Anya's Ghost

It was a good book for me for summer reading this year, I am going into the 8th grade, so it was pretty easy for me. I would say this book would be for 12 and up because it could get a little inappropriate at times, there is little swearing and the main character smokes, so this wouldn't be good for younger kids, overall it was a great book.

This book is amazing I am 12 I read this when I was 11 because I just turned 12 but that's besides the point. This book was so dark and mysterious and I just couldn't stop turning the pages . the night I read this I just stayed up from the book that's how good it is. The book has things girls go through and different types of drama. This book is good for those who enjoy mystery books.

I thought this book was okay. As an 11 year old, This is what I think of the book. It had a couple of cuss words, which doesn't bother me all that much. But having them smoke went a little overboard. I feel like it is telling kids that it is okay to smoke and it is not. I had to read this book for Young Hoosier for school

The first time I knew of this book I felt a special interest in get it. It is an original story, very nice, and with wonderful illustrations. I simply would recommend it with my closed eyes to anyone interested in graphic novels...

This is book was bought as a present for a friend. Before i gave it to them i decided to read it. It's a very quick read but the story is wonderful. So different and interesting. Would definitely recommend to anyone, even if you don't like comic books (I don't).

Way to scary for my daughter. She had nightmares after reading it. Better for kids who like Harry Potter than for girls who still like middle school against, make believe and not being scared. I should have read it before I gave it to her.

Are you KIDDING ME??? This book is recommended for 12yrs and up??? I bought it for my daughter for Christmas - thank God I started thumbing through it before I wrapped it!! I will be requesting a refund immediately!!! This content is completely inappropriate for these young girls! I’m at a loss for words seeing all the stars this book as gotten! Disgusting!!!!

Bought this for my grand daughter who is in the 6th grade, read this for one of her books for school reading.
. Very disappointed. A lot of cussing in it, and very very hard to read on the kindle.

WHOA! Purchased this book for my 9 yry-old, glad I read it first! She smokes through the whole book and the ghost turns out to be evil who murdered people. But, the girl learned a good lesson in the end, so whatever, right? Umm, this is a definite no for us!

Anya's Ghost is a chilling tale of a young Russian girl named Anya whom falls into a hole in the ground and discovers the body and spirit of Emily Reilly. In a hurry Anya accidentally collects a small bone of Emily which allows her to follow Anya. Although this story is charming in the beginning it grows darker as the story continues including a monsterous discovery at the end. With Versa Brosgol eye catching art and intriguing story is just enough to make you a fan of Versa's writing so I recommend reading Anya's Ghost as soon as you can.

This is a great graphic novel for young teens -- especially girls -- with a well-paced story and plenty to say about social anxiety, body image, friendship, and ghostbusting. Anya is a 9th or 10th-grader at a lower-tier private school (not unlike the one I went to), who is embarrassed by her immigrant past. Her family came to the US from Russia when she was five, and she has worked very hard to lose any accent, eat American foods (while not becoming plump), dress properly, and generally fit in as an American teen. However, the signs of her angst are literally postered all over her bedroom: Belle & Sebastian,Camera Obscura,Neko Case,The Shins,Metric, etc. -- all perfectly good bands, but indicative of an underlying wistfulness. (Had she been of my generation, there surely would have been at least one Smiths and one Cure poster.)

One afternoon, she falls down a hole in the park and makes the acquaintance of a ghost from 1918 named Emily. She's been hovering over her skeleton for years, mourning the death of her fiancee in WWI, and herself at the hands of a murderer. One of Emily's bones gets into Anya's bag by accident, and when she'd rescued, Emily is able to hitch a ride to the surface. Before too long Anya and she become friends, with Anya spilling her insecurities to her new gal-pal ghost as Emily tries to help her succeed at school, fashion, and with the boy she has a crush on. Of course, as anyone who's watched a teen makeover comedy knows, there's always danger when the geeky girl tries to rebrand herself according to the conventional norms.

The final third of the book takes a rather menacing turn as Anya starts to realize that even the shiny popular kids have issues lurking just below the surface. This is all kind of John Hughes 101) type stuff (there's even a subplot involving a nerdy Russian kid whom Anya shuns but then has to turn to for help), but it's well done and the high contrast artwork brings it to life in a way that's neither too cartoony nor too realistic. Based on the brief author bio on the back, it sounds like many of the themes are autobiographical, as are many aspects of Anya's personality -- which is probably why it feels so dead on. Great stuff for girls in the 10-14 range or thereabouts, and still fairly entertaining for others.

This review originally appeared on herestohappyendings.com.

I go through a lot of times when I don't feel like I have the attention span to really keep interest in reading an actual novel, and then there are times when I am recovering from a book hangover from an amazing book I've read and can't seem to get into much else. That's what I love about graphic novels - I am always in the mood to read them, and as soon as I read one, I want to read another, and another.

In the case of Anya's Ghost, I've had it on my shelf for a few months now after trading with one of my lovely friends on Twitter. I had heard of it a while back, before I really got into graphic novels, but once I started reading a lot of them, I was only too happy to get my hands on a copy of this one. It took me a while to read it because I was kind of saving it for when I was in a reading slump, which I just fell into after reading Wonder Woman: Warbringer, so I knew this would help me get out of it.

So I started reading this book at night, and of course, I'm a huge chicken (although a huge lover of horror at the same time - go figure), so I was up half the night picturing creepy ghosts coming out of...well, pretty much anywhere (which got me thinking about the movie The Ring, and let's not even go there). So anyway, a word to those who are easily spooked? Read this one during the daytime! While it's not altogether terrifying, if you have a hard time getting to sleep after reading anything about ghosts, this is good advice!

That's the thing about this fantastic book, though - once I started reading that very first page, I was already hooked and it actually made me sad to have to wait until morning to finish it. I read about 80 pages before bed and finished the rest the moment I woke up, and I was so eager to get back to it. It was a fun, fast paced read with a bit of a mystery and a main character that I felt like I could really relate to.

Anya is a Russian immigrant who is trying her hardest to get through high school. She worries a lot about her weight, her clothes, and trying to fit in and make friends, and although her friend Siobhan is someone to spend time with, they don't always get along as well as Anya would hope. Of course, Anya's mother doesn't understand Anya, and her little brother drives her crazy, so often, she feels alone in the world.

During a particular argument with Siobhan, Anya finds herself walking away, and with the thought of the argument and other things going on in her life, Anya misses the large well in the woods and falls into it. Shocked, hurt, and scared, Anya does what she can to try to get attention and make sure she can survive in the well for as long as possible until help arrives. That's when she sees the skeleton at the bottom of the well, and is greeted by a ghost - one that seems innocent and helpful at first.

When Anya gets out of the well, she accidentally takes a bone from the skeleton into her backpack, allowing the ghost to come out of the well and follow Anya home. There, the ghost spends time talking to Anya and trying to get to her to open up to boys, helps her with school assignments, and is generally just her friend.

However, as time passes, things start to change and become a little bit more sinister with the ghost from the well, and Anya is determined to find out the truth.

The artwork in Anya's Ghost isn't bright and vivid in color the way some illustrations in graphic novels are, but they still really pull you in. They are created with such character and detail that they are just exciting to look at, and when combined with the story, it makes for one great graphic novel.

Anya's character is so tremendously well written that I loved her as soon as I picked up the book. She is awkward, one of the only two Russian kids in the school (the other is a boy who Anya deems nerdy and refuses to talk to because she thinks he will make her fall even lower on the social ladder), and she longs for a friend, for something different. She's also struggling in school and at home with her mom and her little brother, and she also has a crush on one of the popular guys in school who is dating the beautiful popular girl. Seriously, Anya is such an easy character to relate to and I think that it will make a lot of readers feel at home with this book. The author did a fantastic job coming up with her character and writing her so well.

The ghost aspect of this book was well done, too. I knew there was going to be some kind of twist at the end of the book, but I didn't have the slightest clue what it was going to be. I was really impressed with how well it was done and how it tied so perfectly into the story - it didn't feel forced or out of place.

I truly loved this and will not hesitate to pick up other graphic novels by this very talented author/artist.

Anya's Ghost was an absolute amazing and fantastic graphic novel that I thoroughly loved and enjoyed. I've been wanting to read some spooky reads for the fall especially in October for Halloween, which I absolutely love reading spooky or horror books the month of October. So I decided to check out Anya's Ghost because I heard amazing reviews about it and a lot of my book friends highly recommend this graphic novel to me. And OMGosh I am so glad and happy I check this book out from the library, because it is one of my absolute favorite graphic novel ever. I just love and adore everything about it. I really don't want to go into any details about it, but the plotline was unique and very refreshing and somewhat dark that I couldn't get enough of it. The characters was well developed and rounded plus there was diversity in the characters, which I so love and enjoy reading diversity in characters. And the writing style was flawless and very expressive that I just felt all the feelings that each characters were feeling especially everything that Anya was feeling in this amazing graphic novel. And the graphic art was really beautiful and dark I just love seeing the purple graphics, which I thought that it was really well done in this graphic novel. All and all I absolutely love and enjoy Anya's Ghost that I will most definitely will continue reading more graphic novels by Vera Brosgol in the near future because I know I absolutely and totally will love them her graphic novels.

What begins as somewhat typical tale of teenage angst morphs into something much darker when high schooler Annushka Borzakovskaya – Anya for short – takes a tumble into a long-abandoned well while cutting though the park on her way home from Hamilton School. There she finds the bones of one Emily Reilly, a young woman who was murdered ninety years ago, her body never found. Attached to the bones: Emily’s ghost, which follows Anya home upon her rescue. Anya accidentally swept up Emily’s pinky, along with her food and other belongings, you see. Or did she?

At first, Anya’s rather rude to the hapless, mousy Emily; a ghost could seriously damage her already lackluster reputation. But when Emily proves a helpful ally – helping Anya cheat on her bio test; scoping out the contents of her crush’s backpack; giving her a bitchin’ makeover and a boost of confidence to match – Anya happily embraces her new BFF, leaving the former title-holder Siobhan in the dust.
Before long, Emily’s interest in Anya’s life veers into SINGLE WHITE FEMALE territory; and after a little digging, Anya discovers the shocking, sinister truth about Emily’s death.

While the ghost story/murder mystery provides the backbone of the story, it’s Vera Brosgol’s adept and compassionate handling of more mundane, real world topics that gives ANYA’S GHOST its heart.

Anya’s family immigrated to New England from Russia when she was just five years old; in the interim, she’s worked hard to assimilate and just generally fit in to the morass that is high school (*private* high school, no less). She eschews her mother’s rich, greasy home-cooked meals in favor of salad on yogurt; a former fat girl, weight is always on her mind. (In an especially poignant panel, we see Anya the way she sees herself: body dysmorphic disorder much?) She aced ESL and now speaks English without an accent, so that she can “pass” as a native New Englander. She goes by Anya instead of Annushka, and introduced herself to her crush as Anya Brown. She even gives fellow Russian immigrant Dimo a wide berth, watching silently as he’s bullied mercilessly for being a “nerd” and a “foreigner.”

Anya isn’t always a nice person. My high school self can most certainly relate.

Likewise, “it girl” Elizabeth isn’t as put together as she seems; and Siobhan nails it when she dismisses Anya’s crush Sean as a dirt bag. Everything isn’t always as it seems; outward appearances can be deceiving.

My 36-year-old self also got a nostalgic kick out of the little HS details: the physical fitness tests (the Bleep Test); the horror involved in performing feats of athleticism in front of members of the opposite sex; the sketchy gym teachers; doing questionable things in the hopes of looking cool.

And can we talk about the artwork? The illustrations are bewitching. Rendered in shades of black, gray, and dark purple, Brosgol sets the mood: dark and creepy, but also a wee bit playful – and, ultimately, beautiful and spirited, just like Anya herself.

I love this story about an immigrant teenager who's having a tough time fitting in. Her story is simple; not unique at all as there are countless other teens around the world that go through this. A common story brought to life through drawing and humor. Then she falls into a well and that is where her ho-hum story stops being common. In the well, she meets the ghost of a young teen that ended up down there many years ago.

Anya, our teenager, is embarrassed about her Russian ancestry and tries hard so hard to not identify with it. She's self-conscious about her body and is resigned to never feeling like she belongs... so, she's a normal teen.

Emily, Anya's ghost, met an unfortunate end years ago and it appears she cannot move on. Maybe she didn't see the light or was advised to stay away from it, so she's still hanging around.

After Anya is rescued she realizes that Emily is tagging along and Anya is not too happy about it. Just look at Anya's face on the cover - not happy :( She eventually warms up to her and that's where their friendship and the fun begins.

Lately, I've been reading a lot more graphic novels than I usually do and they all vary in styles, but I'm still new to this genre and don't consider myself an expert or connoisseur. What I do know is what I find pleasing to my eyes and what I like. And this graphic novel ticks both the pleasing and liked boxes. The artwork is simple and drawn predominantly in hues of violet. Good thing I checked wikipedia because I was going to say it was drawn in gray tones. At least that what they looked like in the library book.

I described the artwork as simple but it's beautifully illustrated and very expressive. I hope I'm making sense here. There are consecutive pages with no dialogue and the story doesn't skip a beat. There's also an important not-so-subtle message there that I hope isn't dismissed.

I'll be picking up a hardcover copy for my library. I highly recommend this spooky little story.

5/5 Stars

Just like Americus (which I also highly recommend!), I found this graphic novel in my high school's library, and the two quickly became some of my most frequent check-outs. Anya's portrayed as a bit older than Neil and Danny, about 16-17, but her story is pretty similar: a student who's not part of the "in-crowd" dealing with growing up and just life in general. The big difference is, while the boys are comfortable with their status, for the most part, Anya wishes she were more popular and has her own set of insecurities. Being a Russian immigrant, she feels embarrassed by her family, her mother especially, because they aren't "American" enough, which I will admit is kind of shallow, but it is still believable. She was bullied for her accent and her weight when she was younger, so she does her best to act as much like her peers as she can, even if it means hiding her roots from them. There are also some more mature topics in this one, such as underage drinking and smoking, also some cursing, so I wouldn't really recommend it for anyone under 15, but that doesn't take away from the story. If anything, that helps make it better, since those are just some of the things teens can be pressured into doing, which again, helps make the story more believable.
As for the ghost, I've always had a love for the supernatural, even if I don't necessarily believe in it, so I was curious to see what role spirits actually played in this story, and boy was I surprised. We're introduced to Emily fairly quickly, and she comes off as a sweet, seemingly innocent girl who suffered through several tragedies. The truth doesn't come out until closer to the end, and while I won't spoil anything here, I will say that it helps Anya realize how selfish and shallow she's been, and that realization is what pushes her to change herself for the better. I know this story won't be to everyone's tastes, nothing ever is, after all, but I will ask that people at least give it a try, as they might find themselves pleasantly surprised.

This is everything I hoped it would be--even if it was a bit different than expected.

I'd heard many good things about this graphic novel, and when I saw Neil Gaiman's blurb on the front, it pushed me to finally grabbing this book.

Originally, I thought that this was more of a middle-grade graphic novel, but I was quite happy that it wasn't. The story became much richer and more involved than I first thought it would be. Honestly, for the small space this book inhabits, it does a lot with family, immigrant life, self-worth, and understanding friends and toxic relationships.

The art is a wonderful balance of cutesy, a bit of creepy, with excellent line work all around. Really, Brosgol is equally talented with her art and her plotting and pacing.

In short, this is a fantastic book that while it may look like it's for younger readers, it's definitely for a teenage audience--and those that, like me, simply enjoy a well told story in graphic form.

While Neil Gaiman's "YA masterpiece" blurb initially struck me as a bit over the top this book has a lot to recommend it. Not least is the fashion in which it starts as a fairly predictable teen angst morality tale and then morphs into something a little darker and more absorbing.

Our heroine, Anya, starts out with all of the conventional teen challenges - body issues, Mom and sibling issues, fitting in at school, and so on. Treated very well is the fact that Anya is also a Russian-American immigrant with conflicting feelings about her position standing between the new and old worlds. Because Anya is smart and decent and fairly perceptive we have a good feeling about her even when she whinges or makes poor decisions. She never becomes so much a drama queen that she loses our sympathies, and even at the outset one senses her inner fiber. I expected a fairly predictable course to a happy or at least optimistic ending.

But then, Anya falls into an abandoned shaft and finds a body, or more precisely a skeleton, and the ghost of the young girl whose skeleton that was. The ghost girl is pretty and charming and full of innocent enthusiasm. She's wiser and more centered than Anya is and this begins to look like a light hearted fairy godmother sort of story, or maybe a variation on a "Lassie: episode with the ghost playing the role of the kindly guide and protector. But, wait a minute, if Gaiman thought this was a masterpiece there must be at least a creepy or unnerving third act. Well, maybe there is and maybe there isn't - that would be spoiling. Suffice to say that this isn't all cotton candy and butterflies.

This book is also appealing in that it seemed to me to represent an almost perfect marriage of text and drawing. The panels are crisp with sharp and expressive line drawings. The pencil work is thick, with simple one color washes, but a considerable amount of personality and drama comes through on every page. The ghost is especially well rendered, and is either very realistic or a bit abstract as the situation requires. Anya also comes across as very realistic, but there is always a bit of exaggeration or emphasis drawn into each character to emphasize, highlight or just complement the dialogue and the mood of the character. This is deceptively simple looking and yet remarkably accomplished drawing.

So, a nice coming of age tale and ghost story with a lot going on, all of it under control and well balanced. The overall effect is entertaining and rewarding. A nice find.

Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

While Neil Gaiman's "YA masterpiece" blurb initially struck me as a bit over the top this book has a lot to recommend it. Not least is the fashion in which it starts as a fairly predictable teen angst morality tale and then morphs into something a little darker and more absorbing.

Our heroine, Anya, starts out with all of the conventional teen challenges - body issues, Mom and sibling issues, fitting in at school, and so on. Treated very well is the fact that Anya is also a Russian-American immigrant with conflicting feelings about her position standing between the new and old worlds. Because Anya is smart and decent and fairly perceptive we have a good feeling about her even when she whinges or makes poor decisions. She never becomes so much a drama queen that she loses our sympathies, and even at the outset one senses her inner fiber. I expected a fairly predictable course to a happy or at least optimistic ending.

But then, Anya falls into an abandoned shaft and finds a body, or more precisely a skeleton, and the ghost of the young girl whose skeleton that was. The ghost girl is pretty and charming and full of innocent enthusiasm. She's wiser and more centered than Anya is and this begins to look like a light hearted fairy godmother sort of story, or maybe a variation on a "Lassie: episode with the ghost playing the role of the kindly guide and protector. But, wait a minute, if Gaiman thought this was a masterpiece there must be at least a creepy or unnerving third act. Well, maybe there is and maybe there isn't - that would be spoiling. Suffice to say that this isn't all cotton candy and butterflies.

This book is also appealing in that it seemed to me to represent an almost perfect marriage of text and drawing. The panels are crisp with sharp and expressive line drawings. The pencil work is thick, with simple one color washes, but a considerable amount of personality and drama comes through on every page. The ghost is especially well rendered, and is either very realistic or a bit abstract as the situation requires. Anya also comes across as very realistic, but there is always a bit of exaggeration or emphasis drawn into each character to emphasize, highlight or just complement the dialogue and the mood of the character. This is deceptively simple looking and yet remarkably accomplished drawing.

So, a nice coming of age tale and ghost story with a lot going on, all of it under control and well balanced. The overall effect is entertaining and rewarding. A nice find.

Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

Anya's Ghost Has a really great lesson to tell teenagers.

Anya’s Ghost is a novel that was written by Vera Brosgol. It was copyrighted in 2011 by the First Second publishing company. Anya’s Ghost is a graphic novel story that follows a young girl named Anya Borzakovskaya and her quest of trying to fit into high school. Anya certainly does not have it easy at the school where she goes to. She only has one good friend in school because she is constantly being ridiculed for being fat and looking like a foreigner. She and her family are immigrants from Russia and because she looks different from the other kids, she is very self-conscious. One day, when Anya is walking through the woods trying to clear her head, she falls down a well that had not been covered up. While she is down there, she finds out that the well is being currently occupied by a ghost of a young girl named Emily Reilly who had fallen down the well and died. After she is rescued, Anya finds out that a piece of bone from Emily’s body had found it’s way into her backpack which allowed Emily to leave the well and come home with her. At first, Anya thinks that having Emily around is great because she can help her cheat off of other people’s exams, find out the schedule of her crush Sean, and help her to dress cool to parties. However, Anya soon realizes that something is not quite right with Emily causing Emily to start lashing out. Now, Anya must figure out a way to get rid of Emily before Emily hurts everyone that she has ever cared about. Anya’s Ghost is a wonderful book that deals with a lot of issues that many teens are faced with on a daily basis. Some of these issues include bullying, social anxiety and body dysmorphic disorder. Young readers will find it very easy to connect to Anya and sympathize with how she is feeling. Young Adult Readers who enjoyed Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier will love Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol. I would recommend this book to young adults ages 12 and above.

Anya's Ghost is a good graphic novel that pulls the reader into the story quickly, and keeps you turning the pages to find out just what is up with this ghost...Is she really just a friendly ghost who wants out of the well where she's been stuck for nearly a hundred years? Or is there something slightly more sinister going on?

Built around Anya, a teenager whose mother emigrated from Russia to America when Anya was a child, we follow her through a normal, teen-angsty type day, wherein the boy she likes has no clue she's alive and school is such a bore. Then she trips and falls into an old well, and unable to make herself heard, she realizes she's not alone--there's a skeleton in there, with its ghost still attached. Turns out the ghost belongs to Emily, who died nearly a century ago, and now wants to experience more than her hole in the ground. When Anya is rescued, she finds that somehow she's brought Emily's finger bone home with her, thus enabling Emily to leave the well. The thing is, Emily is pretty handy, helping out in school and giving advice on how to make Sean take notice. But Anya wants to help solve the mystery of Emily's murder, and it's this fact that changes everything.

The story itself is good, and the characterizations are spot on. I really enjoyed the artwork; Emily's pupil-less eyes give a definite creepiness to her appearance, and the black and white theme adds to the ambiance. This graphic novel would most definitely appeal to teens who feel isolated in social situations, and it's got enough depth to the story to make even a reluctant reader want to keep going. I wasn't such a fan of Anya's friend Siobahn (still not really sure what her purpose was, to be truthful), but I loved the way Anya's confidence grew over the course of the story, and I liked the idea that she had difficulty fitting in because she came from another country. This is one graphic novel with a good story that can easily be recommended to anyone who wants to escape for a bit.

Just like Americus (which I also highly recommend!), I found this graphic novel in my high school's library, and the two quickly became some of my most frequent check-outs. Anya's portrayed as a bit older than Neil and Danny, about 16-17, but her story is pretty similar: a student who's not part of the "in-crowd" dealing with growing up and just life in general. The big difference is, while the boys are comfortable with their status, for the most part, Anya wishes she were more popular and has her own set of insecurities. Being a Russian immigrant, she feels embarrassed by her family, her mother especially, because they aren't "American" enough, which I will admit is kind of shallow, but it is still believable. She was bullied for her accent and her weight when she was younger, so she does her best to act as much like her peers as she can, even if it means hiding her roots from them. There are also some more mature topics in this one, such as underage drinking and smoking, also some cursing, so I wouldn't really recommend it for anyone under 15, but that doesn't take away from the story. If anything, that helps make it better, since those are just some of the things teens can be pressured into doing, which again, helps make the story more believable.
As for the ghost, I've always had a love for the supernatural, even if I don't necessarily believe in it, so I was curious to see what role spirits actually played in this story, and boy was I surprised. We're introduced to Emily fairly quickly, and she comes off as a sweet, seemingly innocent girl who suffered through several tragedies. The truth doesn't come out until closer to the end, and while I won't spoil anything here, I will say that it helps Anya realize how selfish and shallow she's been, and that realization is what pushes her to change herself for the better. I know this story won't be to everyone's tastes, nothing ever is, after all, but I will ask that people at least give it a try, as they might find themselves pleasantly surprised.

This is everything I hoped it would be--even if it was a bit different than expected.

I'd heard many good things about this graphic novel, and when I saw Neil Gaiman's blurb on the front, it pushed me to finally grabbing this book.

Originally, I thought that this was more of a middle-grade graphic novel, but I was quite happy that it wasn't. The story became much richer and more involved than I first thought it would be. Honestly, for the small space this book inhabits, it does a lot with family, immigrant life, self-worth, and understanding friends and toxic relationships.

The art is a wonderful balance of cutesy, a bit of creepy, with excellent line work all around. Really, Brosgol is equally talented with her art and her plotting and pacing.

In short, this is a fantastic book that while it may look like it's for younger readers, it's definitely for a teenage audience--and those that, like me, simply enjoy a well told story in graphic form.

While Neil Gaiman's "YA masterpiece" blurb initially struck me as a bit over the top this book has a lot to recommend it. Not least is the fashion in which it starts as a fairly predictable teen angst morality tale and then morphs into something a little darker and more absorbing.

Our heroine, Anya, starts out with all of the conventional teen challenges - body issues, Mom and sibling issues, fitting in at school, and so on. Treated very well is the fact that Anya is also a Russian-American immigrant with conflicting feelings about her position standing between the new and old worlds. Because Anya is smart and decent and fairly perceptive we have a good feeling about her even when she whinges or makes poor decisions. She never becomes so much a drama queen that she loses our sympathies, and even at the outset one senses her inner fiber. I expected a fairly predictable course to a happy or at least optimistic ending.

But then, Anya falls into an abandoned shaft and finds a body, or more precisely a skeleton, and the ghost of the young girl whose skeleton that was. The ghost girl is pretty and charming and full of innocent enthusiasm. She's wiser and more centered than Anya is and this begins to look like a light hearted fairy godmother sort of story, or maybe a variation on a "Lassie: episode with the ghost playing the role of the kindly guide and protector. But, wait a minute, if Gaiman thought this was a masterpiece there must be at least a creepy or unnerving third act. Well, maybe there is and maybe there isn't - that would be spoiling. Suffice to say that this isn't all cotton candy and butterflies.

This book is also appealing in that it seemed to me to represent an almost perfect marriage of text and drawing. The panels are crisp with sharp and expressive line drawings. The pencil work is thick, with simple one color washes, but a considerable amount of personality and drama comes through on every page. The ghost is especially well rendered, and is either very realistic or a bit abstract as the situation requires. Anya also comes across as very realistic, but there is always a bit of exaggeration or emphasis drawn into each character to emphasize, highlight or just complement the dialogue and the mood of the character. This is deceptively simple looking and yet remarkably accomplished drawing.

So, a nice coming of age tale and ghost story with a lot going on, all of it under control and well balanced. The overall effect is entertaining and rewarding. A nice find.

Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

While Neil Gaiman's "YA masterpiece" blurb initially struck me as a bit over the top this book has a lot to recommend it. Not least is the fashion in which it starts as a fairly predictable teen angst morality tale and then morphs into something a little darker and more absorbing.

Our heroine, Anya, starts out with all of the conventional teen challenges - body issues, Mom and sibling issues, fitting in at school, and so on. Treated very well is the fact that Anya is also a Russian-American immigrant with conflicting feelings about her position standing between the new and old worlds. Because Anya is smart and decent and fairly perceptive we have a good feeling about her even when she whinges or makes poor decisions. She never becomes so much a drama queen that she loses our sympathies, and even at the outset one senses her inner fiber. I expected a fairly predictable course to a happy or at least optimistic ending.

But then, Anya falls into an abandoned shaft and finds a body, or more precisely a skeleton, and the ghost of the young girl whose skeleton that was. The ghost girl is pretty and charming and full of innocent enthusiasm. She's wiser and more centered than Anya is and this begins to look like a light hearted fairy godmother sort of story, or maybe a variation on a "Lassie: episode with the ghost playing the role of the kindly guide and protector. But, wait a minute, if Gaiman thought this was a masterpiece there must be at least a creepy or unnerving third act. Well, maybe there is and maybe there isn't - that would be spoiling. Suffice to say that this isn't all cotton candy and butterflies.

This book is also appealing in that it seemed to me to represent an almost perfect marriage of text and drawing. The panels are crisp with sharp and expressive line drawings. The pencil work is thick, with simple one color washes, but a considerable amount of personality and drama comes through on every page. The ghost is especially well rendered, and is either very realistic or a bit abstract as the situation requires. Anya also comes across as very realistic, but there is always a bit of exaggeration or emphasis drawn into each character to emphasize, highlight or just complement the dialogue and the mood of the character. This is deceptively simple looking and yet remarkably accomplished drawing.

So, a nice coming of age tale and ghost story with a lot going on, all of it under control and well balanced. The overall effect is entertaining and rewarding. A nice find.

Please note that I found this book while browsing the local library's Kindle books, and downloaded it for free. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

Anya's Ghost Has a really great lesson to tell teenagers.

Anya’s Ghost is a novel that was written by Vera Brosgol. It was copyrighted in 2011 by the First Second publishing company. Anya’s Ghost is a graphic novel story that follows a young girl named Anya Borzakovskaya and her quest of trying to fit into high school. Anya certainly does not have it easy at the school where she goes to. She only has one good friend in school because she is constantly being ridiculed for being fat and looking like a foreigner. She and her family are immigrants from Russia and because she looks different from the other kids, she is very self-conscious. One day, when Anya is walking through the woods trying to clear her head, she falls down a well that had not been covered up. While she is down there, she finds out that the well is being currently occupied by a ghost of a young girl named Emily Reilly who had fallen down the well and died. After she is rescued, Anya finds out that a piece of bone from Emily’s body had found it’s way into her backpack which allowed Emily to leave the well and come home with her. At first, Anya thinks that having Emily around is great because she can help her cheat off of other people’s exams, find out the schedule of her crush Sean, and help her to dress cool to parties. However, Anya soon realizes that something is not quite right with Emily causing Emily to start lashing out. Now, Anya must figure out a way to get rid of Emily before Emily hurts everyone that she has ever cared about. Anya’s Ghost is a wonderful book that deals with a lot of issues that many teens are faced with on a daily basis. Some of these issues include bullying, social anxiety and body dysmorphic disorder. Young readers will find it very easy to connect to Anya and sympathize with how she is feeling. Young Adult Readers who enjoyed Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier will love Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol. I would recommend this book to young adults ages 12 and above.

Anya's Ghost is a good graphic novel that pulls the reader into the story quickly, and keeps you turning the pages to find out just what is up with this ghost...Is she really just a friendly ghost who wants out of the well where she's been stuck for nearly a hundred years? Or is there something slightly more sinister going on?

Built around Anya, a teenager whose mother emigrated from Russia to America when Anya was a child, we follow her through a normal, teen-angsty type day, wherein the boy she likes has no clue she's alive and school is such a bore. Then she trips and falls into an old well, and unable to make herself heard, she realizes she's not alone--there's a skeleton in there, with its ghost still attached. Turns out the ghost belongs to Emily, who died nearly a century ago, and now wants to experience more than her hole in the ground. When Anya is rescued, she finds that somehow she's brought Emily's finger bone home with her, thus enabling Emily to leave the well. The thing is, Emily is pretty handy, helping out in school and giving advice on how to make Sean take notice. But Anya wants to help solve the mystery of Emily's murder, and it's this fact that changes everything.

The story itself is good, and the characterizations are spot on. I really enjoyed the artwork; Emily's pupil-less eyes give a definite creepiness to her appearance, and the black and white theme adds to the ambiance. This graphic novel would most definitely appeal to teens who feel isolated in social situations, and it's got enough depth to the story to make even a reluctant reader want to keep going. I wasn't such a fan of Anya's friend Siobahn (still not really sure what her purpose was, to be truthful), but I loved the way Anya's confidence grew over the course of the story, and I liked the idea that she had difficulty fitting in because she came from another country. This is one graphic novel with a good story that can easily be recommended to anyone who wants to escape for a bit.

I was really excited when I found this book at my library, because I love graphic novels, I love ghosts, and it sounded like an interesting premise. I’m so glad I picked it up.

It’s a refreshing viewpoint to see the story play out through the eyes of a foreign immigrant who’s trying to assimilate to American high school life. There aren’t too many YA books that have this kind of perspective, and it did well in connecting to the larger plot as well (it definitely helps that the author is from Russia herself). In addition to this, it gives many readers a new way to think about daily situations from an outsider’s point of view, and I think it would help with people thinking twice before making a comment that will be misinterpreted or even just clear their head of previous prejudices they may have had.

The art is beautiful, and I loved the blue tones used for all of the illustrations. The images worked well together with the text, with action scenes showing instead of telling, but also using enough text to give the right amount of context to understand everything together.

During the first half of the novel, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to rate it or how I really felt about it, but soon after the halfway point, it really picked up and went in a direction that I didn’t even think of to expect. After finishing it, I knew I couldn’t rate it as anything but five stars.

It was really intriguing, and I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in graphic novels or supernatural beings, or even just new perspectives on life that one doesn’t experience in their own life.

This review and others can be found on my book blog: swimmingthroughliterature.wordpress.com

This will always be one of my favorite YA comic recommendations! Brosgol initially drives the story with some of Anya’s bad choices, but they’re understandable choices instead of stereotyped teen behaviors. (Having worked professionally with teenagers, I love seeing them represented properly as three dimensional people.) The first time I read it, I was so caught up in the plot that I didn’t fully appreciate Brosgol’s art, especially her gift for facial expressions. This time, I slowed down to enjoy. Her art style is so crisp, and she gets so much done with just black, white, grey, and blue. I knew Brosgol's name because she did a little bit of work on Hopeless Savages by Jen Van Meter, and I'm so glad that led me to her.

Anya's Ghost is a story of coming of age young Russian immigrant Anya in High School, coming to terms with her background, her mum, who she is as an individual, her curves, and the ghost girl she has just found.

The book is entertaining, it flows well, and it reads easily, and beyond the coming of age story there is the added twist of the ghost story, which turns darker mid way the book. This is a traditional comic book in format and narrative, very well drawn, very dynamic, with an use of black and white that I absolutely love, especially the blue-ish greys the author uses to create depth and texture.

Having said that, the book is full of narrative and character stereotypes.

Perfect for teenagers.

If you are interested in the book do not get it for Kindle. I have it just returned. First, it turns your Kindle for Android into panoramic view automatically and you have a 2-page view, so the text is difficult to see, not even with a magnifying glass. Of course, you can double click on every single vignette to zoom it, but the zooming is minimal, so the text is still difficult to see. Moreover, if you have many vignettes in a page, which happens a lot with Anya's Ghost and it is what gives it dynamism, you are going to spend a lot of time going from page to page. It this wasn't enough my Kindle for android kept crashing when reading this book, so I don't know if it is related to it or not.

Big surprise: "Anya's Ghost" is about a ghost. And a girl named Anya.

But Vera Nosgol's simple yet entrancing graphic novel is definitely a lot more than that, as it shows a young girl discovering the difference between what she thinks she wants and what she really does want. And her journey is intertwined with wry humor, the uglier layers of high school, and a ghost story that takes a very sinister, dark turn in the last third.

Anya is a fairly typical teen girl -- embarrassed by her very Russian family, unhappy with her curvy body, and enamored of the handsomest, most popular boy at school. On her way home, Anya accidentally falls down an old well. At the bottom, she discovers a ghost named Emily who died there ninety years ago -- and when Anya gets out, she accidentally brings Emily's finger bone with her, allowing the ghost to roam with her.

And at first, Emily makes everything better -- she sympathizes with Anya's woes, helps her on tests, and even helps her interact with her crush. But at a wild party, Anya discovers that the "perfect" teenagers don't quite have the perfect lives she thought. And after a bit of research into Emily's death, Anya realizes that her new friend has a horrifying dark side -- and unless Anya does what she wants, she's going to target Anya's family.

At first, "Anya's Ghost" feels like a 1980s John Hughes coming-of-age movie, only with the added twist of a ghostly companion. There's a lot of angst, crushes, school woes, and a teenage heroine who has to discover what is really important for her in life. And at first, it seems that this is a light little tale about a girl and her ghostly BFF. But everything takes a dark, spinechilling turn later in the story, especially since Emily suddenly develops a creepy, Single White Female-ish fixation on Anya's love life.

And Nosgol's stark, thick-lined artwork really enhances all the emotions the characters feel. The climax is absolutely, um, spinechilling, without any excessive flourishes. And the scene where Anya has an honest talk with the class outcast is touching without being maudlin.

And Anya herself is a startlingly realistic depiction of a teenage girl -- she's embarrassed by her odd family, tries desperately to fit in, and is uncomfortable with her curvy body. But before long, we see hints that her disaffected, sarcastic persona is just a shell, and that the real Anya is a much more reliable, goodhearted person. Emily is the flipside: she seems sweet, gentle and earnest at first, but grows increasingly creepy.

"Anya's Ghost" is one half ghost story, one half high-school/coming-of-age tale. And it's a superb, eerie story right to the end.

This was a great one-shot. First I'll say I did not see the twist coming. I feel like I should have, but I was just really endeared and interested in all the characters and their perspectives. That's kind of the point of this story, and why it's so good. It's about perspective. No one is perfect. Everyone is good, and bad, and has their own issues. Anya is dealing with low self-esteem, body issues, being from an immigrant Russian family, school etc. And then she falls into a hole in the woods and meets the ghost of a girl who died there nearly a century ago. They seem to be such different people, and you think it's going to be a case of opposites become best friends. But their roles start to shift and we realize they're more similar than we thought. This being a story about a ghost, it shouldn't be surprising that this can get a bit horror-ish at times, but it can also be really sweet. There's a lot of emotional depth and truth, and untimely it's kind of therapeutic.

ANYA’S GHOST is a wonderful story, that’s probably the easiest way to sum it up.

It’s a story about a young Russian girl that just wants to fit in. She’s self-conscious, she’s pissed at the world, and she’s embarrassed by her family. To say that she’s an entirely unlikable character at first would be putting it nicely. I couldn’t stand Anya for the first ten pages or so, but once we really got to see who she was and the girl underneath the cold exterior? It became easier to understand – and sympathize – with her actions.

What I liked most about ANYA’S GHOST was getting to see Anya come to terms with who she was – to accept that she was different and there was nothing wrong with that. This is something that all teens experience at one point or another, and I feel as though Brosgol did a wonderful job highlighting that.

I also adored the artwork. It’s wonderfully done.
ANYA’S GHOST is dark at times, and most certainly creepy as you near the end, but it’s a wonderful book of self-discovery and I would highly recommend it, even if you don’t care for comics.

When I first saw this on the shelf, I assumed that this would be very much like so many other similar looking graphic novels about teenagers. Our main heroine would run into a ghost that would teach her about life, love, and in the process of various shenanigans she'd learn a valuable life lesson and there would be hugging and tears. Yeah, it's not really that type of book. In fact, it's surprisingly dark for this type of read. No worries parents, there's no bloody murders or little boys running around screaming "redrum". It's dark, but it's not that dark.

One of the first things I always notice when it comes to graphic novels is the artwork. This one is rather simple looking at first glance, but this works to the story's advantage. It's why I initially thought it was going to be one of those touchy feely books with cute and quirky characters. Brosgol is a very talented artist and one that I hope to see more from in the future. She's got a nice way about her drawings that makes her characters somewhat endearing.

The story is also fairly nice. Our main character of Anya is a young woman who goes through many of the issues that your average teenage girl goes through. She worries about her weight, has a crush on guys out of her league, and assumes that everyone else has it so much better than her. She's not entirely likeable, as she also goes out of her way to ignore the bullying of a young Russian boy for his intelligence and accent. This helps explain why she'd eventually take to the ghostly Emily's efforts to give Anya everything she thinks she wants. Anya has given up so much of her own personal and cultural identity in a desperate attempt to fit in with someone other than her grating friend Siobhan that it's understandable that she'd allow a long dead girl to tell her what to do. It also showcases exactly how lonely Anya really is. The story really picks up towards the end when certain revelations come to light about all of those glittering perfect kids and Emily herself. I can't elaborate more without spoiling the story, but it really was nicely done.

It's easy for a lot of people to write this off as a ghost story, but I truly enjoyed the messages in this about staying true to yourself and not sacrificing your culture. Sometimes what you think you're getting in return isn't worth losing sight of yourself over and what you might become might be truly frightening. My only gripe would be that the ending felt a little abrupt. I like that it wasn't all sunshine and kittens shooting rainbows out of their furry derrieres, but I just wish there'd been just that one more page to wrap things up a little more.

Overall though, this is an excellent read and one I'd definitely recommend to fans of books such as Faith Erin Hicks's Friends with Boys or Jen Wang's Koko Be Good.

I loved Vera Brosgol when she, as a college student, was doing a little webcomic called "Return to Sender." It was weird and crazy and totally unfinished, but I loved it. I even wanted to do a webcomic of my own, which was hard with the whole not-being-able-to-draw thing.

I read one of Brosgol's comics in a Flight anthology at the library years ago, and then kind of forgot about her (and comics in general).

Then there's Anya's Ghost. I had wanted to read it when it came out but... I never did.

I stumbled across a copy at the bookstore the other day and grabbed it. Good thing, because it's really awesome. A girl falls down a hole and finds a ghost who becomes her friend. How sweet! But it doesn't go in the direction you expect it to... EVER. It's a story about trying to fit in, especially as a "foreigner" with an accent; making friends; solving murders; and cute boys on the basketball team. There's a lot going on in this slim little package, both storywise, and with the wonderful art that is jam-packed with details (the Belle & Sebastian poster on Anya's wall really took me back).

Also, it's super cool that Ms. Brosgol mentions Neil Gaiman on her RTS website waaay back in 2007, and Gaiman blurbed her book. That had to be an incredible feeling.

Anya's Ghost is a thrilling experience as it brings a supernatural element to the greatest problems humans have to face, teenage years. As we follow Anya Borzakovskaya in her tale of fitting in with the help of her ghost friend, Emily Riely, we begin to see the process one has to go through in order to "fit in" especially if they are a "fobby" (Fresh Off The Boat: a term used for foreign people who have moved to America). This book was very similar to Gene Luen Yang's "American Born Chinese" but has slight differences to them that tell different stories while keeping the same element, it's not easy being foreign.

It's always so much harder for me to effectively write a review for a book I loved than it is for a book I hated. If I hate it, I can tell you all the reasons why. But love? Well, sometimes it's just everything! The book as a whole makes me giddy, resonates with me somehow, or otherwise captures my full admiration. That is absolutely the case with "Anya's Ghost" by Vera Brosgol.

Although mostly categorized as a graphic novel with a paranormal edge, there is really a wonderful coming-of-age story that I could absolutely relate to...having once been an awkward teenage girl from an Eastern European country. Yet, even without the immigrant experience, there is this relate-able aspect to this book that is sure to resonate with most teenage girls.

The wonderfully expressive illustrations work so well in conjunction with the text, which I'd have to admit is sparse - but in this case, it works!! Vera's illustrations do such a wonderful job of telling a story with just the right amount of detail. Although in black and white, nothing is lost without color. As a matter of fact, I think the choice works for the story from a paranormal angle!

And speaking of paranormal, there is the right amount of creepiness to the story! Emily, who is Anya's ghost, convincingly (well...as convincingly as any ghost story can manage) goes from friend to foe with the perfect level of angst, desperation, and longing. Sure, she's pretty psychotic...but I kinda feel bad for her too!

I am really glad I got a chance to read this book. It was quick, cute, and legitimately awesome.

There's a lot to irritate Anya about her life. Her mother cooks fattening food, she's associated with an unpopular boy in school just because they're both Russian immigrants, her close friend is mad at her and she never expects to date the boy she has a crush on. Running away from her problems seems like the best thing to do until she falls down an abandoned well. There she discovers the skeleton of a young woman who died long ago, and her ghost talks to Anya and helps her get out.

Soon Emily's spirit is following Anya to school and staying at her home, and she wants to help her succeed at whatever she tries. But Emily is hiding a secret about her past, and when Anya starts to suspect the truth, Emily's "help" takes a sinister turn.

Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel for young adults written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol. Anya, with all her worries about fitting in, is easy prey for Emily, who longs to have experiences again through a living human. And at first, Emily seems to help Anya get everything she wants: attention from her crush, acceptance from cool kids, and help on tests. Once Anya is part of the world she admires, she begins to see that it's not what she dreamed it was. But getting rid of Emily and getting back to her old life proves to be more challenging than Anya thought it would be.

Girls aged 14 and up will relate to the issues of wanting to fit in, being embarrassed by family members, and wanting easy solutions to complicated problems.

I became aware of Anya's Ghost at Comic-Con when I saw the author speak on the "Diversity in YA" panel. This is her first book, although recently she was a storyboard artist on the movie Coraline. And, Neil Gaiman has described this book as "A Masterpiece!" Although I haven't read many graphic novels, I knew I needed to check this one out, so I put it on hold at the library. I devoured the book in one sitting and was charmed by the drawings and the imaginative and creepy story. This YA graphic novel is a fast moving page turner and I think has crossover appeal to fans of both YA and graphic novels.

The illustrations are appealingly drawn in shades of black, white and purple and done in a clean and easy to follow way. Anya is someone anyone who has ever had trouble fitting in can relate to. She has always felt like an outsider and has worked hard to hide her Russian heritage to avoid standing out at her snooty private school. She rejects her mother's traditional fatty foods and puts pressure on herself to diet to fit the skinny ideal mold. She tries to hide her accent and to not been seen as "fobby" (fresh off the boat) like her family friend Dima. She is not a great student, she smokes and cuts class with her sometimes friend Siobhan, and crushes on the unattainable popular athlete Sean. One day when she's feeling down in the dumps, Anya falls down a hole and meets a ghost named Emily. Once the ghostly Emily enters the picture, life changes in unexpected directions for Anya.

The fresh story and twists and turns held my interest all the way to the end. The themes are relatable, including feeling bored and out of place in high school; pressure to fit a certain body image, and identity and self worth. The humor and surprises found in the book are also a treat. Recommended for other graphic novel newbie's, and the paranormal side of the story would also make it a great read around Halloween time. I was impressed with the book stylistically and also the great message. I would definitely read more graphic novels like this one and will keep this author on my radar.

Anya's Ghost, by Vera Brosgal, is a graphic novel about a teenaged Russian immigrant to the US who falls into a well, finds a ghost, and makes a friend. Anya moved to the US with her mother and younger brother when she was five years old and has expended a lot of energy changing her accent, updating her wardrobe and losing weight so that she can fit in with her classmates. But she doesn't feel like she fits in at all- she only has one friend, Siobhan, and she can be pretty mean. She struggles in class and feels like a complete outsider. One day, going through a park, she falls into a well and meets Emily, the ghost of a girl who died about ninety years before. Emily comes out of the well with Anya and helps her gain confidence in dealing with the difficulties of high school. But soon, Emily is insisting a bit too much on the way Anya's life should be led, and Anya must decide whether she wants to keep Emily as one of her few friends or let her go.

In a way, this is a pretty typical story. A girl feels very self-conscious and alone in the world, and is very defensive and confrontational because of it. And then something happens- some catalyst action or person- that makes the girl realize that she has value and can make good choices, too. But just because this is a typical coming-of-age story arc, that doesn't mean that it can't be done well. And I think Brosgal succeeds.

This story reminded me of a book I read when I was much younger and don't even recall that well any more, Wait Till Helen Comes. In that book, too, a girl encounters a ghost who encroaches on her life in more and more disturbing ways. Emily was an excellently written character. I loved how the graphic representation of her evolved over the course of the book. She started as a timid, dowdily portrayed ghost, and then became more defined and svelte as the book continued and she experienced more of the world. Comparing her to Anya, who had such expressive features, was one of my favorite things about the drawings in this book.

What I like most about Anya is that she knows from the start that she has value. She is confident enough to know when a gorgeous, athletic guy who expresses interest in her is actually not a good person at all. She also feels sorry for the beautiful, kind girl that is dating the guy because she's so worried about her image. Anya wants friends, but she knows better than to put herself down in order to gain them. I also like that this book addresses a lot of the difficulties of being a teenager, but doesn't try to solve everything. Anya struggles with her weight, is uncomfortable with her body, isn't interested in school and feels like an outcast. Brosgal acknowledges all of these things, but she really focuses her story on Anya showing the confidence to be her own person, especially in her final confrontation with Emily. I really appreciated that. I think the simple color scheme- all in varying shades of grayscale- really helps to project this, too. Anya's face is full of expression, as is her body stance. You can tell what she's feeling even without reading the words.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and I'm glad I was able to read it so quickly as it's been a very long time since I've read a graphic novel! Recommended for fans of YA fiction.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol is unlike any graphic novel I have read to date. I've seen it around, but was more or less content to overlook it until it was literally placed in my hands. A personal recommendation, a blurb by Neil Gaiman, and the prospect of discovering something new drew me in, and I gobbled down the wonder of Anya's Ghost in little over an hour of reading time.

Anya's Ghost tells the story of Anya, just your average high school girl struggling to fit in and learn to be comfortable in her own skin. Her family immigrated to the US from Russia just before she started school, and she spent years getting rid of her accent and lying about her last name in order to blend in and keep herself from being mercilessly teased like the one other Russian kid at her high school. When Anya falls down a well and spends two days with the ghost of a girl whose skeleton is her only company, she comes home with a new friend, and a new way to look at life.

Anya's Ghost is about learning to be comfortable in your own skin, embrace who you are, and love where you come from. While Anya's inevitable evolution as a character is fairly predictable, the route she takes to get there is fun, unique, and just a little bit scary. I loved the story of Anya's Ghost, and as the first real YA graphic novel I've ever read, I'm labeling it as a resounding success and just the type of thing I'll have my eye out for more of.

I've always been a bit biased against black and white art in graphic novels, as I haven't been a big fan of the ones I've read (no, I haven't read Sin City-I know it's art is amazing, it's on my shelf), but Vera Brosgol proved me completely and utterly wrong in Anya's Ghost. I loved her cartoony art that was on the one hand cutesy, but on the other hand the perfect creepy portrayal of the story at hand, and always expresive. I appreciated the fact that Anya, who immigrated from Russia as a child, was a normal teenager. She had weight problems (which were worse in her head than they were in real life), normal skin, normal hair-far from a Mary Sue. It's sometimes hard to believe characters in YA books are really as average as they're described when all of these gorgeous guys are attracted to them-not so with Anya. All of the characters were well done, particularly Emily (the ghost), and I love Vera's style so much, I'd love to see more! And you can, on her website, including some really awesome fan art of Katniss and Thessaly (the later from Neil Gaiman's Sandman).

I wholeheartedly recommend Anya's Ghost as a creepy but cute coming of age story, and hope to see more from Vera Brosgol in the future. The story had surprising depth, the art never failed to capture the emotion of a scene, and even if someone never puts this book in your hands, I recommend you seek it out.

Anya Borzakovskaya, a self-conscious teen born in Russia, finds it difficult to fit in at school in the US. Even though she's lived in America since she was five and can speak perfect English, she still feels like an outsider and worries that her peers at school will always see her as "that girl from Russia with the unpronounceable last name." And her well-meaning, very Russian mother certainly doesn't help matters. Although Anya is trying to lose weight, her mother tries to feed her traditional homeland dishes (which Anya sees as greasy and fattening), and pesters her to make friends with Dima, a dorky new classmate right off the boat from the old country. The "ghost" element of this story is introduced after Anya wanders into a wooded area close to school and falls down a well. What does she find at the bottom of said well? A skeleton. And accompanying this pile of bones? A frail wisp of a ghost named Emily. She's been trapped in the well ever since she fell down it some 90 years ago. Naturally, Emily is delighted to have company, but Anya is more interested in climbing out of the well than sticking around for small talk. When Anya is eventually rescued, Emily decides to follow her home. The two strike up a friendship - although Anya doesn't have much of a choice in the matter, since this pesky spirit follows her everywhere. But Emily is determined to be a helpful friend. After witnessing Anya's hidden affections for a popular boy at school, she confesses that she herself she missed out on finding her one true love thanks to - well, being dead. After glimpsing an open page of a fashion magazine, Emily decides that the best way for a girl of the 21st century to catch a man's eye is by dressing to impress. Although the outfits Emily choses for her are a little skimpier than Anya's used to wearing, she finds confidence in her appearance and asks her crush out to a party. When she finds out that the boy is really a jerk, Anya leaves the party disappointed - but Emily isn't ready to let her give up just yet. She'll do anything to keep Anya from missing out on love, because what are friends for...right? Although the Emily/Anya relationship ultimately dominates the plot, Brosgol is careful to make sure that her story isn't just a ghost story, but also one about being an outsider. Although a bit whiny at first, Anya soon turns into a strong heroine who learns the importance of remaining true to your own principles. Aesthetically, the story's art is simple but effective, with a color palette of only three colors: white, black, and purple. Although I found the choice somewhat unusual, the purplish hues help set the tone for this spooky story, and make the reading experience more enjoyable. Recommended for Ages 13-Up.

Ever read a really weird book? The kind where you get done and go, “hmmm…that was just…strange”. I recently read a book just like this called “Anya’s Ghost”. Written by Vera Brosgol, the book is mainly intended for a younger age than mine. It is a junior literary guild book.

Brosgol was born in Russia and received a Classical Animation diploma. This book shows her talent. Anya’s Ghost is written in comic book style, which means it is animated and broken into block segments (much like a comic book).

The story follows a young girl, Anya, through a typical day. She is an outsider but wants most of all to fit in. She isn’t quite smart enough, quite athletic enough, quite popular enough and doesn’t quite have the money to fit in with the rest of the teenagers she wants to hang out with.

The adventure begins when she accidentally falls into a well and stumbles onto some bones. The bones belong to another young girl who can’t leave unless someone carries her bones out. Anya does and that is where the trouble begins. The ghost helps Anya get what she wants but at a very high price.

This is a fairly quick read and the comic book style is interesting and refreshing. If you are looking for a light read in between some heavier books, check this book out

I had heard wonderful things about this graphic novel, so when I saw it at the library I picked it up. It was a very well done book and I enjoyed it a lot.

Anya has trouble fitting in at school: she is a little on the plump side and Russian and just all in all can't seem to fit in. Then she falls down a well and meets a ghost. When Anya is rescued the ghost follows her and starts helping her out; telling her what the cute boy likes, helping Anya cheat on tests, and just making Anya's life a little easier. That is until Anya finds out the truth about the ghost and realizes that maybe that ghost is more trouble than she is worth.

The story is a good one and aimed at young adult girls; but can be enjoyed by all young adult and older readers. At first I wasn't completely sold on all the high school angst that Anya goes through in the beginning, but Anya has a great sense of humor and as things started getting creepier with the ghost I really got sucked into the story.

This story has a great mystery surrounding the ghost's origin, but also has some great life lessons. Through it all Anya basically starts to realize she should be happy to be who she is. Like many teenagers Anya struggles with being different; in this case it is her weight and her nationality that really has Anya in the dumps. This is easily translated to any teenager who feels alienated for any reason.

The illustration is all in black and white, it is fairly blockey, and (while it wasn't my favorite) it did a good job of conveying the emotion and story without being confusing. The black and white starkness of it all matched the tone of the story well.

Overall I enjoyed this graphic novel and would recommend to teens who like a little ghost story with their teenage drama. Adults should also find some here to enjoy since the mystery behind the ghost and the way the ghost story is done is creative and engaging. The first part was a bit slow, but it really sucked me in by the end. I can't wait to see what Vera Brosgel comes up with next.

Summary: Anya isn't exactly the most popular girl in school. She has one friend and they spend most of their time skipping class and feigning interest. She'd give anything to be more popular and be noticed by Sean, the basketball player, but that doesn't seem likely. She is ashamed of her Russian heritage and wishes she could look like Elizabeth who doesn't even have to try. But then when she falls down a well and spends 2 days hanging out with a skeleton and the ghost of a girl who has been dead for over a century, her life changes. At first it seems like a blessing because it is really helpful to have a friend no one else can see who can help you pass tests and get a cute boy's phone number. It all seems so perfect, but is it?

What I Think: My summary and thoughts cannot do this graphic novel justice. First, Neil Gaiman has a blurb on the front! He calls it a masterpiece, so obviously it is going to be good. And it was. This graphic novel is brilliant. It is funny, smart, real and creepy all rolled into one. Vera does a perfect job showing the angst of living as a teenager. Anya represents just about every teenage girl I can think of because she is trying to find her identity (even more specifically, her identity within her ethnicity). I knew the ghost was going to show up at some point and I was skeptical that it would work out, but it did. The ghost just gave Anya one more thing she had to overcome to find herself. I also love the artwork. It reminds me a bit of Raina Telgemeier's artwork (who is another one of my favorite graphic novel artists) in that it is clean and bold yet cartoony with minimal shading and looks like it could easily be turned into an animated work. Also, the format was easy to follow and the font was very legible. So, overall, I am a big fan.

I love ghost stories. I love stories of haunted houses, spooky encounters, and ghostly meetings. When I saw a book with "ghost" in the title, I requested it from the library without even reading a single review. Because of this, I had no expectations and this graphic novel certainly exceeded any that I did have.

Anya is the epitome of misunderstood; her mother wants to fatten her up with traditional Russian cuisine, her best and only friend makes fun of her crushes, and school is far from being a cake walk. One day, while on her way to school, she falls into a well where she meets a friendly ghost. Emily, the ghost, has been trapped in the well for 90 years and can't wait to escape with Anya. The two become fast friends until Emily's guidance takes a nasty turn. Anya must uncover Emily's past before Anya's future is jeopardized.

This graphic novel has very few flaws. The illustrations are in grays, blacks, purples, and whites which become progressively oppressive as the story becomes darker. Anya is a very relate-able character as she is your typical fish out of water teen. I think teen readers will sympathize with Anya and when Emily starts to improve Anya's life, readers may even be envious that they don't have a ghostly pal. However, a dark twist occurs that causes Anya to give thanks for her typical teenage life. Thus causing the reader to do the same. I found the investigations into Emily's past to be the most interesting aspect of the graphic novel. Overall, this graphic novel teaches a good lesson while remaining interesting and a bit eerie.

Anya's is a Russian immigrant. One of two at her private school. All she wants to do is fit in and get a boyfriend. One day when she is walking home from school, she accidentally falls down a well. While down there she notices a skeleton and along with the bones is a ghost. When Anya gets out of the well she winds up taking the ghost, Emily, with her. The ghost helps her do quizzes and flirt with boys. Anya does not know a whole lot about Emily and when the ghost starts getting pushy, Anya wants to find out what happened to her so she will leave. What she finds though is more than she expected and now she might be in danger.

This was a fabulous story. If you have read Persepolis this is probably right up your alley. Anya is a typical teen angst-filled character, except she's an immigrant. Through years of ESL she has lost her accent and is completely fluent in English. The other Russian is not so fortunate and gets harassed everyday. This was a little eerie at times and a fantastic read. Emily was a bizarre character, which made her like-able but also really intense. The illustrations of Emily and Siobhan are a little androgynous, and if it weren't for Siobhan's name and Emily's dress (before you find out her name) I would have thought they were boys. In general I did enjoy the illustrations. This was a nice little mystery and not at all what I was expecting from this book. You should definitely pick this up if you have any inkling of desire to read it.

First Line:
"What's for breakfast?"

Favorite Line:
"Oy...bleen...my leg!"

Anya is a typical disgruntled teen who happens to be a Russian immigrant. She is trying to forget who she is and meld into American young adulthood. One day she skips school and literally falls into a deep dark hole in the ground. At the bottom of the hole is a skeleton and attached to it is a ghost, who is soon to become Anya's ghost.

Anya is eventually rescued and her ghost hides in her purse, follows her to school, helps her pass exams and is trying to help her find a boyfriend. Yet, there is a mystery to be solved, who is this girl whose skeleton is at the bottom of a well? Was she murdered?

Anya's Ghost is full of dark humor and it's a little bit spooky. Youngsters might get a chill as they quickly turn the pages. They won't be able to resist reading this creative, creepy, comic book. I couldn't resist and neither could my kids. All three of us read Anya's Ghost in less than a week.

Anya's Ghost is a graphic novel and the first book by Brosgol. If this book is any indication, Brosgol is a going to have a long artistic career in comics. The artwork is reminiscent of Persepolis, yet entirely unique. The entire book is done is shades of black and white and muted purple. It is visually appealing.

Do you believe in ghosts? Or are you on some sort of hallucinatory methane? Either way, Anya's Ghost will put some spice in your life. You need to get this book into your purse!

I had seen a Vera's art onlin emany years ago so when I saw she had a graphic novel I had to pick it up. Unlike another book, I am so glad that Emily, the ghost, actually plays a heavy role in the book and makes Anya come to an understanding about who she really is. There were some things young readers might not handle very well or some might find objectionable but everyone is different. I don't think it would have bothered me if I were a preteen. Definitely worth a look.

I love a good graphic novel. And Roaring Brook imprint First Second brings some of the best writers and artists on board to create graphic novels for kids and young adults. One of their latest is ANYA'S GHOST by Vera Brosgol -- as usual, it blew me away.

ANYA'S GHOST is the story of Anya, Russian immigrant teen at a private school where she is constantly teased and virtually friendless. When she falls in an abandoned well on the way home one day, she discovers perhaps the most unlikely companion: a pile of bones. At first terrified that she's laying in a well next to a human skeleton, Anya is soon charmed by the ghost, Emily, whose sad story of the death of her family mostly makes Anya want to befriend her, or at least help her move on.

When Anya is inevitably rescued from the well, she accidentally takes Emily home with her, soon discovering that Emily can be wherever her bones are, and that she is in the possession of one of the ghost's finger bones. At first, it's great having Emily around. She helps Anya cheat on her tests and gives her secrets about her crush. But Emily isn't everything she appears. She has a lot of secrets. And it turns out Anya has more than she can handle with her new friend.

With beautiful art and genius writing, ANYA'S GHOST is at heart a story of self acceptance and the tough high school social theme, with themes of cultural and class identity. Don't miss it!

Anya's life is far from perfect. Her annoying six-year-old brother insists on burying her jewelry in the front yard, her only friend is more insulting than friendly, and her mother tries to force greasy, fatty food upon her. As if all that isn't bad enough, Sean, her crush, already has a girlfriend, and not just a girlfriend, a perfect one.

There has to be a way for Anya to escape her life and her thoughts, even just for a little while. Anya runs, without a direction, straight into an abandoned well. Could it get any worse?

Yes, much worse. Down there, Anya meets the ghost of a girl long dead, who's looking for a life of her own. Soon, she becomes, not only a friend, but Anya's Ghost. Written by illustrator/author Vega Brosgol, this first graphic novel, packs a real punch.

Different elements and genre's blend to make an unforgettable read. It's realistic yet full of mystery. It's witty yet full of suspense. But at its core, Anya's Ghost is a very traditional ghost story, using the intricate black and white illustrations to instill a sense of foreboding into readers. Slow and steady, Brosgol's writing is solid, and really does thrust the story forward.

Full of twists and turns Anya's Ghost will leave readers feeling satisfied, yet scared. Just how they want to feel after reading a true ghost story!

Anya's Ghost is a YA graphic novel about a young Russian immigrant teenager who falls in a well and meets the ghost of a young girl. Anya is rescued and the ghost catches a ride in Anya's backpack quickly becoming attached to her as Anya's Ghost. At first the ghost Emily seems to be helping Anya, but when Anya changes her mind about what she actually wants, Emily becomes obsessed with forcing Anya to a particular end regardless. Anya must investigate into the true life and death of Emily, and is not happy with what she finds. Emily begins haunting her family and she must find a way to put things right.

Anya's Ghost addresses many issues current teenagers face today; teasing and bullying, the desire to fit in, peer pressure, academic pressure, smoking and drinking, body image and self confidence, love, dating, and family dynamics. This fun, slightly dark, and yet comical story is packed full of commentary with a backdrop of an immigrant trying to fit in at a private high school. The artwork style is truly creative and fun. I enjoyed it in just one sitting, and will be passing it around to many people.

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Anya's Ghost
Written & Illustrated by Vera Brosgol
(First Second Books, 2011)
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This graphic novel debut is a stunner from start to finish, technically adept and soulfully scripted. Cartoonist Vera Brosgol is a first-generation Russian-American and puts her own immigrant experience at the center of this story, painting a marvelous character portrait of her heroine, Anya, a young Russian girl who was learned to assimilate in America, but not quite fit in. Glum, rebellious and insecure, she stumbles upon a real-life ghost story and becomes enchanted with, or by, the spectre of another girl who died nearly a century before. But as many readers will know, ghosts are usually around for a reason, and this innocent, impish shade has a dark side of her own. This was a remarkably compelling comic, a quick but richly rewarding read -- Brosgol tackles the horror genre with great intelligence and depth, creating a truly spooky experience. A great book for teens and adults; younger readers might get a little creeped out. Edgar Allen Poe would be proud. (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain book reviews)

Vera Bosgol's graphic novel Anya's Ghost is a tale of an angst-ridden, curvy teenage girl who attends Catholic school. Her family's from Russia, although her years of time in ESL have trained her to abandon her embarrassing accent in order to fit in with her peers. A fellow classmate, Dimi, is also from Russia, but his shameless love of his culture--along with his large glasses, funny haircut, and general dorkiness--earn him regular beatings at school. Anya has done everything in her power to avoid this, including refusing to eat the greasy Russian treats her mom fries up in the morning. While her brother bounces around, eagerly awaiting his delicious meal, Anya is clearly above this sort of behavior.

The story begins with Anya walking to school and encountering her boyish friend Siobhan (more specifically her only friend), who pesters Anya for cigarettes and becomes angry when she is offered none. Infuriated by this argument, Anya storms away into a nearby forest on her own. Unfortunately, an open well goes unnoticed and she falls into it. She amazingly winds up with nothing worse a sprained wrist, but now she has concerns whether she will be rescued from the bottom of the well. A skeleton is her only companion deep in the well--that is until a homely ghost named Emily greets her. Emily tells Anya she has been trapped in the well for ninety years after a gruesome murder. The reason she never tried to escape can be attributed to her pile of bones, which she can never depart from.

After being rescued, Anya reluctantly allows Emily to be her friend by wearing a small finger bone around her neck. She quickly discovers the benefits of having a ghost as a friend, however, as Emily can sneak answers from classmates' tests and peek into the locker of a handsome boy to find his schedule. As the story moves along, their relationship changes, and so does Anya. Ultimately, Anya must make a major decision regarding Emily.

Although Emily claims she had a fiancé before her death, this is rather hard to believe: the character is clearly drawn as if she's an eleven-year-old girl who has yet to reach the puberty stage. Her large and poofy bob, schoolgirl jumper, and noticeably flat chest only emphasize this. But apparently the author had a different (and confusing) idea for her age. Regardless of this minor flaw, Brosgol has drawn Anya's Ghost impeccably and with great care. It's not surprising she was a storyboard artist for the film Coraline, as the entire graphic novel could essentially serve as a storyboard for an animated film--not to mention several similarities with Gaiman's story.

Brosgol's impressive storytelling skills seamlessly weave through moments of being touching, funny, and thrilling. The genre is difficult to pinpoint, as it has elements of horror, drama, coming-of-age, comedy, and more. Anya's weight troubles, crush on the popular basketball star, and awkward attempts to blend into society may especially resonate with young women, but regardless of age or gender, this is a book that will be enjoyed by many. With hints of Coraline, American Born Chinese, and perhaps even Persepolis, Anya's Ghost is already destined to be an essential on the library of every graphic novel fan--and hopefully beyond that. Anya's Ghost won't take the average reader very long to read, but it's worth every single penny.

This book/graphic novel is amazing. I don't have the patience to summarize everything into a short story but know this: it's about a girl named Anya who's trying to fit in (not helped by her unpronounceable Russian last name and overenthusiastic mother). Anya then falls down a hole and meets a ghost of a girl who had fallen decades earlier and died before she got the chance to fit in. So, the ghost tries to help Anya gain a social life and win the heart of her crush (who turns out to be a douche) but then things get extreme (poltergeist) after the ghost puts all her hopes/expectations onto Anya and Anya wants the ghost to just go away.

I just happened to have done a graphic novel book haul from bookoutlet and this was one of the books that I added to my cart and purchased. I'm really glad I grabbed it because I really loved it. It's a funny and scary coming of age novel. I loved the illustrations, I loved the "shades of grey" colours and the glossy pages.
I think Anya was hilarious. I really loved the excuses she tried to use to get out of going to school. I did like Emily in the beginning, but then I didn't, but I won't spoil anything.
This is an amazing read that is both hysterical and scary. I would totally read another novel by Vera Brosgol and about Anya. I would recommend this to lovers of ghost stories and also to those who are fans of graphic novels.

Book #81 Read in 2012
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

This is a graphic novel which usually isn't my genre of choice but I like this one. In this book, Anya, a teenager, falls into a well and finds a set of bones there. There is a ghost who is haunting the well. When rescued, Anya realizes she has brought a part of a finger bone out of the well with her so the ghost is now following her around--at school, at home etc. Anya does see some perks to have a ghostly friend, especially one who can look at test papers of classmates for a test Anya didn't study for. But the ghost has her own ulterior motive and Anya needs to confront the ghost in order to protect herself and her family.

This was a very quick read and I think that both boy and girl readers would like it. There was enough of a plot for me that the graphic novel format did not bother me. I enjoyed this book.

[...]

I've often lamented the unexpected but tacked-on twists that I come across in so many graphic novels (I'm looking at you, Andi Watson). This story felt a lot like one of his thematically, but unlike the bulk of the Watson work I've read it was satisfying from beginning to end. 'Anya's Ghost' will appeal to kids who feel like they don't really fit in (again, a popular theme--Harry Potter, anyone?), as the heroine, a Russian immigrant, wants to be perceived as all-American as possible but doesn't seem thin enough or popular enough for her liking. But then, in a subtle way that doesn't seem the least bit gimmicky, the fairy tale of 'Anya's Ghost' turns into a teen drama, a murder mystery and an exhilarating suspense novel all at once. Wow! At over 200 pages, 'Anya's Ghost' is a fast read that will tug at your heart while making it race. Five stars.

Big surprise: "Anya's Ghost" is about a ghost. And a girl named Anya. But Vera Nosgol's graphic novel is definitely a lot more than that, as it shows a young girl discovering the difference between what she thinks she wants and what she really does want. And her journey is intertwined with wry humor, the uglier layers of high school, and a ghost story that takes a very sinister, dark turn in the last third.

Anya is a fairly typical teen girl -- embarrassed by her very Russian family, unhappy with her curvy body, and enamored of the handsomest, most popular boy at school. On her way home, Anya accidentally falls down an old well. At the bottom, she discovers a ghost named Emily who died there ninety years ago -- and when Anya gets out, she accidentally brings Emily's finger bone with her, allowing the ghost to roam with her.

And at first, Emily makes everything better -- she sympathizes with Anya's woes, helps her on tests, and even helps her interact with her crush. But at a wild party, Anya discovers that the "perfect" teenagers don't quite have the perfect lives she thought. And after a bit of research into Emily's death, Anya realizes that her new friend has a horrifying dark side -- and unless Anya does what she wants, she's going to target Anya's family.

At first, "Anya's Ghost" feels like a 1980s John Hughes coming-of-age movie, only with the added twist of a ghostly companion. There's a lot of angst, crushes, school woes, and a teenage heroine who has to discover what is really important for her in life. And at first, it seems that this is a light little tale about a girl and her ghostly BFF. But everything takes a dark, spinechilling turn later in the story, especially since Emily suddenly develops a creepy, Single White Female-ish fixation on Anya's love life.

And Nosgol's stark, thick-lined artwork really enhances all the emotions the characters feel. The climax is absolutely, um, spinechilling, without any excessive flourishes. And the scene where Anya has an honest talk with the class outcast is touching without being maudlin.

And Anya herself is a startlingly realistic depiction of a teenage girl -- she's embarrassed by her odd family, tries desperately to fit in, and is uncomfortable with her curvy body. But before long, we see hints that her disaffected, sarcastic persona is just a shell, and that the real Anya is a much more reliable, goodhearted person. Emily is the flipside: she seems sweet, gentle and earnest at first, but grows increasingly creepy.

"Anya's Ghost" is one half ghost story, one half high-school/coming-of-age tale. And it's a superb, eerie story right to the end.

I don't own this book and I'm in no position to afford it at the moment but it was at my local library. The book stars a misguided and insecure Russian-American teenage girl who stumbles into a pit in the middle of the woods and meets a ghost of a girl who died in the pit. At first Anya uses the ghost to get good grades in school, get popular with the guys and so on and so forth. But later on it turns out that the ghost in not what she seems.

The artwork has a stunning simplicity and Tim Burton-esque feel to it. I know the story sounds generic on paper but, trust me read it. It goes in other directions that you don't expect, it's not afraid to have teen use fowl language or be seen smoking (Don't support that in real life but it does happen). The book itself is pretty long and it would usually take you a few days to read at best. But I read it all the way though after I got (It's that good).

If you want a good read from a good graphic novel Anya's Ghost is one defiantly one worth checking out.

"Anya's Ghost", by Vera Brosgol, is a fantastically created graphic novel. This is perfect for young teens, but more geared towards girls in middle school. It is better for middle school students because it is more of a basic novel, considering it is a quick read. Additionally, it is more geared towards girls because the main character, Anya, is a girl, as is the ghost who follows her around. However, this book would still be a great recommendation for middle school boys as well. The graphic novel is also easy for young girls to connect to, as it has topics of: social anxiety, body images, friendship and peer pressure.

High-schooler Anya is trying to fit in during her high school year. However, her plan gets slightly derailed when she falls down a hole in her local park. While down there, Anya makes a new acquaintance: a ghost from 1918, named Emily. Emily has been "haunting" her skeleton for quite a while now, not only mourning her death, but the death of her fiance. In World War One. Throughout the rest of the novel, Anya and Emily find themselves in a new friendship. Emily even starts to come to school with Anya and help her on tests and with boys.

However, the friendship takes a turn for the worse when Emily gets too accustomed to "living in the real world." Therefore, the two girls must figure out how to deal with this balance of real and supernatural.

While reading, you will be reminded of your one middle school and high school experiences. This graphic novel is a great read for anyone, and as an added bonus, it is an extremely quick read for any book lover.

This graphic novel is a bit difficult to review without giving too much away, but...

Anya is a high school girl from a Russian immigrant family. She doesn't fit in, and has the problems everyone seems to have in school - boys, studying, gym class.

All this changes one night when she falls down an old abandoned well, where she meets the ghost of a young girl named Emily, who, though stuck in time, seems to have had similar problems.

Through a curious turn of events, Emily comes home with Anya, and they become friends. But Emily isn't quite what she seems...

This book does a great job of showing the issues a young high school girl from an immigrant family might go through, and is entertaining from beginning to end. The artwork is very pleasing to the eye, and is well done.

I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone, teen or adult alike.

Anya's Ghost was outstanding. What I thought would be a fairly standard coming-of-age story turned out to be a slightly creepy tale in the vein of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. Anya, in a world of insecure and well-mannered YA heroines, is sulky, defiant, a little rebellious. She smokes, swears, and skips class, and remains a compelling character with believable struggles throughout the story. Emily, her ghost, is more complex than she appears, and even minor characters like Siobhan shine with unique personalities. The art style is lovely, and the plot surprised me, something I treasure in my books. My only complaint is that the ending felt as if it came a little too quickly, but that may have been because I was so immersed in the story. This is definitely a graphic novel I would like to add to my own collection.

Anya's always had a bad attitude about her life ever since her family immigrated from Russia to America. Most of her early years were spent being the target of school bullies who mocked her accent and chubby figure. Even now that she's lost her accent and slimmed down a bit, Anya's still embarrassed by her heritage and makes every effort to distance herself from her overworked mother and transform herself into a popular American teen -- which isn't going that well since her high school crush ignores her and her one friend is only interested in bumming cigarettes from her and smoking when they cut classes.

But Anya's life takes a drastic turn for the bizarre when she accidentally falls down an old well and meets Emily, a friendly ghost who also fell down the well ninety years ago and has been trapped there ever since. Although Anya initially wants nothing to do with Emily, the ghost helps her escape from the well and Anya soon discovers that a part of Emily's skeleton wound up in her backpack, allowing Emily to finally journey to the world above.

While Anya still doesn't want Emily in her life (talking to ghosts is a definite social no-no if you want to have living friends) Emily eventually proves herself useful by helping Anya cheat on tests and spy on her crush. Soon, Anya realizes Emily could be the key to getting everything she ever wanted -- until a dark secret from Emily's past threatens to destroy their friendship.

Touted as a "masterpiece" by Coraline author Neil Gaiman, Anya's Ghost offers a creative look at the alienation many teenagers feel, particularly those who come from different cultural backgrounds. Many of Anya's daily struggles, from her lack of friends to the tension she feels with her family's culture, will likely strike a chord with readers who've experienced similar problems.

Unfortunately, author/artist Vera Brosgol makes Anya such an unlikeable character that while readers may relate to her social problems, they'll find it hard to actually sympathize with her when they see how she deals with them. Throughout the story Anya is consistently shown as rude, selfish, self-pitying, and ungrateful toward anyone who shows her any kindness or concern. Early on in the story she ridicules her mother's cooking while she's making breakfast and later throws the lunch her mother made for her out of fear that the Russian food will make her fat. Later, she makes no attempt to help a Russian student who's being bullied for the same reasons she once was, and even calls him a "fobby (Fresh Off the Boat) creep".

By contrast, Anya's ghost Emily is initially portrayed as highly sympathetic and appreciative of everything and everyone. Her constant efforts to befriend Anya (who constantly rebuffs the ghost until she discovers she can use a ghost to cheat at school, leading her to remark that they should sell ghosts to students like her) reveal a likeable personality and once the two start getting along, there are some wonderful scenes showing Emily happily soaring high above a forest, ecstatic about being freed from her prison.

All this becomes even more problematic when Brosgol reveals Emily's dark past. At this point the two characters are supposed to switch roles, with Emily becoming more of an antagonist and Anya being forced into the role of hero. The problem is Anya's been established as such a selfish figure that it's difficult to root for her even when she does start trying to help others. Likewise, while Emily develops some decidedly frightening and disturbing traits, it's hard to completely stop sympathizing with her and wanting her emotional scars to heal (which sadly is not going to happen when you pair her with a self-absorbed surly teenager like Anya).

Ultimately, Anya's Ghost suffers because Brosgol actually made her antagonist too likeable while failing to do the same for the protagonist. Thus, while readers know who they're "supposed" to root for, their actual emotional response to the story and its resolution will be decidedly mixed.

This graphic novel details a life-changing event in the main character's life and infuses horror and relatable content along the way. I loved how I got to learn some life lessons along the way, how the characters were not one-dimensional and were realistic, imperfect, and lovable. Through this short graphic novel, Brosgol has incorporated horrifying yet moving scenes to make something close to a masterpiece.

I picked this book up on the strength of its cover, and I was not disappointed. Anya moved to American from Russia when she was five. She had a funny accent, was a little chubby, and didn't get the new culture. Now a teenager, she feels resentful of her "weird" Russian background.

So now you know the generalties, let's get into the plot itself. Anya falls into a well where she meets a ghost. The ghost wants to help Anya get both the boy and the popularity Anya craves... until Anya isn't sure she wants it anymore.

Dark, funny, great artwork, very quick read. While I feel that it's more of a girl read, I think it has boy appeal as well-- I would put this in the hands of anyone asking for supernatural reads, graphic novels, or books about trying to fit in. 13 and up.

I haven't read many graphic novels, so I am nowhere near being an expert on them.
All I can say is that I liked the story as well as the art.
It was beautifully done and I really enjoyed reading it.
It is a very quick read, so pick it up if you can!

The whole theme about this book captured my attention immediately. The age range for this book is probably huge, it is just a great book. The visuals are beautiful and the story is pretty interesting. I have read this multiple times. Highly recommended.

Absolutely stunning first book from Vera Brosgol. I loved Anya, her friends, and her family. It's a great fast-paced read. I little bit creepy and a whole lot of cute. Can't wait to see what Brosgol does in the future.

I loved seeing a gn set in the life of an immigrant girl and seeing how those kids worried about why they didn't fit in. The ghost story was secondary to me. Not very long, cool illustrations, good story.

I liked it, just didn't love it. Spent most of the time wishing I could draw that well. I think the Russian immigrant subtheme was a bit...predictable. I mainly read this based on the "Masterpiece" recommendation of Neil Gaiman on the cover. Wish I knew why he said that. There's nothing technically wrong with the book, it just didn't particularly wow me. I'd give it 3.5 stars if that were an option.

I quite enjoyed this graphic novel about teenage angst with a twist. Anya hates everything about herself - her name, her family, the food her mother cooks, her body - why can she not be just like other American girls and fit in? Enter the ghost, who eventually teaches Anya an important lesson - you are good enough just the way you are. This would be an good graphic novel to read with a teenager as it could start some interesting discussions.

3.5/5
Nice artwork. Good story. Super quick read (read it in about an hour). Not as creepy and I wanted. I didn't really enjoy Anya. Overall it was good and with how quickly you can read it it's worth a try if you're interested.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Anya's Ghost is about a girl, a high school Russian immigrant who doesn't feel she fits in. While skipping school, she falls down a well and discovers it is haunted by the ghost of a young woman, Emily, who died about 80 years before. When Anya gets out, a teensy bone ends up in her backpack so the ghost can follow her. Anya's freaked at first but as the ghost helps her cheat on tests and helps her become more popular, Anya invites Emily into her life.

Emily begins to show a dark side when Anya won't go along with all her plans. And when Anya finds out about Emily's true past, things get messy.

I don't know why but it did not work for me. Something just didn't click. maybe because i did not really identify with Anya and her family. 3 stars for me.

The graphic novel lover in me LOVED this book. The graphics are wonderful- stripped down & precise with nothing wasted. And the story is equally fantastic. The message was great- embrace yourself for who you are & remember that even those you may place on a pedestal might not be who or what you think they are once you get past the surface. A fun read & a great graphic novel for the YA set.

Be aware Anya's smoking is not addressed anywhere in the book. I bought the bought for my school and was horrified at how Anya's smoking is view as something normal and okay (I was not expecting a student smoking at school as the main character). This book is not for middle school.

I bought this for my little sister for her birthday as I've been trying to encourage her to read more. I figured it seemed like a good option, because it appears to have a similar tone to shows like Bee and Puppycat or Gravity Falls-which she likes a lot. She turned 12, and she absolutely loved it! She read the whole thing in a day! I would suggest this for kids who like those shows.

My 11 year old daughter::::: "in the beginning its a little boring but once you get to the middle it gets really, really good and you can't even stop! I finished it in one night! Some parts are scary for younger kids, but it was so great that I will read it again!"

I loved seeing a gn set in the life of an immigrant girl and seeing how those kids worried about why they didn't fit in. The ghost story was secondary to me. Not very long, cool illustrations, good story.

I read this book at my school library, and I love it! This book is about a girl who is from Germany, Shes lonley and annoyed with her life.One day as she was walking through a shortcut she stubbled and fell into a deep dark pit.In this pit she meets her new friend... But this friend or should a say GHOST wants more than friendship. She wants a new chance in life. How does she get this chance you might ask? She takes control of somene elses life! READ THIS AMAZING BOOK!!!!

I liked it, just didn't love it. Spent most of the time wishing I could draw that well. I think the Russian immigrant subtheme was a bit...predictable. I mainly read this based on the "Masterpiece" recommendation of Neil Gaiman on the cover. Wish I knew why he said that. There's nothing technically wrong with the book, it just didn't particularly wow me. I'd give it 3.5 stars if that were an option.

I really liked this book while it lasted. It was very relatable to me , and maybe even to some other teens out there. Loved the art style , and overall story. It also had a unique texture on the cover. Would recommend to teens.

I quite enjoyed this graphic novel about teenage angst with a twist. Anya hates everything about herself - her name, her family, the food her mother cooks, her body - why can she not be just like other American girls and fit in? Enter the ghost, who eventually teaches Anya an important lesson - you are good enough just the way you are. This would be an good graphic novel to read with a teenager as it could start some interesting discussions.

3.5/5
Nice artwork. Good story. Super quick read (read it in about an hour). Not as creepy and I wanted. I didn't really enjoy Anya. Overall it was good and with how quickly you can read it it's worth a try if you're interested.

I wanted to like this more than I did. Anya's Ghost is about a girl, a high school Russian immigrant who doesn't feel she fits in. While skipping school, she falls down a well and discovers it is haunted by the ghost of a young woman, Emily, who died about 80 years before. When Anya gets out, a teensy bone ends up in her backpack so the ghost can follow her. Anya's freaked at first but as the ghost helps her cheat on tests and helps her become more popular, Anya invites Emily into her life.

Emily begins to show a dark side when Anya won't go along with all her plans. And when Anya finds out about Emily's true past, things get messy.

I don't know why but it did not work for me. Something just didn't click. maybe because i did not really identify with Anya and her family. 3 stars for me.

The graphic novel lover in me LOVED this book. The graphics are wonderful- stripped down & precise with nothing wasted. And the story is equally fantastic. The message was great- embrace yourself for who you are & remember that even those you may place on a pedestal might not be who or what you think they are once you get past the surface. A fun read & a great graphic novel for the YA set.

Be aware Anya's smoking is not addressed anywhere in the book. I bought the bought for my school and was horrified at how Anya's smoking is view as something normal and okay (I was not expecting a student smoking at school as the main character). This book is not for middle school.

I bought this for my little sister for her birthday as I've been trying to encourage her to read more. I figured it seemed like a good option, because it appears to have a similar tone to shows like Bee and Puppycat or Gravity Falls-which she likes a lot. She turned 12, and she absolutely loved it! She read the whole thing in a day! I would suggest this for kids who like those shows.

My 11 year old daughter::::: "in the beginning its a little boring but once you get to the middle it gets really, really good and you can't even stop! I finished it in one night! Some parts are scary for younger kids, but it was so great that I will read it again!"

I've seen this book around the book stores but never picked it up because it was always in the children's section. But I just loved the cover so much that I ordered it on the store when I got the chance. One of the best purchases this year! The story was great and I love the artwork. The lines are so fluid and I love the purple-grey color palette. The cover was designed really well too. Definitely a recommend from me.

I am new to the genre of graphic novels. I'm really trying to break out of my reading shell. Anya's Ghost was my second graphic novel ever, and I have mixed feelings.

First off, the drawings were awesome! The author/illustrator is so talented. The characters' faces had so much great detail and expression. The color graphics made it easy to get "sucked into" this story.

Now, the plot itself... eh. The ghost story aspect was pretty clever. I did enjoy that. I thought it was a fresh take on a tired genre. Was it ground breaking or mind shattering? No. Not even close. Would younger readers like it and find it creepy enough? Probably. There was also a pretty good message about accepting who you are hidden in the mystery.

What I didn't care for was how mature this character--Anya--was for a high school student. She was drinking and smoking often. Yes, I know teenagers do that. I was one of those teenagers some of the time, but I still don't think it has a place in books. I'm just funny like that. And there is something about it being illustrated in books that doesn't sit well with me. It's much harder to glance over something or forget something that you actually see. I think taking those things out of the book wouldn't have changed the story at all. They really weren't needed. In fact, they would keep me from recommending this book to a younger reader. No sense in unneccessary exposure.

Simple and plain, this book was a really well written read. I picked it up at the library, finished it 2 hours later, and now I'm writing a review so that more people can read this book. It's short, simple, to the point, and oddly poignant, I definitely recommend it.

The storyline speaks to anyone who has gone to highschool, especially those who have been outside the "in-crowd." I read it in one sitting, couldn't put it down.

Ignore the Puritan who gave the one star, he/she should have faith in parents raising their children rather than doing it for them and damaging the author's rating in the process.

I read this book at my school library, and I love it! This book is about a girl who is from Germany, Shes lonley and annoyed with her life.One day as she was walking through a shortcut she stubbled and fell into a deep dark pit.In this pit she meets her new friend... But this friend or should a say GHOST wants more than friendship. She wants a new chance in life. How does she get this chance you might ask? She takes control of somene elses life! READ THIS AMAZING BOOK!!!!

I chose 5 cause it had some understandings in your life we probably need
I didn't really like how the boy was cheating and the. Blondie was OK with it but it did open Anya's eyes not to like him anymore

Overall I enjoyed this book. The ups: It was entertaining and a little suspenseful. It was funny and I loved the characters, even the "bad" ones.
The downs: I thought it was predictable and I thought it ended quickly.

I don't like it...

It condones bullying, saying that the victim should just accept it and move forward.

She tries to kill the ghost that is her Russian heritage... because in America everyone is told to start anew, drink the Cool Aid and achieve amnesia. But everyone is part of history and there is no escaping it, no exceptions.

"Anya's Ghost" is a very timely story of a girl who views herself as not pretty and unpopular. This is a story of her "finding herself" through a series of a ghostly apparition who is not who she seems to be. The graphic presentation is quite excellent. Good reading for both teens and adults.

I bought this book for my 11 year old granddaughter; and she read it, non-stop, in under an hour. I only bought it for the reviewed story line, as it promised to provide a good moral lesson, as well as an exciting story line. I, myself, am not a fan of graphic novels (read comic books), as I don't believe that they give much depth to the tale; or allow the reader to absorb background, scenery, and the rest of what a well written book provides. I gave it three stars only because my granddaughter got some enjoyment from it.

This book is NOT appropriate for 12 year olds! The main character admits to looking "slutty" in her mini-skirt and cleavage-bearing top that she wears to a teenage drinking party where she wants to impress a boy whom she finds "thump-thumping" with another girl in an upstairs bathroom, then is asked if she'd like to join them. Then she's told her boobs look really good in her shirt by a drunk boy. My low rating is less due to the quality of the plot or illustrations, and more to grab the attention of parents of young readers to warn them... not appropriate for anyone under the age of 15/16. Good luck.

Overall I enjoyed this book. The ups: It was entertaining and a little suspenseful. It was funny and I loved the characters, even the "bad" ones.
The downs: I thought it was predictable and I thought it ended quickly.

I don't like it...

It condones bullying, saying that the victim should just accept it and move forward.

She tries to kill the ghost that is her Russian heritage... because in America everyone is told to start anew, drink the Cool Aid and achieve amnesia. But everyone is part of history and there is no escaping it, no exceptions.

I bought this book for my 11 year old granddaughter; and she read it, non-stop, in under an hour. I only bought it for the reviewed story line, as it promised to provide a good moral lesson, as well as an exciting story line. I, myself, am not a fan of graphic novels (read comic books), as I don't believe that they give much depth to the tale; or allow the reader to absorb background, scenery, and the rest of what a well written book provides. I gave it three stars only because my granddaughter got some enjoyment from it.

This book is NOT appropriate for 12 year olds! The main character admits to looking "slutty" in her mini-skirt and cleavage-bearing top that she wears to a teenage drinking party where she wants to impress a boy whom she finds "thump-thumping" with another girl in an upstairs bathroom, then is asked if she'd like to join them. Then she's told her boobs look really good in her shirt by a drunk boy. My low rating is less due to the quality of the plot or illustrations, and more to grab the attention of parents of young readers to warn them... not appropriate for anyone under the age of 15/16. Good luck.