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Ghosts: A Graphic Novel
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Graphic Novels & Comics (2016)From Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile , Drama , and Sisters ! Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake -- and her own. Raina Telgemeier has masterfully created a moving and insightful story about the power of family and friendship, and how it gives us the courage to do what we never thought possible.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,934 reviews
September 17, 2016
Anytime I see a book that has something to do with ghosts, I wonder if the author is going to be contributing to the too-high-pile of problematic books with characters who are haunted or inspired by the ghost of a Native character. One example (there are many) is Susan Cooper's Ghost Hawk.
I think Telgemeier's Ghosts is one of those problematic books, but I don't think that Telgemeier is aware that she's doing that same thing. The story she tells, and the reviews of her story, demonstrate (yet again) an ignorance of history. I imagine some people defending the book by saying its audience isn't old enough for the complexity of that history, but that holds true only for a selected (possibly white) audience. Native children, and children of color, know far more history than one might expect, because history informs and shapes our daily lives, today. History, of course, informs the daily lives of White children, too, but in a way that means they're ignorant--and are taught ignorance--until they're deemed "ready" for that dark history.
In the story, the children visit a mission where they see ghosts. At first Maya (the younger sister) is taken aback, but in the next panels, we see the ghost hug her, so she decides it is a friendly ghost. She says hi, but Carlos tells her that most of the people buried there were from Mexico, so, they like it when people speak Spanish to them. So, Maya calls out "Hola!"
That visit to the mission is the point where--for me--the story really starts to unravel.
The missions were there (obviously) for a specific reason: to turn Native peoples into Catholics and to claim that land for Spain. Some see missions and missionary work as a good, but if you pause for a minute and think about what they and that work is designed to do, and if you do a bit of reading, you'll learn that it was far from the benevolent character with which it is regarded by most of society.
At the missions, life for Native people was brutal. There was rape. Enslavement. Whippings. Confinements. And of course, death. Analyses of the bones at the mission burial sites that compare them with bones found elsewhere show that the bones of those who died at the missions were stunted and smaller than the others.
Some of Telgemeier's ghosts might have spoken Spanish, but it is far more likely that their first language was an Indigenous one. Did they joyfully want to be spoken to in Spanish, the language of their oppressors? Given the history, I think it is unlikely that these ghosts would be smiling as Telgemeier shows in her book.
At my site, there's more information, and references to books that can help teachers, parents, librarians, learn about the missions.
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
I think Telgemeier's Ghosts is one of those problematic books, but I don't think that Telgemeier is aware that she's doing that same thing. The story she tells, and the reviews of her story, demonstrate (yet again) an ignorance of history. I imagine some people defending the book by saying its audience isn't old enough for the complexity of that history, but that holds true only for a selected (possibly white) audience. Native children, and children of color, know far more history than one might expect, because history informs and shapes our daily lives, today. History, of course, informs the daily lives of White children, too, but in a way that means they're ignorant--and are taught ignorance--until they're deemed "ready" for that dark history.
In the story, the children visit a mission where they see ghosts. At first Maya (the younger sister) is taken aback, but in the next panels, we see the ghost hug her, so she decides it is a friendly ghost. She says hi, but Carlos tells her that most of the people buried there were from Mexico, so, they like it when people speak Spanish to them. So, Maya calls out "Hola!"
That visit to the mission is the point where--for me--the story really starts to unravel.
The missions were there (obviously) for a specific reason: to turn Native peoples into Catholics and to claim that land for Spain. Some see missions and missionary work as a good, but if you pause for a minute and think about what they and that work is designed to do, and if you do a bit of reading, you'll learn that it was far from the benevolent character with which it is regarded by most of society.
At the missions, life for Native people was brutal. There was rape. Enslavement. Whippings. Confinements. And of course, death. Analyses of the bones at the mission burial sites that compare them with bones found elsewhere show that the bones of those who died at the missions were stunted and smaller than the others.
Some of Telgemeier's ghosts might have spoken Spanish, but it is far more likely that their first language was an Indigenous one. Did they joyfully want to be spoken to in Spanish, the language of their oppressors? Given the history, I think it is unlikely that these ghosts would be smiling as Telgemeier shows in her book.
At my site, there's more information, and references to books that can help teachers, parents, librarians, learn about the missions.
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
June 24, 2022
Telgemeier keeps getting better and better, and this is her best book so far. All of her work has been wildly popular and multiple-award-winning, in part because she is so irrepressibly happy and energetic, with so much joie de vivre to go around. Two were memoirs, Smiles and Sisters, and I thought they were great for pre-teens, all my kids loved them and have read them again and again. Drama started to deal just a tad more seriously with some social issues, but in Ghosts we see her most ambitious and--for me; I'll let you know about what the kids say--satisfying project so far.
Cat, a tween, has to leave her friends to move to Bahia de Luna to help with the health of her breathing-challenged sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis. Bahia de Luna is inspired by foggy Half Moon Bay, coastal California, a place of magic, and her story is also in part inspired by Dia de los Muertos. The threat of death and ghosthood is ever-present for the super happy Maya. Knowing that people might die is a good thing, I suppose; the fact that Telgemeier has Cat confront her fears about death and the world of spirits adds depth to this story.
And in this story ghosts--the spirits of the people we love that Dia de Los Muertos celebrates--are very present in this foggy town. A local boy introduces Maya and Cat to the ghosts and this gives Telgemeier a chance to draw ghosts (not that impressively) and a Day of the Dead celebration (depicted much more impressively, beautifully). She's a talented kid graphic novel writer and artist, with lots of life and color. Not that much depth yet, but it's coming. . . .
Ghosts is a really lively, engaging tale, not heavy, celebrating family and tradition and acknowledging death as part of life. And Telgemeier seems to understand sisters, which is another plus. I liked it quite a bit.
Cat, a tween, has to leave her friends to move to Bahia de Luna to help with the health of her breathing-challenged sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis. Bahia de Luna is inspired by foggy Half Moon Bay, coastal California, a place of magic, and her story is also in part inspired by Dia de los Muertos. The threat of death and ghosthood is ever-present for the super happy Maya. Knowing that people might die is a good thing, I suppose; the fact that Telgemeier has Cat confront her fears about death and the world of spirits adds depth to this story.
And in this story ghosts--the spirits of the people we love that Dia de Los Muertos celebrates--are very present in this foggy town. A local boy introduces Maya and Cat to the ghosts and this gives Telgemeier a chance to draw ghosts (not that impressively) and a Day of the Dead celebration (depicted much more impressively, beautifully). She's a talented kid graphic novel writer and artist, with lots of life and color. Not that much depth yet, but it's coming. . . .
Ghosts is a really lively, engaging tale, not heavy, celebrating family and tradition and acknowledging death as part of life. And Telgemeier seems to understand sisters, which is another plus. I liked it quite a bit.
August 1, 2018
This was the perfect heartfelt, quick, and light graphic novel to pick up after feeling emotionally exhausted by my first read of the year.
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake - and her own.
First and foremost, I have to mention that my little sister is a huge fan of Raina Telgemeier’s work, particularly the graphic novel Sisters, so I can’t wait to share this one with her. The author excels once again at featuring that special bond created between sisters. Like, seeing Cat care and worry for her little sister Maya, who's born with cystic fibrosis which affects her breathing and digestion.
Secondly, the color palette is refreshingly vibrant in Ghosts. And so were the aspects of the author being willing to explore happiness as much as she was willing to explore pain, grief, and unhappiness.
Which then leads me to feature how utterly spellbinding and visually stunning the celebration scene was:
Last but not least, this graphic novel made me feel excited to go and check out the Disney film Coco, also centered around Día de Muertos, as soon as possible.
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July 26, 2016
I had some problems with some things. The family stuff was fine. The Mexican stuff and Dia de Los Muertos? Not accurate. At all. If troubles me that it's praised without fact checking and it's being praised so much.
July 26, 2017
Second book for booktubeathon complete! I looooved this one. I'm obsessed with ghosts and skeletons and Dia de Los Muertos so this story was right up my alley. But it also had a ton of heart packed into it as well. Definitely recommend it!
December 21, 2019
Great Story!
So much is rolled into this story making is a yummy layered cake. There is Halloween and the Day of the Dead celebration. There are ghosts, for sure, moving to a new town and cystic fibrosis. It makes for a good story.
We follow the older sister mostly who has to look out for her younger sister and I have to say, she is a hard character to really relate too. She is like teflon, it's difficult to see through her skin (or eyes, or you get the idea.) The younger sister was easy to be drawn in the story by, but I felt the older sister didn't draw me in as much as a reader. I didn't really care about her.
I love the artwork and the mood and tone that Raina sets up for the book. The town is cool and I like the ghost aspect to the story.
My niece has read this story and she loved it. She has read all the Raina books but Drama. They are so wonderful for kids who need a little boost to get them reading on their own.
So much is rolled into this story making is a yummy layered cake. There is Halloween and the Day of the Dead celebration. There are ghosts, for sure, moving to a new town and cystic fibrosis. It makes for a good story.
We follow the older sister mostly who has to look out for her younger sister and I have to say, she is a hard character to really relate too. She is like teflon, it's difficult to see through her skin (or eyes, or you get the idea.) The younger sister was easy to be drawn in the story by, but I felt the older sister didn't draw me in as much as a reader. I didn't really care about her.
I love the artwork and the mood and tone that Raina sets up for the book. The town is cool and I like the ghost aspect to the story.
My niece has read this story and she loved it. She has read all the Raina books but Drama. They are so wonderful for kids who need a little boost to get them reading on their own.
October 18, 2024
I always love finding 'hidden gems' like this GN. The relationship between sisters is told from a perspective of hope tinged with possible loss; the relationship with the ghosts of loved ones who return during Dia de los Muertos underlines the limited time we have with our loved ones...a lesson we need to remember every day.
September 18, 2018
This is a departure from Talgemeier's usual style: Sisters and Smile. It seems less popular with children in my area. I don't know if this is because it is 'spooky' and features ghosts, or if it's because it deals with serious chronic childhood illness.
The plot is about Catrina and her little sister, Maya, moving to a new place. Maya has cystic fibrosis. Cat is a bit of a scaredy-cat (ha ha?) who shies away from exploring, fears black cats, and definitely doesn't want anything to do with the ghosts who purportedly haunt Bahía de la Luna. But Maya is entranced with exploring the town and with the ghosts.
It makes sense. When death is clinging to your back with its claws, you tend to be blasé about mundane things like ghosts and superstitions.
When Maya and Cat meet Carlos - a boy of Cat's age-, he tells them about the ghosts and offers to take them to see them.
The most surprising thing about this book to me is that It's bizarre and the book never treats it as bizarre. When really it's very fucking bizarre and you can't understand why people are so matter-of-fact about it.
This is a town where a girl at Cat's school says,
113
Ridiculous.
Even though the two main families in here are obviously Latino (Mexican), it seems like Maya has no concept of Día de los Muertos and she and Cat don't speak Spanish. The book tells us that their mother, Leona, resisted learning Spanish from her mother and also refused to learn how to cook traditional Mexican cuisine.
The book teaches a lot about cystic fibrosis and is upfront about what Maya has to go through with the disease. She is shown wearing a vibrating vest, getting a feeding tube in a port in her stomach, etc. etc. Maya is convinced that she's going to die and she's very accepting of that fact. When her parents tell her she can't go trick-or-treating because it's against the doctor's advice, she's like, "I'm going to die anyway. Why not allow me to have fun?" This kind of fatalistic presentation by Telgemeier might be why this book isn't super-popular with kids in my area. Not that it isn't well-written and realistic - things I, an adult - appreciate in a book. Children may not be so on board.
The parents are not reassuring on the matter of ghosts.
DAD: "Aww. Missing Ari and your friends from back home?
CAT: "Yeah, it's just... I mean, I'm GLAD we moved, because it's better for Maya's health... but everyone here is totally obsessed with ghosts! Don't you think it's weird?!"
DAD: "How do you know there weren't just as many ghosts in our old town? You just never noticed them." (turns off light, leaves Cat alone in dark room with that thought) 52
Great parenting form. A little shaky on the dismount. (TM Joyce Summers.) Just terrify your kid and leave her in the dark!
The ofrenda and Día de los Muertos talk should make this book more popular. Día de los Muertos is making a huge surge in non-Mexican culture. Movies like Book of Life and Coco are introducing non-Latino children to the idea of Día de los Muertos, and the Día de los Muertos aesthetic of sugar skulls and the like are becoming increasingly popular in mainstream culture.
Some parts of the book don't make any sense, like Cat lying to her friends at school and pretending she doesn't have a little sister.
I don't see the point in Maya insisting Cat go back to the Mission, and insisting that she
There's a bit of Spanish in here. If you don't speak (read?) Spanish you might need to look some stuff up.
I guess the book is trying to use Some people might be more into this idea than others.
Telgemeier seems to be also telling us that Cat and Carlos like each other as potential romantic partners, which I don't see AT ALL, but more and more frequently I feel like authors have an inability to write about boy/girl relationships without making it about romantic interest. Frankly, I thought Carlos was a bit of a dick and couldn't see Cat being romantically interested in him, but that's just my opinion.
PROS:
- Great portrayal of a kid with a chronic illness. While it is clear Maya is very sick, she is cheerful and active. Her personality is not defined by her sickness.
- Wonderful illustrations.
- POC-centered book. Highlights Mexican beliefs and traditions.
CONS
-Kind of a strange portrayal of ghosts. YMMV if you enjoy this sort of thing or not. People's behavior regarding this is extremely strange in this book.
- Cat becomes romantically interested in Carlos, which I found not only unrealistic but totally unnecessary.
TL;DR A book that children might enjoy if they are a.) into ghosts, Halloween, or Día de los Muertos or b.) are fans of Telgemeier's work. There are a lot of children who are big fans of Telgemeier.
Parents/caretakers/educators might be interested in it because it showcases a child with cystic fibrosis and gives a realistic view of having a sibling with a chronic illness.
February 6, 2017
I bought this book for my daughter at the school book fair and when I handed it to her she screamed, jumped up and down, and disappeared with it into her room. She raved about it, told me she thought I'd love it, begged me to read it, brought it downstairs and put it in my book pile. Fast forward two months and I found it back in her room, carefully placed among her treasures. I get it. It's vibrant, honest and deals with the issues of disease and death in a non- threatening and dare I say, positive way. It is there but it doesn't feel like the main focus, which makes it seem more like part of life and also the introduction of Day of the Dead alights this with celebration.
There are many topics woven throughout this story. But, as the author said in her notes: At the end of the day, love transcends life and death. What a wonderful, always timely message. 4 stars
**I grew up in a Portuguese family where death was a constant topic. Who was sick, died, was dying. I truly believe I am scarred for life from this merry-go-round of bad news and what I perceived as a child as very impending death. I work daily to ensure my children are less afraid/worried/anxious/terrified than I was/am that every breath is their last.
There are many topics woven throughout this story. But, as the author said in her notes: At the end of the day, love transcends life and death. What a wonderful, always timely message. 4 stars
**I grew up in a Portuguese family where death was a constant topic. Who was sick, died, was dying. I truly believe I am scarred for life from this merry-go-round of bad news and what I perceived as a child as very impending death. I work daily to ensure my children are less afraid/worried/anxious/terrified than I was/am that every breath is their last.
August 8, 2016
So, here is what I wrote to a friend who was interested in the accuracy of the portrayal of Cystic Fibrosis. So, if you are interested in that apect - here ya go! I have a daughter with CF and am pretty actively involved in the CF community:
As for the CF stuff, it is definitely accurate, but it is quite rare today for a child of that age to have such advanced stage disease. Not that it never happens, but rare. Most cases that are considered severe would have children who still live pretty regular lives but are hospitalized every couple months for IV antibiotics and such (a "tune up"). Also, while there is some use in moving somewhere with salt water in the air, anyone with that severe of an illness would definitely want to be near a major cf center. Salt water is probably no help at that point, and why move to the middle of nowhere instead of to like, say, near the ocean in a major city with great health care! But....all that said, those are sort of nitpicky details probably and coming from a reader with too much knowledge. I am a little concerned, though, with the outdated portrayal of CF as a death sentence in youth. It is a serious illness, generally considered chronic, not fatal, for young people today.
So, that's my critical review. Also, I really love the book. The layers and symbolism, the handling of complicated issues, the rediscovery of personal heritage ...all make this stand out. I am, though, reserving some judgement until I hear more from people of the culture she is writing about, since I am not an expert and can't judge if there is inaccuracy or offensiveness in her portrayal of Day of the Dead etc.
As for the CF stuff, it is definitely accurate, but it is quite rare today for a child of that age to have such advanced stage disease. Not that it never happens, but rare. Most cases that are considered severe would have children who still live pretty regular lives but are hospitalized every couple months for IV antibiotics and such (a "tune up"). Also, while there is some use in moving somewhere with salt water in the air, anyone with that severe of an illness would definitely want to be near a major cf center. Salt water is probably no help at that point, and why move to the middle of nowhere instead of to like, say, near the ocean in a major city with great health care! But....all that said, those are sort of nitpicky details probably and coming from a reader with too much knowledge. I am a little concerned, though, with the outdated portrayal of CF as a death sentence in youth. It is a serious illness, generally considered chronic, not fatal, for young people today.
So, that's my critical review. Also, I really love the book. The layers and symbolism, the handling of complicated issues, the rediscovery of personal heritage ...all make this stand out. I am, though, reserving some judgement until I hear more from people of the culture she is writing about, since I am not an expert and can't judge if there is inaccuracy or offensiveness in her portrayal of Day of the Dead etc.
March 15, 2024
TW// mentions of death (including parents, grandparents, uncles, brothers)
I never got into Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels back in elementary school when all of my peers were reading her books and now I’m regretting not getting into them sooner because Ghosts was phenomenal.
This book deals heavily with cystic fybrosis and how two different girls react to young Maya having this condition. The representation was written really beautifully with Telgemeier clearly having done thorough research on the condition before writing this book. I was suprised at first that the book dealt with such a heavy topic since it’s a middle grade graphic novel, but the more I read the story, the more I appreciated that deepness and complexity. I loved getting to see how Cat reacts to her sister having the condition and I equally loved seeing how young Maya handles having cystic fybrosis.
Maya was my favorite character in this book. She’s sweet and joyful despite having cystic fybrosis, but there’s still those really impactful and hard moments when her fear about the condition breaks through the surface. Maya was a well-rounded character and she’s part of what made this book so enjoyable for me.
I loved how much this book included Día de los Muertos. That was an unexpected part of the story for me, but it fit into the story really smoothly and it helped this story further address the topic of death in regards to Maya’s terminal condition.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the art style. I know it’s Telgemeier’s signature style, but I’m not a huge fan of it. She’s a phenomenal story teller and I’m sure other people will enjoy her art, but it’s not for me.
I would recommend this graphic novel to everyone as I think there’s some really great themes in this book. It’s a middle grade graphic novel, but it has moments in the story that everyone can appreciate and love.
I never got into Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels back in elementary school when all of my peers were reading her books and now I’m regretting not getting into them sooner because Ghosts was phenomenal.
This book deals heavily with cystic fybrosis and how two different girls react to young Maya having this condition. The representation was written really beautifully with Telgemeier clearly having done thorough research on the condition before writing this book. I was suprised at first that the book dealt with such a heavy topic since it’s a middle grade graphic novel, but the more I read the story, the more I appreciated that deepness and complexity. I loved getting to see how Cat reacts to her sister having the condition and I equally loved seeing how young Maya handles having cystic fybrosis.
Maya was my favorite character in this book. She’s sweet and joyful despite having cystic fybrosis, but there’s still those really impactful and hard moments when her fear about the condition breaks through the surface. Maya was a well-rounded character and she’s part of what made this book so enjoyable for me.
I loved how much this book included Día de los Muertos. That was an unexpected part of the story for me, but it fit into the story really smoothly and it helped this story further address the topic of death in regards to Maya’s terminal condition.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the art style. I know it’s Telgemeier’s signature style, but I’m not a huge fan of it. She’s a phenomenal story teller and I’m sure other people will enjoy her art, but it’s not for me.
I would recommend this graphic novel to everyone as I think there’s some really great themes in this book. It’s a middle grade graphic novel, but it has moments in the story that everyone can appreciate and love.
Read
November 1, 2022Ghosts, another great graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier, is not just about ghosts; it is story of sisterhood, friendship, and courage.
Although Cat is not keen on meeting any ghosts, her younger sister Maya is determined to meet and talk with one. Maya is living with cystic fibrosis, so her family has moved to the Northern California coast where the climate may be better for her health. With the fog, comes the ghosts - especially on November 1st - Dia de los Muertos.
Telgemeier's art style is charming and the full color panels make this an enjoyable graphic novel to read. The ghosts are not scary entities. Recommended for all.
--Diana F.
Although Cat is not keen on meeting any ghosts, her younger sister Maya is determined to meet and talk with one. Maya is living with cystic fibrosis, so her family has moved to the Northern California coast where the climate may be better for her health. With the fog, comes the ghosts - especially on November 1st - Dia de los Muertos.
Telgemeier's art style is charming and the full color panels make this an enjoyable graphic novel to read. The ghosts are not scary entities. Recommended for all.
--Diana F.
April 14, 2021
I loved everything about this one except the ending which seemed a bit abrupt. Otherwise, I am really impressed!
This book talks about a child having cystic fibrosis and how the family especially the bigger sister is dealing with it.
The family shifts to a sleepy, foggy place according to the doctors' advice for better treatment options. But this new place held so much more than it seemed.
Ghosts! Who would have ever thought ghosts would be so cute and you would want to meet them and make friends with them?!
I like all the characters (even the ghosts and the mute spirits!) especially Maya, the character with cystic fibrosis. She's so lively, lovely and the best little-miss-sunshine!
And I could relate so much with her bigger sister, Catrina, who is always struggling to be the responsible one and who is such an introvert trying to get along with everyone.
Then there's this sweet little romance between Cat and Carlos, who happens to be their neighbour.
This one book is so hopeful and positive with all the emotions hovering around your thoughts when you're reading it.
The adult characters are mature and seem adult unlike in many children's and young adult books which I really appreciate.
I wanted more when the book ended!
This book talks about a child having cystic fibrosis and how the family especially the bigger sister is dealing with it.
The family shifts to a sleepy, foggy place according to the doctors' advice for better treatment options. But this new place held so much more than it seemed.
Ghosts! Who would have ever thought ghosts would be so cute and you would want to meet them and make friends with them?!
I like all the characters (even the ghosts and the mute spirits!) especially Maya, the character with cystic fibrosis. She's so lively, lovely and the best little-miss-sunshine!
And I could relate so much with her bigger sister, Catrina, who is always struggling to be the responsible one and who is such an introvert trying to get along with everyone.
Then there's this sweet little romance between Cat and Carlos, who happens to be their neighbour.
This one book is so hopeful and positive with all the emotions hovering around your thoughts when you're reading it.
The adult characters are mature and seem adult unlike in many children's and young adult books which I really appreciate.
I wanted more when the book ended!
February 1, 2021
Ghosts by Raina Telegeimeir is such a cute, colorful book! Since I've not read many books that have the Mexican festival "Day of the Dead" as one of the crucial themes in the book, "Ghosts" was made even more interesting!
Cat's sister Maya is sick & Raina brings out the relationship between the two siblings quite sweetly. However, there wasn't any emotional high points in the story & it's something you ll probably forget after a few days. But it's still a pretty cute graphic nove to read on a weekend. The artwork is very lively!
Cat's sister Maya is sick & Raina brings out the relationship between the two siblings quite sweetly. However, there wasn't any emotional high points in the story & it's something you ll probably forget after a few days. But it's still a pretty cute graphic nove to read on a weekend. The artwork is very lively!
November 5, 2020
So heartwarming and exactly what I needed to distract me from looking at the polls every 30 seconds.
January 2, 2019
4 Sister Love STARS
El Dia de los muertos es una celebración hermosa, familiar y que nos hace enorguéllesernos de haber fundido una tradición prehispánica con el catolicismo (así somos de fregones los mexicanos).
Pero en la actualidad ha sido un tema por demás manoseado, que sirve para la venta de disfraces y pintarse las caras de catrina sin saber que es una catrina (como Beyonce).
Pero bueno, para hacer esta reseña me voy a bajar de mi Hig horse, y le voy a cortar slack a la autora, que en realidad no tiene culpa de que todo mundo quiera hablar de este tema, aunque no sepan.
La autora sin duda se documentó mucho, lo que se menciona referente a la celebración me pareció que lo hizo de una forma respetuosa y bien informada. Obviamente la representación delos fantasmas es muy fantasiosa y caricaturizada, pero es un libro para niños. La historia me pareció muy linda y tierna, enalteciendo los lazos familiares y el enriquecimiento de la cultura.
Así que bravo Raina Talgemeier por darnos unas protagonistas latinas, bravo por la multiculturalidad, bravo por los dibujos tan hermosos de los tamales, bravo por mostrar una familia unida a pesar de la adversidad, bravo por darnos un personaje con capacidades diferentes.
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Mi hija Mexicocanadiense ya se ha vuleto su fan, a sus 5 años, porque se pudo ver representada en este libro.
Ya se los dije y espero que me hagan caso: REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
No tienen idea lo mucho que impacta en la vida de una niña, que esta creciendo con 2 culturas, con 2 lenguajes, y una cabeza muy confundida por querer descubrir a donde se pertenece.
El Dia de los muertos es una celebración hermosa, familiar y que nos hace enorguéllesernos de haber fundido una tradición prehispánica con el catolicismo (así somos de fregones los mexicanos).
Pero en la actualidad ha sido un tema por demás manoseado, que sirve para la venta de disfraces y pintarse las caras de catrina sin saber que es una catrina (como Beyonce).
Pero bueno, para hacer esta reseña me voy a bajar de mi Hig horse, y le voy a cortar slack a la autora, que en realidad no tiene culpa de que todo mundo quiera hablar de este tema, aunque no sepan.
La autora sin duda se documentó mucho, lo que se menciona referente a la celebración me pareció que lo hizo de una forma respetuosa y bien informada. Obviamente la representación delos fantasmas es muy fantasiosa y caricaturizada, pero es un libro para niños. La historia me pareció muy linda y tierna, enalteciendo los lazos familiares y el enriquecimiento de la cultura.
Así que bravo Raina Talgemeier por darnos unas protagonistas latinas, bravo por la multiculturalidad, bravo por los dibujos tan hermosos de los tamales, bravo por mostrar una familia unida a pesar de la adversidad, bravo por darnos un personaje con capacidades diferentes.
<Mi hija Mexicocanadiense ya se ha vuleto su fan, a sus 5 años, porque se pudo ver representada en este libro.
Ya se los dije y espero que me hagan caso: REPRESENTATION MATTERS.
No tienen idea lo mucho que impacta en la vida de una niña, que esta creciendo con 2 culturas, con 2 lenguajes, y una cabeza muy confundida por querer descubrir a donde se pertenece.
March 12, 2017
I like Raina Telgemeier's fluid, spunky, unpretentious cartooning a lot, and it is beautifully matched here by a very timely story that is all about embracing the Other. You know, rather than "bombing the shit out of" it.
January 14, 2019
This story has a lot of heart and so clearly communicates the conflicted emotions of an older child in a family where another child is ill. Sacrifices have to be made, like the move we see this family working through at the beginning of the story. We see the love Kat has for Maya and how afraid she is about dealing with the ramifications of cystic fibrosis. I was also surprised to find out how fully this book depicts a community that celebrates Dia De Los Muertos with such joy and passion. Will keep this one in my back pocket to recommend when we are getting close to that time of year again.
October 31, 2019
There's a reason Telgemeier is so successful, every single one of her books is relatable and delightful!
October 10, 2020
REVIEW OF THE KINDLE EDITION (and very nicely rendered as an e-book)
To tell the truth, I first read Raina Telgemeier's 2016 graphic novel Ghosts earlier this year, but have not really until just now managed to figure out how to actually star rank Ghosts and what kind of a review I would be posting.
Now I have certainly found both reading joy and exquisitely rendered pain within Raina Telegemeier's printed words (and I also aesthetically consider Telgemeier's accompanying artwork for Ghosts to be bright and imaginative but also at the same time still a realistic enough visual compliment to the latter, to her text) and with little Maya's increasingly losing battle with cystic fibrosis certainly bringing tears to my eyes but also feelings of immense pride with regard to how bravely and often with an engaging sense of humour Maya tries to deal with her affliction, and yes, with older sister Catrina's feelings of guilt that she rather often seems to feel impatient with and even at times resentful towards her little (and seriously ill) sister and that she is also majorly incensed at the family having had to move to a new area of California due to Maya's CF (with the hope that the more humid and foggy climate there will be better for her precarious health) both leaving me emotionally tenderhearted and full of sympathy but also sometimes and indeed rendering me quite livid and furious as well with regard to how Cat is often behaving annoyingly and acting horribly towards not only her family but really towards quite everyone in town (at least at the very beginning of Ghosts when the family first arrives).
However, albeit that the family story as it is related in Ghosts (about a mother and father with a chronically and genetically ill young daughter and how this and the fact that there is no cure for cystic fibrosis is obviously affecting every family member and each in pretty different ways) has most definitely been a very much and absolutely lovely (even if also saddening) reading experience, if indeed this were the extent of Ghosts I would most likely be rating Raina Telgemeier's narrative (and her combination of text and images) with four to five stars. But yes and unfortunately, there also is a very strong and persistent supernatural element and component being featured and presented in Ghosts (including the rather strange and not really ever sufficiently enough for me explained factoid that all of the departed spirits talked about and celebrated in Ghosts during the Day of the Dead celebration are in fact supposed to be totally and absolutely real and that the Day of the Dead celebrations in Ghosts do therefore not only honour deceased ancestors but that these same ancestors actually do then make bona fide appearances and even physically interact with the celebrants, drinking with them, dancing with them, talking with them).
And while I do not generally have issues reading ghost stories (if they are not too creepy, that is, and Ghosts has certainly not been all that creepy or frightening), I also do tend to find the entire concept of the departed spirits during the Day of the Dead festivities actually and totally being real entities both generally a bit personally uncomfortable and unbelievable and equally also rather tacked onto the main storyline of Ghosts and not really incorporated all that well and smoothly into Catrina and her family's personal story and their life and health based issues and problems with younger sister Maya's CF (rather suspended in space and feeling to me personally as though Raina Telgemeier has simply added the Day of the Dead and the ghostly appearances for shock value and for an interesting autumn celebration to be portrayed and shown, and in my humble opinion with the end result being that the entire Day of the Dead celebration parts and all of the explanations of ghosts and the like being potentially real kind of feeling and reading like a bit of an afterthought and perhaps even somewhat of an inadvertent caricature, not terrible of course, but in my opinion certainly pretty much more than somewhat diluting the tender and heartfelt family tale parts of Raina Telgemeier's text and thus really only making Ghosts but a three star story for me).
To tell the truth, I first read Raina Telgemeier's 2016 graphic novel Ghosts earlier this year, but have not really until just now managed to figure out how to actually star rank Ghosts and what kind of a review I would be posting.
Now I have certainly found both reading joy and exquisitely rendered pain within Raina Telegemeier's printed words (and I also aesthetically consider Telgemeier's accompanying artwork for Ghosts to be bright and imaginative but also at the same time still a realistic enough visual compliment to the latter, to her text) and with little Maya's increasingly losing battle with cystic fibrosis certainly bringing tears to my eyes but also feelings of immense pride with regard to how bravely and often with an engaging sense of humour Maya tries to deal with her affliction, and yes, with older sister Catrina's feelings of guilt that she rather often seems to feel impatient with and even at times resentful towards her little (and seriously ill) sister and that she is also majorly incensed at the family having had to move to a new area of California due to Maya's CF (with the hope that the more humid and foggy climate there will be better for her precarious health) both leaving me emotionally tenderhearted and full of sympathy but also sometimes and indeed rendering me quite livid and furious as well with regard to how Cat is often behaving annoyingly and acting horribly towards not only her family but really towards quite everyone in town (at least at the very beginning of Ghosts when the family first arrives).
However, albeit that the family story as it is related in Ghosts (about a mother and father with a chronically and genetically ill young daughter and how this and the fact that there is no cure for cystic fibrosis is obviously affecting every family member and each in pretty different ways) has most definitely been a very much and absolutely lovely (even if also saddening) reading experience, if indeed this were the extent of Ghosts I would most likely be rating Raina Telgemeier's narrative (and her combination of text and images) with four to five stars. But yes and unfortunately, there also is a very strong and persistent supernatural element and component being featured and presented in Ghosts (including the rather strange and not really ever sufficiently enough for me explained factoid that all of the departed spirits talked about and celebrated in Ghosts during the Day of the Dead celebration are in fact supposed to be totally and absolutely real and that the Day of the Dead celebrations in Ghosts do therefore not only honour deceased ancestors but that these same ancestors actually do then make bona fide appearances and even physically interact with the celebrants, drinking with them, dancing with them, talking with them).
And while I do not generally have issues reading ghost stories (if they are not too creepy, that is, and Ghosts has certainly not been all that creepy or frightening), I also do tend to find the entire concept of the departed spirits during the Day of the Dead festivities actually and totally being real entities both generally a bit personally uncomfortable and unbelievable and equally also rather tacked onto the main storyline of Ghosts and not really incorporated all that well and smoothly into Catrina and her family's personal story and their life and health based issues and problems with younger sister Maya's CF (rather suspended in space and feeling to me personally as though Raina Telgemeier has simply added the Day of the Dead and the ghostly appearances for shock value and for an interesting autumn celebration to be portrayed and shown, and in my humble opinion with the end result being that the entire Day of the Dead celebration parts and all of the explanations of ghosts and the like being potentially real kind of feeling and reading like a bit of an afterthought and perhaps even somewhat of an inadvertent caricature, not terrible of course, but in my opinion certainly pretty much more than somewhat diluting the tender and heartfelt family tale parts of Raina Telgemeier's text and thus really only making Ghosts but a three star story for me).
March 3, 2021
Cat's younger sister Maya has Cystic Fibrosis. That's why her family is moving to another town which Cat isn't happy about because she's going to be new in town, not knowing anyone and most of all missing her old life and friends.
When they arrive in new town, they are instantly welcomed by their neighbors. Cat also finds out that the town is big on Dia De Los Muertos otherwise known as Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition to honor the dead. Cat doesn't believe in ghosts until she and Maya has an encounter with them. Maya ends up in the hospital due to her CF and Cat starts to hate the ghosts as well as her neighbor, Carlos.
Eventually she learns more about her heritage and comes to terms with it all. She even ends up being friends with some ghosts as well as her neighbor, Carlos.
I liked the graphics and closeness with the family and traditions and accepting them but I wasn't a big fan of the story. As a result, I didn't enjoy it as much I had wanted to.
2 stars
When they arrive in new town, they are instantly welcomed by their neighbors. Cat also finds out that the town is big on Dia De Los Muertos otherwise known as Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition to honor the dead. Cat doesn't believe in ghosts until she and Maya has an encounter with them. Maya ends up in the hospital due to her CF and Cat starts to hate the ghosts as well as her neighbor, Carlos.
Eventually she learns more about her heritage and comes to terms with it all. She even ends up being friends with some ghosts as well as her neighbor, Carlos.
I liked the graphics and closeness with the family and traditions and accepting them but I wasn't a big fan of the story. As a result, I didn't enjoy it as much I had wanted to.
2 stars
December 29, 2016
What I did after reading this:
I love Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels! I've read the Babysitter Club, Smile and Sisters. I loved all of those and when I saw this at the library, I was super excited to read it. It was a cute story that talks about an important issue. I love Maya and Cat, they are such loving sisters. I love how they look out for each other and care for each other. I feel like it would be better to jump right into this book without knowing much about it. At least, that's what I did and I enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to everyone!
I'll be off again!
I love Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels! I've read the Babysitter Club, Smile and Sisters. I loved all of those and when I saw this at the library, I was super excited to read it. It was a cute story that talks about an important issue. I love Maya and Cat, they are such loving sisters. I love how they look out for each other and care for each other. I feel like it would be better to jump right into this book without knowing much about it. At least, that's what I did and I enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to everyone!
I'll be off again!
November 23, 2016
This was a really good graphic novel. I have read multiple other books by Raina and have enjoyed them all.
I especially enjoyed the fantasy and Mexican cultures and traditions mixed in this story. I also loved how one of the main characters had cystic fibrosis and her treatment was covered in small, powerful ways in this book :)
I especially enjoyed the fantasy and Mexican cultures and traditions mixed in this story. I also loved how one of the main characters had cystic fibrosis and her treatment was covered in small, powerful ways in this book :)
March 30, 2019
That was precious and so sweet, but so sad. 😭 Maya's fears about what being a ghost will be like, and leaving her family behind, broke my heart; on top of that, Cat's endless anxiety over her sister's well-being is so touching. ♥
February 20, 2019
It was brought to my attention yesterday by my daughter that I had not read Ghosts! She loves Raina Telgmeier's books, and I usually keep up with her on these, but somehow I had missed that she had this one and had read it several times!
It was, of course wonderful. I love her art, I loved the dialogue and the story, and the interaction between sisters. The plot was very unexpected, and I shall not go into details. Grab yourself a copy and read it, if you haven't already!
It was, of course wonderful. I love her art, I loved the dialogue and the story, and the interaction between sisters. The plot was very unexpected, and I shall not go into details. Grab yourself a copy and read it, if you haven't already!
July 20, 2021
★ 4.0 Stars ★
Like everything else Raina Telgemeier creates, this is great. The art is as always cute and the story is just as cute.
Young teen Catrina, who goes by Cat, is torn away from everything she knows, when she and her family, move to a new town because of her younger Sister, Maya's illness. This new town however, is very different from anywhere else they've lived - it has a connection to the spiritual world, allowing for ghosts to leave and enter our world as they please. Maya is thrilled by this, but Cat is apprehensive about anything to do with ghosts and death - perhaps because of Maya's bad health?
This is definitely written for a younger audience, but in my eyes it can be enjoyed by anyone. It's neither too long or too short, the story is told at exactly the perfect length, not overstaying its' welcome. Recommended for anyone with siblings and people who love ghostly stories (not scary in any way though).
Like everything else Raina Telgemeier creates, this is great. The art is as always cute and the story is just as cute.
Young teen Catrina, who goes by Cat, is torn away from everything she knows, when she and her family, move to a new town because of her younger Sister, Maya's illness. This new town however, is very different from anywhere else they've lived - it has a connection to the spiritual world, allowing for ghosts to leave and enter our world as they please. Maya is thrilled by this, but Cat is apprehensive about anything to do with ghosts and death - perhaps because of Maya's bad health?
This is definitely written for a younger audience, but in my eyes it can be enjoyed by anyone. It's neither too long or too short, the story is told at exactly the perfect length, not overstaying its' welcome. Recommended for anyone with siblings and people who love ghostly stories (not scary in any way though).
October 25, 2016
Wow is this a tough book to review. It's trying to do a lot of things at once--to address illness, mortality, and painful family dynamics around illness, all while being upbeat, in a kid's (middle-grade-ish) graphic novel with romance and friendships and ghosts and ghost-related holidays.
While I appreciate that this book looks directly at the painfulness of childhood illness and the proximity of death, and while I think the book's recognition of how much this kind of illness can put all kinds of stress on siblings, and while I'm super grateful that it brings awareness about CF into its pages, there are a few things I'm grappling with and not so sure of.
1) That the sick kid is always happy and bubbly and excited about life and the world.
While I understand that she is just one character being represented (in other words, this book isn't saying 'all sick kids are happy' or 'all sick kids lovable only if they are happy and generous and un-selfish, etc.' there's something a little unsettling when a sick kid has to be happy in order to get the part. I mean, clearly there wasn't an actual audition, and perhaps Telgemeier has a particular person in mind as she writes this character, and maybe that person really is this bubbly all the time. And generous. And seemingly not at all pissed off and resentful about being sick. Well, it certainly does make life better to focus on gratitude and all that, and I couldn't help falling in love with Maya and her delightful enthusiasm. But I'm not sure she really got to be a complex person and I'm not sure this book gives a message that it is okay to be a sick person who isn't taking care of the people around her by being happy. If that makes sense.
2) The question of cultural appropriation.
Well, this is a really complex issue and I don't know where I stand on it. Authors should be able to write about all sorts of things. If an author was only allowed to write about things that had to do with their personal lives and cultures, then where would fiction be? And where does one culture or cultural experience end and another begin? And where would we as thinkers be if we were asked to keep our imaginations to things that were somehow hereditary (?) or familial (?). I mean, it's absurd to tell authors to stick entirely to what they know, because truly, knowledge is not that refined, defined or linear.
On the other hand, Dia De Los Muertos is a holiday that is often used for the purposes of entertainment in ways that are poorly considered, awkward and exploitative. And, well, there are power dynamics at play in terms of the authorial/material relationship that do need to be in some way addressed.
Telgemeier's representation of the holiday is questionable at best, but she does represent a family for whom this holiday is theirs, and that is important. And the family's relationship to the holiday takes on some complexity. Moreover, this is a book meant for kids, and what is probably most important is how kids experience the book. It's great that Telgemeier works to represent people whose worlds are underrepresented in comics and in all American literature. There is just a question of, could she be doing this more responsibly. Certainly the book is opening up doors for conversation and communication. Maybe she could have just had a bit of a graphic introduction in which she acknowledges some of these dynamics.
So, I have mixed feelings about the book, I didn't like it as much as her other books, but I'm glad Telgemeier is writing.
I read this article/review and enjoyed.
http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2...
While I appreciate that this book looks directly at the painfulness of childhood illness and the proximity of death, and while I think the book's recognition of how much this kind of illness can put all kinds of stress on siblings, and while I'm super grateful that it brings awareness about CF into its pages, there are a few things I'm grappling with and not so sure of.
1) That the sick kid is always happy and bubbly and excited about life and the world.
While I understand that she is just one character being represented (in other words, this book isn't saying 'all sick kids are happy' or 'all sick kids lovable only if they are happy and generous and un-selfish, etc.' there's something a little unsettling when a sick kid has to be happy in order to get the part. I mean, clearly there wasn't an actual audition, and perhaps Telgemeier has a particular person in mind as she writes this character, and maybe that person really is this bubbly all the time. And generous. And seemingly not at all pissed off and resentful about being sick. Well, it certainly does make life better to focus on gratitude and all that, and I couldn't help falling in love with Maya and her delightful enthusiasm. But I'm not sure she really got to be a complex person and I'm not sure this book gives a message that it is okay to be a sick person who isn't taking care of the people around her by being happy. If that makes sense.
2) The question of cultural appropriation.
Well, this is a really complex issue and I don't know where I stand on it. Authors should be able to write about all sorts of things. If an author was only allowed to write about things that had to do with their personal lives and cultures, then where would fiction be? And where does one culture or cultural experience end and another begin? And where would we as thinkers be if we were asked to keep our imaginations to things that were somehow hereditary (?) or familial (?). I mean, it's absurd to tell authors to stick entirely to what they know, because truly, knowledge is not that refined, defined or linear.
On the other hand, Dia De Los Muertos is a holiday that is often used for the purposes of entertainment in ways that are poorly considered, awkward and exploitative. And, well, there are power dynamics at play in terms of the authorial/material relationship that do need to be in some way addressed.
Telgemeier's representation of the holiday is questionable at best, but she does represent a family for whom this holiday is theirs, and that is important. And the family's relationship to the holiday takes on some complexity. Moreover, this is a book meant for kids, and what is probably most important is how kids experience the book. It's great that Telgemeier works to represent people whose worlds are underrepresented in comics and in all American literature. There is just a question of, could she be doing this more responsibly. Certainly the book is opening up doors for conversation and communication. Maybe she could have just had a bit of a graphic introduction in which she acknowledges some of these dynamics.
So, I have mixed feelings about the book, I didn't like it as much as her other books, but I'm glad Telgemeier is writing.
I read this article/review and enjoyed.
http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2...
January 29, 2021
I am shocked I didn't read this sooner. Ghosts was absolutely amazing, and is now my favorite of Telgemeier's work! It is full of heart, has all the Halloween vibes, and is just dripping with atmosphere. If you liked Pixar's Coco, I honestly feel this is better and more grounded. Such a beautiful story.
April 12, 2017
2.5 stars. This is my least favorite Raina Telgemeier book to date. It's not particularly charming or funny, it's just kind of... okay.
Ghosts doesn't have the realism of either Smile or Sisters, but it doesn't manage to reach the charming humor of Drama, either. There isn't much humor aside from brief moments. Unfortunately, this book doesn't hit hard emotionally either. The family relationships and characters here aren't developed enough, making this book ultimately unmemorable.
Telegemeier's art is charming as always, and there's nothing to hate here. This book wasn't a bad reading experience for me by any means, and it's a short read, too. If you like Telgemeier, I'd try this one out! But ultimately, this book was a disappointment when compared to her other three books.
Ghosts doesn't have the realism of either Smile or Sisters, but it doesn't manage to reach the charming humor of Drama, either. There isn't much humor aside from brief moments. Unfortunately, this book doesn't hit hard emotionally either. The family relationships and characters here aren't developed enough, making this book ultimately unmemorable.
Telegemeier's art is charming as always, and there's nothing to hate here. This book wasn't a bad reading experience for me by any means, and it's a short read, too. If you like Telgemeier, I'd try this one out! But ultimately, this book was a disappointment when compared to her other three books.
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