Member Reviews
July Chen, the girl who nobody seems to ever remember for long, has a secret- she can see ghosts. When one spirit who insists he is NOT a ghost latches on to her (and weirdest of all, doesn't immediately forget she exists), they form a friendship and embark on an adventure that spans the worlds of the living and the dead. This was such a creative and delightfully sweet world I loved getting to inhabit for a while. I loved the myth quality to the fantasy and the way the story beautifully weaves themes of friendship, belonging, and grief together. The art is as lovely as the story. Readers of any age looking for a compelling and unique story with endearing characters should definitely not pass this title up!
ANOTHER great one from Remy Lai. This time in the form of a graphic novel. Perfect for middle schoolers.
This is a really clever and unique story! I loved the different ghosts and their love of dumplings. July's loyalty to William was precious. It has perfect spooky vibes.
An absolutely beautiful book about friendship, loss, and the sacrifices we make for those we love. MG readers (and beyond) will love the stunning illustrations, the intricate plot line, and the unforgettable characters.
I enjoyed the mystery and adventure of Ghost Book. The beautiful friendship is an added bonus! I think kids will love this one!
This graphic novel makes you wonder about the ghosts July sees, about the boy who is both dead and alive, about how to protect him without July risking her own life. Beautiful, original way of processing grief.., and life.
I love Remy Lai's work, and this was no exception, as different as it is from her other stories. July and William are terrific characters, and the story is creepy without being too frightening. The world-building is fantastic, and I would definitely enjoy another story with these characters! There is definitely a folkloric feel to the story - characters who show kindness, compassion, and cleverness along their quest find that those acts have a huge effect on the outcome. Young readers will absolutely love this fun and suspenseful story!
July Chen's mother died when she was born, and she was meant to be taken by the ghostly creatures who collect souls. Her miraculous survival led her to be able to see ghosts, even if her father insists ghosts aren't real. But during Hungry Ghost month, July sees a ghost boy, William, who sees her. After discovering that his body is still alive even though he's trapped in the ghost world, July is determined to help him, with the aid of her father's dumplings.
This cute graphic novel highlights a Chinese tradition and turns it into a fun adventure story that's only a little spooky, despite all the ghosts. There's also the mystery of July's "yin-yang eyes" and her birth that ties into William's story. I feel like "Hungry Ghosts" would be a better title than "Ghost Book", because there's a lot going on with the dumplings, and the tradition of burning offerings for the ghosts during the Hungry Ghost month. I really loved how the traditions of this festival are brought in as key parts of the story. This would be a great read for anyone who liked Anya's Ghost, This Was Our Pact, or Raina Telgemeier's Ghosts.
This Chinese folklore-inspired story of friendship and visibility left me craving enchanted dumplings and a sequel. Remy Lai writes to kids on their level with a beautiful message of how to sacrifice for others without losing yourself.
Ah! Ghosts! Ghosts have always been a part of my life, just like haunted houses. I'll never forget the time that I was scared while sleeping on the top bunk of a bunkbed and putting the covers over my head. Then I hear something, it sounds like heavy breathing. I quickly look behind me and there's a ghostly figure with her head underneath the blanket by my head. I don't think anyone got to sleep that night. So I may know a thing or two about these mystical beings. Plus my life has been pretty eerily interesting.
Ghost Book looked like a book that I needed to read from the title to the amazing artwork on the cover. Yes, I did something we aren't supposed to do but it lead me here and I'm forever grateful.
The story was something that was new to the ghostly world. A human girl who seems to be easily forgotten teams up with a ghost boy who seems to get himself into a lot of near-death experiences to find a way for him to keep his human form.
This book was so kindhearted and incredibly sweet. July is the best friend we all want in our lives and the strength she showed was unmatchable. She is the new superhero we all need. The story was interesting and had me fully invested. I finished this in one sitting because I needed to know more about these hungry ghosts and the truth behind July's life. The art was just spectacular and perfect for this kind of story.
Ghost Book was an amazing book. I can't wait to go on more ghostly adventures with July.
A broken heart is a heart that has loved and been loved."
This was a very cute book. I love the story kind of a the character being able to see ghost! I also enjoyed the friendship the characters created though the whole book. This was a decent graphic novel however I did not personally like the illustrations. Overall a good book.
What a lovely read! "Ghost Book" is a delightful graphic novel about an easily forgotten girl who pairs up with a not quite dead ghost boy in order to sort out how he can remain in his body permanently. I really enjoyed the story and the illustrations are lovely! My students would highly enjoy this book and I look forward to purchasing it for our library.
This is an amazing, if fairly dark and lengthy, middle grade graphic novel. It's emotionally deep and profound, despite the age range and sometimes goofy-seeming ghosts, and some of it is downright disturbing (but in a good way that I'd imagine will keep the target audience super invested). Highly recommended.
Another absolutely delightful book by Remy Lai! This is a sweet story about a girl who can see ghosts and a boy who isn't dead but isn't quite alive either. When they meet, he asks for her help, and she agrees. They embark on a journey that takes some wild and unexpected turns. The art is lovely. This is a wonderful little tale with just the right amount of spook. I would highly recommend this book for middle grade graphic novel collections and personal collections belonging to readers of all ages.
Ghost Book is a fascinating story with truly unique illustrations! I look forward to reading more from this author and enjoyed the opportunity to read this book.
A girl who can see ghosts, a boy who appears to be a ghost but isnt dead, and the prophecy that one of them was suppose to have died. Twelve years ago a boy and girl lived... except one of them was supposed to die. July Chen can see ghosts but her dad insists they aren’t real, and so July pretends they don’t exist. It’s definitely hard because as it is now Hungry Ghost Month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok, July decides to try and impress a group of students by summoning a ghost... except she then saves a boy ghosts from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost. This is William, and he tells July that he isn’t actually dead despite appearing as a ghost. As July’s first ever friend she is determined to help him get back into his body... yet the more they get to know each other they more they uncover the truth and how they are connected... and that one of them must die. This was such a fantastic and heart warming story filled with beautiful artwork and sweet friendship. Inspired by Chinese mythology, this was such a great read. I would definitely recommend it for fans of Studio Ghibli classics too!! July and William had a sweet friendship and their journey into discovering the truth as well as how strongly they hold onto their friendship was sweet.
*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*