Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol

 

Anya’s Ghost.

Vera Brosgol – author and illustrator. (2011). Publisher: First Second(:01): New York. Hardcover. ISBN: 978-1596437135.

Author website: http://verabee.com/index.html

Media: Watercolor, pen and ink.

Genre: Graphic novel, multicultural, horror

Annotation

A lonely teenage girl struggling with everyday problems encounters and befriends a ghost. Only there is a problem, what happens if this ghost is less Casper and more poltergeist?

Plot Summary

Anya, an angst ridden teenage girl who is an imigrant from Russia going to a Catholic school in suburban Massachusetts, wants to fit into mainstream teenage culture and wants to be popular. She tries to assimilate and blend in with her peers. For example, she went to speech therapy to lose her accent, dresses like the other girls, she eats American foods, and she rejects the Russian food (Cblphnkh) that her mother cooks because it is Russian and weight self-consciousness.

Anya is leaving high school one day when she trips and falls down a well in a park.  Terrified that she is doomed to perish in the well, Anya discovers that she is not alone. There is a ghost girl and skeleton from 1918 with her. When she is finally rescued, she discovers that the ghost had an ulterior motive. The ghost, Emily, has followed her home. At first, the ghost is helpful. The ghost assists with course work, gives her intel about a boy she has a crush on, boosts her confidence, provides style advice, and so on. The ghost seems like a supportive friend that teenagers often want.

But, as the story progresses, Anya starts to realize that the ghost’s story isn’t quite right. As the ghost becomes more co-dependent, demanding, erratic, and scheming Anya begins to suspect that the ghost is leaving out information and decides to investigate the said story. She discovers that there is more to the ghost and the story and that her family might be in danger.

My thoughts

This is a good young adult graphic novel for teens and is popular for many reasons. Social anxiety, body image, friendship, health, peer pressure, family difficulties, and assimilation are issues that are effectively addressed in this graphic novel. 

Anya, as a character, is so relatable for many teenage girls. She is a combination of social outcast rebellion and intelligent but insecure wallflower. The character progresses through the story and in the end she realizes that the popular kids have issues below the surface. Anya ultimately becomes more secure with her own being and confident that she doesn’t have to fit in with the popular kids.

The illustrations are monochromatic done in black and white with a touch of purple toned grey. The lines are thick and smoothly in a typical graphic style. Anya is drawn as a curvy girl with dark hair and freckles.

A couple of red flags: One personal concern that I have is that the character does smoke cigarettes (and cut classes) through the first part of the book. This characterization of the rebel smoker is cliché and perhaps causes teenage girls to smoke. The characterization adds to the problem even though the character confronts the habit in the final pages of the book. In addition, there is underage drinking at the party that changes her views about popularity. Overall, the spooky supernatural themes are mild and there is no overt violence.

Curricular connections

Popular for teenage girls.

Literary Devices:
Use of onomatopoeia: beep! Beeeep!, Clap!, pant pant, gasp, tweet tweet, briiiing, whip, duck, rrrring, sizzle, krak, thump, tug, and THUD.

Use of Simile: “You may look normal like everyone else, but you're not. Not on the inside.”

Reading level/ Interest Age

 Younger high school.

Reviews and Awards

Cybils awards 2011 in the Graphic Novel category

Booklist starred review

Kirkus starred review

School Library Journal starred review

“Anya’s Ghost is a masterpiece, of YA literature and of comics.”—Neil Gaiman

"Remarkable. . . . with an attitude and aptitude reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) who likewise conveyed the particulars of an immigrant adolescence, Brosgol has created a smart, funny and compassionate portrait of someone who, for all her sulking and sneering, is the kind of daughter many parents would like to have. And the kind of girl many of us maybe once were.” -- The New York Times

Cinderella Skeleton by Robert Souci and David Catrow

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say

Allen Say – author and illustrator. Drawing from memory. New York: Scholastic Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-545-17686-6

Author website: No author website found.

Media: watercolors, pen and ink, pencils, and photographs.

Genre: autobiographical, biography, memoir, nonfiction

Annotation

Caldecott Medalist Allen Say’s autobiography chronicling his pathway into the arts and his apprenticeship with Noro Shinpei, Japan’s premier cartoonist, while growing up in Japan during and post WWII.

My thoughts

I was captivated while reading Allen Say’s memoir, Drawing From Memory. The combinations of Say’s prose and choice of illustrations made it very easy to get a mental movie while experiencing his life’s story. The flow of it really makes it hard to put down and can easily be read in one sitting. The tone of his prose was very candid and down to earth which made this an enjoyable and somewhat uplifting experience.

This book is an exception to the norm, but was quite an experience. At twelve years old, he moved out to attend school and lived in his own apartment. He worked hard, maintained clear goals, and worked toward actualizing his dreams. He sort of made a lesson plan layout for his life; this is a good life example for children.

It seems necessary to mention the art. He studied with one of Japan’s key political cartoonists and clearly found his own style. The sketches provide a realistic look into an artists’ life. A person does not become a Caldecott Medalist for their illustrative abilities overnight; oil paintings do not start with perfect glossy strokes. He worked at his craft, was born with talent, and found teachers to guide him. Say serves as a really good example of an artist. Many children become discouraged from the arts early because they can’t achieve realism right away. He provides hope. Similarly, too many artists expect to make it big right away. He provides reality.

On a side note, I think that Allen Say was verrrry lucky. Japan during this time period was scary and very tragic, as the war racked the lives away from many people. Young, middle aged, old; talented, genius, average; in areas there was no discrimination and way to determine who would become successful or not. Allen Say did become successful and from his writing he was able to maintain a healthy psychology. (Many of that generation are not that way. Americans travelling in Japan might pick this energy up from older generations. It is a sad part of history).

Allen Say-San focuses on his plight, relationship, teachers, and experiences as an artist. He turns the story away from a boy growing up during war and postwar Japan. (Maybe this is the naivate of youth and during the postwar period he was not as affected personally). In any case, the context does add a lot to his story. Librarians can/should suggest books to assist in providing the conjunction of postwar Japan to this story. Then Allen Say’s memoir is really inspiring and different than the norm of the time. I think… in any case, it would be interesting to read more.

Curricular connections

Most students are required to read an autobiography/memoir at some point this one can go into the librarian’s mental toolbox for that books and artists in that category.

Reading level/ Interest Age

Grade 5 and up/Ages 10 and up

Reviews and Awards

Sibert Winner
Discussion of awards and are still pending.

Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story by Thomas F. Yezerski

Yezerski, T. (2011). Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. ISBN. 978-0374349134.

Annotation

Nonfiction picture book that is an environmental education and exploration of the wetlands known as the Meadowlands outside of New Jersey.

My thoughts

This nonfiction ecological picture book looks back at the history of the Meadowlands and examines the biological diversity of the wetlands. Overall, I found it to be a very thorough and impressive book. The book provides a rich ecological history through prehistory to contemporary efforts of preservation and conservation of the Meadowlands.

Yezerski looks at how the wetlands were used as a garbage dump and filled with trash until the mid-80s. The effect that the pollution had on the environment became evident through the declining species and overall quality of the wetlands. Shifts of public awareness in the mid80s helped recover the wetlands and the waning biodiversity.

The truthful look at the effects that civilization has had on the region is eye opening while the account of preservationists is hopeful. The balance is perfect and leaves the reader with a sense of hope for not only the Meadowlands but also for other affected areas. It also gives the message that urbanization effects the environment but we can do our part to also save the animals and rich diversity of these regions.

Even though this book is about a specific region, it is a perfect book for learning more about the environment and ecology. Its detailed framework can really be applied to most natural environments near urbanized areas. Hopefully, the last pages will inspire people to look for there own ‘Meadowlands’ to preserve.

Beautifully detailed watercolor illustrations frame each double spread picture make reading this book a field study experience within itself. Children can seek out objects so this book can also be used as an activity search for the objects book and vocabulary/concept builder.

Curricular connections

Grade 4 or 5- Science- Yezerski provides the perfect amount of information for an elementary school audience.

Reading level/ Interest Age

Ages 7-10

Reviews and Awards

A New York Times Notable Children's Book for 2011

One of Horn Book’s Best Nonfiction Books of 2011

Author website: www.thomasfyezerski.com/

Media: ink and watercolor

Genre: nonfiction, environment

The Money We'll Save by Brock Cole

Cole, B. (2011). The money we'll save. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN: 978-0374350116.

Annotation

Times are tough in this nineteenth century New York City tenement, so Ma asks Pa to try to save money while grocery shopping. Pa takes her suggestion. He comes home with a baby turkey that’s alive.

My thoughts

Talk about great timing. Illustrated to appear out of the turn of the nineteenth century, this book shows a struggling family making do and living happily with what they have. 

This book has a lot going for it. There is the unique situation of a small New York City tenement with a country turkey. The humorous antics that transpire when trying to keep the pseudo-wild bird in the unnatural captivity of the home. There is the unique text that flows and makes this a great read along for younger audiences. There is the concept of being content in owns environment without falling into over consumerism. (As implied by the family existing on their means without sketching debts to buy the best groceries and appearing happy- Pa doesn’t appear despondent. He makes it work). And finally, there is the art.

More about the book- moral issues of eating animals are implied. This book doesn’t get into depth that but it certainly is implied by the family’s resistance to eating the turkey claiming it would be like eating their neighbor. This would be a nice book for parents, children, teacher’s to use for related discussions. It doesn’t toss out the point and say think about food sources, but it certainly leads the reader down that path of thinking about where the meat comes from.

I highly recommend this book! In fact, it is the new “Christmas Story” (80's movie) of my family.

Reading level/ Interest Age

Editorial reviews suggest that this book is for 4 and up (I would suggest that the up equal older readers and anyone looking for a humorous/holiday picture book).

Reviews and Awards

Horn Book’s Best Picture Books of 2011

Starred reviews

Author website: No website found.

Media: Ink and watercolor.

Genre: holiday, juvenile picture book