Dia de los Muertos!

Ghosts

By Raina Telgemeier

Does the author's name look familiar? You bet it does! Raina Telgemeier is also the author of Smile, Sisters and Drama! Ghosts is her stand-alone graphic novel and is also a MD Black-Eyed Susan nominees for graphic novels grades 4-6. Ghosts tells of Cat's move to Northern California with her family. Her sister, Maya, has Cystic Fibrosis and up north is better for her health than in Southern California. Something seems very different about their new city of Bahia de la Luna. Everyone seems preoccupied with ghosts and when Dia de los Muertos comes around on the 1st of November, the ghosts come out to play and Cat learns that there is nothing to be afraid of. Throughout the book there is an undertone of breathing issues. It seems that the ghosts are very much like Cat's sister, whereas it is hard for her to breathe. The ghosts have their own issues with air and need to borrow a small bit of breath from the living to talk. Maya also mentions to Cat that her life may be cut short and she doesn't want Cat to be afraid of her if she comes to her as a ghost. 

This is a great book for children if they are struggling with a death of loved one or facing an uncertain future of their own. Raina Telgemeier paints a beautiful picture of ghosts as people who have passed, but still love us and want to spend time with us. If you have never read a graphic novel, then this is a good one to down with and read. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier is a really good and moving story!