Reviewed by Debbie Reese
Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature
Book Author: Raina Telgemeier
On Monday, September 19th, Raina Telgemeier will launch her new book, Ghosts, in Minneapolis. She’s a much acclaimed writer with several best selling books. Anytime I see a book that has something to do with ghosts, I wonder if the author is going to be contributing to the too-high-pile of problematic books with characters who are haunted or inspired by the ghost of a Native character. One example (there are many) is Susan Cooper’s Ghost Hawk.
I think Telgemeier’s Ghosts is one of those problematic books, but I don’t think that Telgemeier is aware that she’s doing that same thing. The story she tells, and the reviews of her story, demonstrate (yet again) an ignorance of history. Continue reading.
Additional review available by Laura Jimenez, “Ghosts: Swing and a Hard Miss” from Booktoss.
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
on September 13th, 2016
Pages: 256
Reading Level: Grades 6-8
ISBN: 9780545540629
Also by this author: Drama: A Graphic Novel
Publisher's Synopsis: Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahia de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahia de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake - and her own.
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