Ghosty Graphic Novels
From Casper to Nearly Headless Nick, friendly ghosts abound. I’ve been finding a lot of them lately in graphic novels. They provide insight into the past and often guide the protagonists on their paths. And sometimes they just keep them company.
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier (2016)
If you haven’t read all the Raina Telgemeier graphic novels, start now. Her autobiographical stories are great, but also check out this work of fiction. Ghosts is about the relationship between two sisters, one with a medical condition, and about the spirits that are discovered with a move to a new town.
Sheets series by Brenna Thummler (started in 2018)
Marjorie’s life revolves around the family’s laundromat business. When Wendell, a ghost, begins haunting the laundromat, he makes her days much more complicated. Marjorie and Wendell eventually form an alliance, and she enjoys learning about the ghost world from him.
The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity and Christopher Baldwin (2021)
Haley is obsessed with Gothic novels. When she rescues a drowning man, she is pulled into a pocket universe that is just like one of her favorites, full of brooding brothers, a shadowy house, and some ghosts. Haley must save their universe and get herself home. Full of humor and smart references, I loved this story.
Frontera by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo (2023)
A teen needs to cross the border into the U.S. When he ventures off on his own, he encounters a friendly ghost who died when attempting to cross. I liked how this book showed many facets to the immigrant experience and what it means to cross the border.
Ghost Book by Remy Lai (2023)
In this graphic novel, a girl who can see ghosts meets a boy whose spirit wanders while he is in a coma. Can she help him find his way back to his body? Or will she be left to only give a message to his mom? Lai delivers another great story of finding your place in the world.
Call Me Iggy by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado (2024)
When Iggy is cleaning out the basement, he discovers an urn with his Abuelo’s ashes and awakens his ghost. At first it is great to have Abuelo around — helpful for Iggy’s Spanish grade, for example. But later the two butt heads, and Iggy must figure out how to balance his past and his future.