Ghosts

One of the titles in the Rockland County children’s librarians Mock Newbery discussions is Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier. Two of the main protagonists in the story are sisters, Catrina and Maya, who is younger and suffers from cystic fibrosis. The family has moved to northern California for a better climate for Maya, but this means making new friends and also dealing with ghosts, as Catrina, or Cat, soon discovers. She is NOT happy about this issue, but Maya is dying to befriend one. Carlos, the neighbor, leads ghost tours and eventually persuades Cat and Maya to take up his offer of a free tour. Ghosts is a heartwarming story about the importance of family and culture, opening up oneself to new ideas, as well as dealing with the issue of death. It is in graphic novel format, and is recommended for grades 4 – 8.