Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgal
Standalone
My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Genre: YA Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery
Publisher: First Second
Synopsis: Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn’t kidding about the “Forever” part…
Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.
Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya’s normal life might actually be worse. She’s embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she’s pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs.
Or so she thinks.
My thoughts: I found this graphic novel on the shelf of the library and immediately grabbed it off the shelf after seeing the cover. I read it and came to one conclusion: this graphic novel is fantastic.
Anya’s Ghost was never boring and within the first pages Anya has already fallen down a well, has an unpleasant encounter with a skeleton, and meets a ninety year-old ghost that has been living there quite a long time.
The illustrations are beautiful. After finishing the story I found myself wanting to frame all the pages on my wall. I just could not stop staring at them. The art is detailed but not overwhelmingly so and the use of the colors black, grey, white, and hues of blue gives off an eerie, dark, and mysterious vibe which fits very well with the story. The expressions on the character’s faces are clearly drawn and you can always tell what they are feeling. One of my favorite pages to stare at is this one:
I also loved the message that was in the story: the acceptance of one’s identity and heritage.
Anya Borzakovskaya is spectacular. She is sarcastic, negative, and has the normal teenage insecurities. Her family immigrated to the US from Russia before she started school and ever since she has been trying to fit in. I thought she was a very relatable and loveable character. Her snarkiness is much-loved by me. When I finished the book I was so sad because I wanted to read more about Anya. Emily (the ghost girl) was strange from the beginning. I could tell that sometime was wrong with her but I could never guess what. I did have some sympathy for her although it was not a lot.
When the ending came I almost cried. Not because it was a really sad ending but because the story was over! I wanted more of the awesome art, Anya, and the creepiness of the story. I am really looking forward to more of Brosgal’s works.
Anya’s Ghost is definitely a book you will want on your bookshelf! I am axiously waiting for the next time I go to the bookstore so I can buy my own copy of Anya’s Ghost.
Things you should know (spoiler alert): There is some bad language in this graphic novel even though it only appears about two times throughout the entire story. There is also a theme on murder which might be unsettling for some readers.
book adoration 