“Anya’s Ghost” by Vera Brosgol

Anya is an unhappy teen.  Daughter of a Russian immigrant, she prides herself on her lack of an accent, rejects her mother’s home cooking and avoids all contact with another Russian student who is “fresh off the boat.”  She is snarky, angsty, moody, and nearly friendless (her one companion is more frenemy than friend).  Going out for a surreptitious smoke one night she falls into a deep hole – and discovers a ghost.  A strange relationship develops between Anya and the ghost which ranges from barest tolerance to appreciation.  All is not what it seems, however, and the tale took a far darker twist than I ever could have imagined.  In retrospect, this is definitely not a “comic book for little kids.”  It is, in fact, fairly creepy.  The graphic novel has a pleasing purple background behind black and white drawings.  Use of this one muted color palette creates an appropriate feel for the book and fits well with the diverse settings.  Panels scan easily and many are wordless, making for smooth flow and underpinning emotional tones.  Anya and the ghost are the major characters, everyone else – including her family – seem to barely register.  Teenagers are, in fact, very often “in their head” – this book seems to epitomize that.  One odd note is the friend, who is clearly female, but dresses in a masculine manner.  There is no indication of why this is allowed at a private school where girls must wear those hideous plaid skirts.  It was the only element of the story that distracted – not sure what it was or why it was there.  That being said, the “messages” of the book are subtle but healthy.  In the beginning, there is the typical teenage crush.  Anya’s reaction to the reality she then discovers shows her inner moral self.  In the end, how Anya reacts to the horrors she faces gives you a sense of what she might become.  A fast read (in one or two settings) this was a “hand-to-hand” book which a student requested before I got it back on the shelf.  Although it didn’t receive any notable awards this year, it had some buzz.  I can see why.  Neil Gaiman’s quote on the cover is just a hint that this one is worth the look.