I got this softcover at the by-the-pound sale room of a local Goodwill thrift shop, and was glad of another release copy.

I love Telgemeier's work, including Sisters and Drama, and was happy with this one as well. It's about young Catrina, who isn't pleased that her family has uprooted her to move to the northern California coast in hopes that the climate will be better for her little sister's cystic fibrosis. (The story deals realistically with this incurable illness, showing its impact on the family but also the ways in which everyone learns to cope.)

That isn't Catrina's only problem; it seems the town they've moved to has a fond tradition of Day of the Dead celebration, with an all-too-literal relationship with the ghosts of their lost loved ones. And Catrina's scared of ghosts... Luckily she makes a friend who's very patient with her mood swings and fears, and gradually she learns to accept her new community - including the ghosts!

Lots of charming friends-and-family dynamics here, with all the ups and downs. There are plenty of cultural notes, especially regarding the Day of the Dead. And one especially energetic and cheerful young ghost turns out to have the key to Catrina's most secret fears, those about losing her sister.

Lovely story with unexpected depth. Excellent!

I left this book in the LFL in the church's lovely meditation garden (complete with labyrinth) on this beautiful afternoon - and was delighted to find some other BC books there as well. Hope someone enjoys this one!

[See other recent releases in RI here.]