 Loading... | Ghost book Author: Lai, Remy | |
| Price: $12.29 | ||
Summary:
July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren't real. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a hungry ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He's a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends set off to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth--for William to live, July must die. In graphic novel format.
| Illustrator: | Gaillard, Ninakupenda |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 2.90 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 519677 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (00/06/23)
School Library Journal (06/01/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/09/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/23/2023 *Starred Review* The night that July Chen was born, her mother died, nearly taking baby July with her. Now 12, July has the ability to see ghosts but is otherwise unremarkable—so much so that no one remembers she’s around. When some kids in her class try to summon a Hungry Ghost (“with gross tumors all over it”) rumored to haunt their school, July joins in, hoping it might help her make a friend. The scheme works, but not in the way that July envisioned. Rather than making a lasting impression on her classmates, she attracts the attention of a wandering soul still tethered to his body—that of 12-year-old William Xiao, “the luckiest unlucky boy,” who is prone to near-death accidents. The two become friends while trying to get a message to William’s mother and unravel the reason behind why these accidents keep happening to him. Lai is a master of middle-grade sensibilities, mixing pus-spurting tumors with slapstick and genuine concerns about friendship and family. Her artwork elevates each scene to its fullest potential as wacky and disgusting ghosts float through panels (and walls and floors), their luminous forms lighter than the saturated physical world, and the friends discover how their fates are deeply entwined. An unforgettable adventure full of surprises, laughs, ghosts, and dumplings. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/01/2023 Gr 4 Up—Mild horror and humor collide in this delightful graphic novel inspired by Chinese mythology, set during Hungry Ghost month. All kinds of ghosts fill the halls of Redhill Elementary, home to the gates of the Underworld. July Chen, 12, pretends she can't see the ghosts in her school so as to appear normal, but the spirit of a wandering soul named William Xiao is persistent in enlisting her help to free himself from a series of tragic events. Solid character development and plot drive this tale that touches on friendship, family, loss, and legend. Fans of Lai's other works, such as Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall, will note her signature art style evident in the book, though the full color is heavy on darker blues and greens, which set the perfect tone for the spookier elements of the story. VERDICT Fans of Lai's other works, as well as Kat Leyh's Snapdragon, and Emma Steinkellner's "The Okay Witch" series will enjoy this modern ghost story with a hopeful ending. Recommended first purchase for upper elementary and middle school collections.—Monisha Blair - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
