AWARD WINNING STAR WARS: SKELETON CREW SET DESIGNER DAWN BROWN’S KIDS GRAPHIC NOVEL— GRACIE’S GHOST—TO HIT SHELVES THIS SEPTEMBER
Review:
In this universe, ghosts have to help people. Gracie’s story has wonderful nostalgia for Gen X readers like Saturday morning cartoons. Times were different and it shows. Gracie’s mom is adamant about gendered toys frequently yelling at Gracie about things “not for girls.” She also blames Gracie for things she can’t help like needing glasses. Her mom even thinks cardboard forts are too weird and not for girls. Her father is sweet and supportive, yet never tells his wife to ease up on their daughter. Gracie’s younger brother has a much easier time and is shown more love by their mother.
Every other child in school seems to hate Gracie and bullies her relentlessly. She doesn’t squeal on them because she knows, at Catholic school, nothing will happen. There’s a stereotypical mean nun. The head priest, however, shows some kindness. This shows balance at school as well as at Gracie’s home. The women in her life are domineering, short-tempered, and don’t seem to like her as a human being. She’s like an inconvenience. Whereas, the men in her life show caring and support.
The ghost assigned to Gracie notices she can’t catch a break. Her ghost reassures Gracie that things get better in life and to learn from the mistakes that she (the ghost) made when she was alive. The ghost used to be a woman who went through life self-absorbed and not connecting to others. Gracie isn’t self-centered by choice. Everyone pushes her away so the circumstances are different.
“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy.”—Gracie’s Ghost
* Dawn Brown included resources for bullying at the end.
Rating: 5 stars
Preview:
Publisher’s Announcement:
PORTLAND, Ore. 02/10/2025 — Award winning Star Wars: Skeleton Crew set designer, Hunger Games film concept artist, and Eisner Award nominated cartoonist Dawn Brown (Little Red Hot, Ravenous) will bring her worldbuilding and storytelling chops to the page with an original graphic novel, Gracie’s Ghost, slated to hit shelves this September from Image Comics.
Gracie’s Ghost weaves the heartwarming tale of an eccentric kid navigating the perilous landscape of school and family life—with the help of her guardian ghost.
Divided into brief, self-contained stories connected by themes about sibling rivalry, empathy, and bullying, Gracie’s Ghost is a sweet and emotional book, reminiscent of Calvin & Hobbes, The Girl and the Glim, and Sheets.
“Gracie’s Ghost is sort of a fictionalized version of events that really happened to me, and I wrote this book for kids who haven’t always had the easy road,” said Brown. “Whatever their challenge is, they are not alone.”
The perfect read for tweens and middle schoolers, Gracie’s Ghost will charm any reader who’s ever felt like a little bit of an outsider or sought the counsel of a good imaginary friend.
The Gracie’s Ghost original graphic novel (ISBN: 9781534331334) will be in 6×9″ trim size paperback format and available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, September 10 and independent bookstores,Amazon,Barnes & Noble,Books-a-Million, and Indigo on Tuesday, September 23.
Gracie’s Ghost will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AmberUnmasked.com and Vodka O'Clock Podcast. Author of The Farrah Wethers Mysteries, comic book short stories, prose, and non-fiction. Cosplayer and figure model.