A review by desterman
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

4.0

The colour palette of this graphic novel is what first attracted me to it. Made of blacks, blues, and purpley greys, this somehow worked really well with a ghost story focused on angst ridden teenagers. Vera Brosgol’s coming of age tale tells the story of Russian immigrant, teenager Annushka Borzakovskaya (Anya), who lives in New England in America with her younger brother and hard working mother. She is unpopular and bullied at school, torn between her Russian heritage and her new home. One night she befriends a teenaged ghost, Emily, who died 90 years ago. Despite her reservations, Anya soon finds an ally in Emily, who helps her at school both socially and academically. Over time though Emily becomes manipulative and controlling, propelling Anya to try to discover more about her mysterious past.

This was a great page turner and I loved how it turned from an unusual teenage melodrama into something more. I also loved how the characters were drawn – the transformation in Emily is subtle and visually effective. Anya’s large breasts and thighs, which she somehow accentuates while simultaneously feeling embarrassed about, perfectly captures the awkward evolution of the teenage body. A great little piece to add to a gothic/horror study.