. This title releases from @01firstsecond September 8!
CW: death of a parent (recounted), bullying, racism, microaggressions, death (discussed)
👻
Riz loves horror movies, ghost stories, and filmmaking, but his dad wants him focused on a more practical future. When Riz and his film club investigate a supposedly haunted mansion that’s about to be demolished, they uncover more than they expected while learning about friendship, family, and the power of preserving stories.
🎥
This was such a fun mix of spooky mystery and heartfelt family drama. I loved how the story celebrated first-generation experiences and wove folklore from different cultures into the mystery. The filmmaking angle will pull readers in, and the friendships felt genuine. A fantastic middle grade read for kids who enjoy just the right amount of creepy without being too scary. This title releases from @01firstsecond September 8!
CW: death of a parent (recounted), bullying, racism, microaggressions, death (discussed)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.
This was so fun! I loved the cultural spirits and lore that show up across the three main cultures depicted by characters. The message of making friends, not being ashamed of your culture and bridging generational gaps with parents was really touching. The only thing I wish there had been more of was resolution with the bully character because it felt like there wasn't really a consequence and while that's not the point of the book, it would've been nice to see. Thank you for this ARC, I so enjoyed it!
I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This was so fun! I loved the cultural spirits and lore that show up across the three main cultures depicted by characters. The message of making friends, not being ashamed of your culture and bridging generational gaps with parents was really touching. The only thing I wish there had been more of was resolution with the bully character because it felt like there wasn't really a consequence and while that's not the point of the book, it would've been nice to see. Thank you for this ARC, I so enjoyed it!
I was given the opportunity to read this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2026
Riz just wants to lead a normal life, but with racism thrown at him every day, he is really struggling to keep his anger in check. That's why he likes movies so much, he can escape into them and tell any story he'd like. In his after school film club he meets up with Max and Amy, and they decide they're going to tell the history of their city using a decaying derelict building.
With many brief mentions of cultural ghost tales, this is a sweet story about knowing who your true friends are, embracing your culture, and embracing yourself.
With many brief mentions of cultural ghost tales, this is a sweet story about knowing who your true friends are, embracing your culture, and embracing yourself.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved how this book shows the power of stories and how they help to connect people across cultures and generations, even if they are ghost stories. The father son relationship was well done and it was nice to see the growth between them. The artwork is fantastic and I loved all of the different folktales/ghosts stores illustrated in the book. A great middle school read for kids who liked Ghost Roast.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great read!!! The book isnt just about making friends. The issue about immigrants also shown in here. Culture of others as well. Everything is so blend in and it works. Love the ending so much. The ghost move on peacefully. Got closure. The house was saved. Great read!!!
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
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Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance~
February 25, 2026
The illustrations are absolutely stunning and blend seamlessly with the story, enhancing every moment. I loved getting to explore ghost stories from different cultures and seeing them brought to life so vividly on the page. Beyond the haunting tales, it’s also a beautifully told story about a father and son learning to understand and accept one another, which adds so much heart to the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Cute story, a fun introduction to spooky stories for young readers. Full review to come in August!
Cute story, a fun introduction to spooky stories for young readers. Full review to come in August!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I got an ARC from NetGalley. Overall, it was a strong graphic novel. A few minor things could’ve been more developed, but I enjoyed the story and how it ended.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Riz is new to the Grayson Heights Middle School film club, but is excited to learn more about film, starting with silent pictures with artists like Charlie Chaplin. Classmates Amy and Max are less thrilled, but ready to work with him on a horror film. Unfortunately, member Justin is a big jerk, talking about how immigrants are ruining the country. This does not go over well with any of our trio, since Riz's family came to the US from Pakistan, Amy's from Korea, and Max's from Mexico. All of their parents hope that they will study medicine, and Riz's father is not happy when he spends time on his film pursuits. His mother died of cancer in 2016. Near Riz's neighborhood there is the intriguing Hollister Mansion, which is derelict, in part because of a horrific fire that killed two girls back in 2023. Their Bodies were never found. The kids go to the public library to study the building, and the librarian, Miss Templeton, tells that that was her family's home. They find out that it is being torn down, and work on a film about it hoping to raise awareness to save it. Riz does bond with his father over traditional Pakistani spooky folk tales, and also when they go to the mosque to help out. There is an unfortunate racial incident at the grocery store, and Justin makes rude comments when Baba visits to see what the film club is about. When the Hollister Mansion is supposed to be torn down in three days, the kids go into the house and get film of the ghosts. Will this be enough to save the day?
Strengths: There aren't that many scary graphic novels, so it is always good to see anything even slightly spooky. Riz is a great character, and I was glad that he was able to make friends right away. The children bonded nicely over the difficulties of being a first generation American, and talk about the expectations their parents have for them. Riz's mother's death isn't dwelt on, and there is an interesting sub plot revolving Baba being put on a matchmaker's list at the mosque but also being interested in dating Miss Templeton. The Hollister Mansion was very cool looking, and it was pleasant that it was able to be saved, even if this isn't terribly realistic. Readers who liked this author's Saving Sunshine will want to pick this up and will enjoy Amin's illustrations.
Weaknesses: The ending was very abrupt and a bit unlikely. Also, it doesn't seem likely that Riz's film club advisor wouldn't have taken Justin to task for his racist comments. That sort of comment would absolutely not go without being addressed at my school. Also, I wish there were more books encouraging children to go to medical school instead of railing against parents who think it's a good idea. It is in parents' best interest that their children find gainful employment. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook says that there will be 6,400 jobs per year for film and video editors and camera operators, but 23,600 jobs physicians and surgeons!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Sedita's The Pathfinders Society or Night's Creep over graphic novels.
Riz is new to the Grayson Heights Middle School film club, but is excited to learn more about film, starting with silent pictures with artists like Charlie Chaplin. Classmates Amy and Max are less thrilled, but ready to work with him on a horror film. Unfortunately, member Justin is a big jerk, talking about how immigrants are ruining the country. This does not go over well with any of our trio, since Riz's family came to the US from Pakistan, Amy's from Korea, and Max's from Mexico. All of their parents hope that they will study medicine, and Riz's father is not happy when he spends time on his film pursuits. His mother died of cancer in 2016. Near Riz's neighborhood there is the intriguing Hollister Mansion, which is derelict, in part because of a horrific fire that killed two girls back in 2023. Their Bodies were never found. The kids go to the public library to study the building, and the librarian, Miss Templeton, tells that that was her family's home. They find out that it is being torn down, and work on a film about it hoping to raise awareness to save it. Riz does bond with his father over traditional Pakistani spooky folk tales, and also when they go to the mosque to help out. There is an unfortunate racial incident at the grocery store, and Justin makes rude comments when Baba visits to see what the film club is about. When the Hollister Mansion is supposed to be torn down in three days, the kids go into the house and get film of the ghosts. Will this be enough to save the day?
Strengths: There aren't that many scary graphic novels, so it is always good to see anything even slightly spooky. Riz is a great character, and I was glad that he was able to make friends right away. The children bonded nicely over the difficulties of being a first generation American, and talk about the expectations their parents have for them. Riz's mother's death isn't dwelt on, and there is an interesting sub plot revolving Baba being put on a matchmaker's list at the mosque but also being interested in dating Miss Templeton. The Hollister Mansion was very cool looking, and it was pleasant that it was able to be saved, even if this isn't terribly realistic. Readers who liked this author's Saving Sunshine will want to pick this up and will enjoy Amin's illustrations.
Weaknesses: The ending was very abrupt and a bit unlikely. Also, it doesn't seem likely that Riz's film club advisor wouldn't have taken Justin to task for his racist comments. That sort of comment would absolutely not go without being addressed at my school. Also, I wish there were more books encouraging children to go to medical school instead of railing against parents who think it's a good idea. It is in parents' best interest that their children find gainful employment. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics Occupational Outlook handbook says that there will be 6,400 jobs per year for film and video editors and camera operators, but 23,600 jobs physicians and surgeons!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Sedita's The Pathfinders Society or Night's Creep over graphic novels.
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