Anya's Ghost- Vera Brosgol

Anya's Ghost
Brosgol, Vera
ISBN-13 978-1596435520
ISBN-10 1596437138
Publisher: First Second 2011


Genre: Graphic
Reading Level: GN300 Lexile
Interest Age: 12 and up

Reader's Annotation:
Anya has a hard time fitting into the American lifestyle when her home is still very Russian. One day, she meets a ghost and starts to think life could be different.

Plot Summary:
The book starts out like any other day in Anya's life. She fights her mother on what to eat for lunch and starts on her way to school. She sees her crush and his girlfriend and starts to become upset. While she is off feeling sorry for herself, Anya falls into a hole where she finds a pile of bones and a ghost. The ghost helps her get out of the hole, but somehow she stays with her. Anya finds out that the  ghost, Emily, is attached to her bones and one was left in Anya's bag. Anya begins to bond with Emily and they become friends. What Anya does not think about is the fact that maybe Emily has no intention of going away, ever.

Critical Evaluation:
Brosgol's book explores what it means to be a transplant from another country. She does not look, act, or think like the other people in her school and has been made fun of for years about it. This is apparent from the first few pages in the book. Anya lives in a typical American city and has one friend she smokes outside of school with. This character could be one that a lot of teens identify with because many of them feel alone at times.  As far as the plot and characterization, Brosgol did a great job developing a story that flowed well and created interest. The pictures tied into the plot well and enhanced the plot with facial expressions and conversations. The book is in blues, purples, black and white. This brings a darkness to the entire story and engulfs the reader in the sorrow Anya feels at times. The colors could act as a foreshadowing technique for the reader because of its darkness.

About the Author:
Vera Brosgol wrote this book from experience. She was born in Moscow, Russia in 1984 and lived there for her first 5 years of life before moving to the United States. In Anya's Ghost, Anya's mother is taking the test to become a citizen. This could have been drawn directly from Brosgol's life. Brosgol went to Sheridan College and received a degree in Classical Animation. This is her first graphic novel and she currently works at Laika Inc. in Portland, Oregon as a storyboard animator.


Vera has done illustrations for Nickelodeon, Sony Computer Entertainment and Simon & Schuster. She has written a few short stories that were published in three volumes of Flight. Vera's website is verabee.com  



Curriculum Ties:
This could be used to teach the concept of plot analysis or drawing techniques.

Book Talking:
Create your own ghost story. Would a constant companion always be good?

Challenging Issues:
This book could be challenged for its bullying and negative images on different cultures. There is also under aged smoking which could be an issue. The policy on book selection would be brought about as well as the reasoning for adding this particular book to the collection.

Why Read this Book:
I chose to read this book because I did not have a lot of experience with graphic novels and it seemed like an interesting one to read. This book opens eyes to what it is like to be from another country and transplant into the United States. It also discusses what it means to be cool and get the cute guy. Is it always worth it?