A MG coming-of-age graphic novel about the price of fame.
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Margot is lonely. Her dad keeps blowing her off and her mom is always working. Her two best friends have their own Sons of Smash social media that often leaves her feeling like a third wheel. When Margot finds an abandoned synthesizer that says it’s free (and not at all haunted), she takes it home with the hopes of learning to play so she can follow her dad to California and be famous. Turns out the piano is haunted by former 80s pop star, Vision, and her evil manager, Marty. Vision tries to protect Margot as she becomes more obsessed with social media followers and the idea of being famous instead of playing for the love of it.
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If you’ve read Long Distance or Fake Blood by WG you know she writes the weirdest & coolest graphic novels around. The title and cover of this one immediately had me invested: Free Piano (Not Haunted)?! I mean, come on. With her signature art style that I’ve come to recognize in Gardner’s books this is another home run hit that focuses on finding something you love and doing it for you, not followers or fame. This title releases July 1!

CW: parental abandonment, isolation, cyberbullying

A haunted synthesizer attempts to possess a child seeking tick tok fame, who is saved by the ghost of the synthesizer's deceased first owner. Illustrations are well done and the story progresses at a good clip. It's.a bit frightening to think there are people who truly mistake likes and fame for value and importance.