7.21.2014

Anyas Ghost Book Review

Anyas Ghost - Book Reviews 2014 | Crappy Candle
by Vera Brosgol

This summer, I visited my local library for the first time since I was 15. Greg and I both got library cards and I found a book to "kick off" my freshly hatched summer reading scheme. Considering that I had just finished Neil Gaiman's Sandman series (which I thoroughly enjoyed and will have to review at a later date), Anya's Ghost, by Vera Brosgol, seemed like a good follow-up. Brosgol did story boarding for Gaiman's Coraline and he gives her a hearty recommendation on the cover.



Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel that is about 225 pages. It's something that can be read easily in an evening before going to bed. For comparison's sake, it took me about a year to read all 10 trade paperbacks of The Sandman. (I'll pause for some silent judgement.) Anya's Ghost is targeted at younger teens, but I think it's a fun short read for adults too. I remember thinking I liked The Hobbit more than The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but then felt a little miffed when I was told it was a children's book. Whatever. The heart wants what the heart wants, and sometimes the heart wants something that's easy to understand.

Anya's Ghost is beautifully illustrated with a muted greyscale palette. The story is simple and explores the life of a disgruntled teen girl trying to find her place in the world as well as her newly formed relationship with a ghost that only she can see and hear. It includes common themes for young girls including negative body image and generalized insecurity, the dirty awful clique dynamic in high school, cute boys and the palpitations they give our hearts, and the clash of American and immigrant culture for a child of an immigrant parent.

Granted this was my first foray into YA comics, but I was surprised by how candid and realistic Brosgol was with her characters. I clutched my pearls a little when I saw the main character partook in (gasp) tobacco cigarette smoking(!), but I realized quickly that it was just a knee-jerk reaction given my old-fart distrust of teenagers. The story has a certain John Hughes quality to it while maintaining a balance with a Coraline-esque whimsical spookiness.

I'd recommend Anya's Ghost to just about anyone, but I think it's a good introduction into the world of comics, especially for younger girls. Don't think it's only for girls though; Greg read it too and he's a real live man.

Optimal Reading Situation: Laying under the covers with a headlamp on.
Optimal Reading Snack: A box of Nerds and some candy cigarettes.
Optimal Reading Followup: A binge of Seventeen Magazine quiz taking.
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This review is from my Summer Book Club series. 

Next up: The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson.
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