Ghosts (graphic novel) explained

Ghosts
Author:Raina Telgemeier
Publisher:Scholastic/Graphix
Release Date:September 2016
Genre:Graphic novel
Fiction
Media Type:Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Awards:Eisner for Best Publication for Kids, 2017
Pages:256
Isbn:978-0-545-54067-4
Dewey:741.5/973
Congress:PZ7.7.T45 Gh 2016

Ghosts is a fictional graphic novel written by Raina Telgemeier which tells the story of Catrina and her family, who have recently moved to Bahía de la Luna (a fictional town incorporating aspects of Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, and Santa Cruz) in northern California. The move was intended to help the health of Catrina's younger sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis.

Plot

The novel opens as the family is ordering at the drive-through of a fictional Double-Back Burger (the colors and logos of which are based on In-N-Out Burger) before leaving southern California for Bahía de la Luna.

As the sisters are exploring Bahía de la Luna, they are surprised by a boy named Carlos Calaveras, who turns out to be one of their new neighbors. Catrina and Maya explore their Mexican heritage with the help of Carlos, culminating in a Dia de los Muertos celebration in November

Development

The magical realism of Ghosts marks a sharp change from Telgemeier's earlier works, which have been autobiographical (Smile [2010]; Sisters [2014]) or realistic fiction (Drama [2012]).[1] Instead, Telgemeier depicts the titular ghosts as real but benevolent presences to help Catrina understand death and deal with Maya's terminal illness.

Telgemeier stated she was inspired to write Ghosts in part by the death of her young cousin Sabina, who died from cancer at the age of 13. The scenes from the Day of the Dead celebration were left blank in the initial manuscript submitted to Scholastic. Telgemeier waited until she had attended a Day of the Dead celebration in San Francisco to accurately express her experience in the story, which she later called "one of the most moving nights of my life."

Aspects of the town of Bahía de la Luna are inspired by Half Moon Bay, Moss Beach, Monterey, Morro Bay, and Santa Cruz.[2]

The panels were colored by Braden Lamb.[3]

Reception, awards, and recognition

The book received positive reviews. Dan Kois, reviewing for The New York Times called it "a typically empathetic and complex work from a gifted comics creator".[4] Kirkus Reviews said Telgemeier showed "superior visual storytelling" in keeping readers "emotinally [sic] engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale".[5] According to School Library Journal, it is a "can't miss-addition to middle grade graphic novel shelves".[6]

In 2017, Ghosts won an Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids (ages 9–12)[7] and the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids' Comics.[8]

the paperback version had spent several weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list under the category "Paperback Graphic Books."[9]

Appropriation charges

After the novel was published, several readers pointed out the cultural appropriation of Dia de los Muertos[10] [11] as well as the problematic sanitized portrayal of the history of Spanish missions in California.[12] [13] Telgemeier responded by posting a short essay acknowledging the critical viewpoints on her website.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: "Ghosts": Raina Telegemeier returns . Larson, Sarah . 13 September 2016 . The New Yorker . 25 January 2018.
  2. Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier -- poignant messages about family, courage & facing fears (ages 8-12) . Raina Telgemeier . Mary Ann Scheuer . 13 September 2016 . Great Kid Books . 25 January 2018.
  3. Web site: Ghosts . Shortt, Shay . Required Reading [blog] . 25 January 2018.
  4. News: Why Kids Will Love Raina Telgemeier's New Graphic Novel . Kois, Dan . The New York Times . 26 August 2016 . 25 January 2018.
  5. Web site: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier . 2 July 2016 . Kirkus Reviews . 25 January 2018.
  6. Web site: SLJ Review: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier . Dar, Mahnaz . 9 June 2016 . School Library Journal . 25 January 2018.
  7. Web site: Eisner Awards, 2017 . Comic-Con International . 2017 . 25 January 2018 . 7 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170607093909/https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info . dead .
  8. Brigid Alverson, "'Ghosts' Wins McDuffie Award for Kids Comics", ICv2, 2017-06-19
  9. Web site: Best Sellers - Paperback Graphic Books . 29 January 2017 . The New York Times . 25 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Ghosts: Swing and a Hard Miss . Jiminez, Laura . 18 September 2016 . Booktoss [blog] . 25 January 2018.
  11. Web site: A look at Ghosts . Arredondo, Faythe . 4 August 2016 . Teen Services Underground . 25 January 2018 . 21 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210221053906/https://www.teenservicesunderground.com/a-look-at-ghosts/ . dead .
  12. Web site: Not recommended: GHOSTS by Raina Telgemeier . Reese, Debbie . 17 September 2016 . American Indians in Children's Literature . 25 January 2018.
  13. Web site: Ghosts . Slapin, Beverly . 27 September 2016 . De Colores Reviews . 25 January 2018.
  14. Web site: About Ghosts . Telgemeier, Raina . goraina.com . 25 January 2018.