ilaxaria's review
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Bullying
sophiegs's review against another edition
4.0
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Bullying
vj_thompson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Excrement, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Abandonment, Bullying, and Gaslighting
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcoholism
booksandteatime's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
zackarinareads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Bullying
emilywemily6's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Child death, and Death of parent
emikateb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism
rhiannon814r's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, and Bullying
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
ruthhelizabeth's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Marjorie is not having the easiest time, even compared to other 13 year old girls. Her mum has passed away and ever since her dad has been like a ghost, floating around their home and family laundromat and barely speaking, leaving Majorie to handle running the business, looking after them all and somehow staying on top of school work. A local ghoul of another type in the shape of a man is hovering, forcing his hostile plans to open a spa in the building Majorie and her family call home by any means necessary.
Meanwhile, another more literal ghost is trying to grapple with the afterlife.
I really enjoyed this book. It handled grief and mental health incredibly well, and the artwork is beautiful. I feel it would be a wonderful addition to any middle school or high school library, and would really enrich the lives of anyone who read it, particularly as an age appropriate tool to start conversations and spark empathy.
As an adult I also really enjoyed reading and will be on the look out for other books by the same author.
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
indieandajean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The plot itself is good, showing the weight upon the shoulders of a child who has had to take on the role of a parent after the death of her mother. The juxtaposition of this with the story of a child who has died and is looking for belonging from the beyond is well done, but the real heavy hitter here is the visual element. The art is stunning, I cannot fully explain how perfectly it conveys the emotion and carries the plot forward.
The plot does drag at times, and until the context of the ghosts arrives in the plot, the story is a bit confusing. Overall, however it is an enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to those who are working through loss themselves, and to those looking for a teaching tool for their children (10+) to talk about grief, death, and dying.
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Gaslighting, Bullying, and Abandonment