rsnuggs21's review against another edition
4.0
Bought this for my daughter for Christmas and decided to read a couple pages. Turns out I enjoyed it!
bluzybooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the first graphic novels I’ve ever read and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved that it made me laugh but also creeped me out a bit. Fast and fun read!
ali_brarian's review against another edition
5.0
Brosgol, Vera. Anya’s Ghost. First Second, 2011. 13-15 yrs.
Distracted by thoughts of her family, friends, and fitting in as a Russian-American high school student, Anya falls down into a well. This well, however, is not filled with water. The ghost of Emily Reilly lives in the well, and all she wants is a way out – and with it, a second chance. By sneaking a piece of her bone into Anya’s purse, Emily is able to follow Anya around to school, parties and Anya’s house. After helping Anya with schoolwork and boy advice, Emily starts to grow selfish, leading Anya to research the death of her ghost friend. An old newspaper article reveals to Anya that Emily lied to her; she murdered two people. In order to guarantee that Emily doesn’t kill again, Anya must give up the privileges Emily provided her. Upon discovering that she has a lot in common with her ghost, Anya reveals that “wanting how others look, what they have and who they have” is not what life is about.
Each illustrated page of this graphic novel consists of anywhere from one to seven panels. These illustrations are infused with multiple shades of gray, verging on bluish-gray, that blend with the black and white to create a dark tone and consistent style throughout. Each panel is simply drawn, yet highly detailed with solid black lines that effectively show the expressions of each character.
Anya’s Ghost definitely takes a different spin on the realization that being popular in high school isn’t everything. By using a little bit of horror and mystery, Brosgol adds excitement into the typical teen melodrama. As the ghost of Emily transforms into the murderer she really is, the reader can see Anya snap out of her high school problem-centric world and take charge of her own life. The positive message for young readers is that “you don’t know what’s going on inside anyone else’s head.” Anya is the one to tell Emily, along with the reader, that judging others is wrong, point blank. Only thinking about yourself in order to fit in and get what you want proves to be the death of Anya’s ghost, and the ultimate lesson.
(Read once, October 29, 2011. Read again for YALSA Best of the Best, May 7, 2012.)
Distracted by thoughts of her family, friends, and fitting in as a Russian-American high school student, Anya falls down into a well. This well, however, is not filled with water. The ghost of Emily Reilly lives in the well, and all she wants is a way out – and with it, a second chance. By sneaking a piece of her bone into Anya’s purse, Emily is able to follow Anya around to school, parties and Anya’s house. After helping Anya with schoolwork and boy advice, Emily starts to grow selfish, leading Anya to research the death of her ghost friend. An old newspaper article reveals to Anya that Emily lied to her; she murdered two people. In order to guarantee that Emily doesn’t kill again, Anya must give up the privileges Emily provided her. Upon discovering that she has a lot in common with her ghost, Anya reveals that “wanting how others look, what they have and who they have” is not what life is about.
Each illustrated page of this graphic novel consists of anywhere from one to seven panels. These illustrations are infused with multiple shades of gray, verging on bluish-gray, that blend with the black and white to create a dark tone and consistent style throughout. Each panel is simply drawn, yet highly detailed with solid black lines that effectively show the expressions of each character.
Anya’s Ghost definitely takes a different spin on the realization that being popular in high school isn’t everything. By using a little bit of horror and mystery, Brosgol adds excitement into the typical teen melodrama. As the ghost of Emily transforms into the murderer she really is, the reader can see Anya snap out of her high school problem-centric world and take charge of her own life. The positive message for young readers is that “you don’t know what’s going on inside anyone else’s head.” Anya is the one to tell Emily, along with the reader, that judging others is wrong, point blank. Only thinking about yourself in order to fit in and get what you want proves to be the death of Anya’s ghost, and the ultimate lesson.
(Read once, October 29, 2011. Read again for YALSA Best of the Best, May 7, 2012.)
ditalion's review against another edition
4.0
Anya's ghost was a fun graphic novel. It had a nice short story and it was differed than I expected, which is a good thing. Also, It was darker then I suspected, which was cool. The book has a nice overall-message as well, and the artwork is nice. I liked the grey and purple colors. Nice little book.
4 stars.
4 stars.
dawn_dickerson's review against another edition
3.0
First graphic novel I'd read since high school (when I read Maus I and II) so I don't have much to compare it to. Cute but not captivating.
eyd's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0