Ghost Town

February 15, 2025
Mysterious power outages lead a group of young investigators to the discovery that their small town is positively thronged with ghosts. But why? Though feeling angry and mutinous at the imminent prospect of having to leave her familiar town and friends behind to move away and attend an exclusive science academy, 11-year-old Lily Cole is determined to make her last summer in Crater, New York, a memorable one. And so it turns out to be. Lily and her close-knit circle timidly venture into an old, abandoned mansion and unleash a veritable tide of spectral encounters and visions, revealing that something's not only preventing all the town's deceased residents (including animals) from passing on, but also threatening the living residents, too. In his cleanly drawn panels, Colossal depicts plenty of dramatic ectoplasmic wisps and whirls both menacing and benign. He also has his preteens, as they work toward a solution to the mystery, set up a ghost-removal service. Entertainingly animated by snarky squabbles and punctuated by moments of pop-eyed terror, the cast makes its way past tests of wit and courage to the revelation of a culprit more tragically obsessed than malign. Following a suspenseful climax, a tidy finish resolves both the ghost problem and Lily's, too. Lily presents Black, and her group of friends is racially diverse. Spooky fun woven around themes of growth and handling change.(Graphic paranormal. 9-12)

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Starred review from March 1, 2025

Gr 5 Up-Lily Cole loves the town of Crater, even though it's weird and run down. But it's the place where she grew up and where all her friends live, so she's definitely not ready to move away at the end of the summer. Lily's life takes an unexpected turn when she's forced to take a volunteer job at the local library, and things get even stranger when she and her friends discover that their town is haunted by thousands of ghosts. Filled with excitement, action, and humor, this story will have readers cheering for Lily and her pals as they overcome their fears to save their town. Along the way, the kids learn about the identities of these ghosts and help them resolve the unfinished business they left behind. Plenty of scenes are set in the library, where Lily deals with the ongoing struggle of keeping the collection shelved neatly, and where the whole gang learns how to do research on the town's former residents. The artwork is teeming with visual humor and comical, exaggerated reactions from characters. The panels are filled with bright, glowing colors that will grab and keep readers' attention. VERDICT Brimming with luminous artwork, this coming-of-age graphic novel is a perfect pick for fans of Ghostbusters, Stranger Things, and other paranormal stories that feature unlikely heroes.-Andrea Lipinski

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2025
Grades 4-7 Despite a scholarship to a promising science academy in another city, Lily is desperate to stay in her hometown, Crater, where the power inexplicably shuts off and the buildings are old and drafty--i.e., an absolutely perfect environment for ghosts. When Lily and her friends stumble into an abandoned mansion and find instructions for constructing a mystical ghost trap, they quickly start biking all over town, trapping ghosts in old bottles and jars. One ghost is being particularly helpful, and Lily believes following its guidance could keep her from having to move away, but can the kids trust it? Colossal's goggle-eyed, hugely expressive characters, including the ghosts, which look like partially deflated balloons, amp up the cartoon atmosphere. The silly method by which the kids learn about the ghosts' past lives (briefly swallowing them!) playfully lightens the eerie tale as well. Beneath all the comical adventures, however, is a thoughtful exploration of the fear of change and consequences of trying to prevent change from happening. Middle-graders who like ghost stories with plenty of laughs will appreciate this rollicking adventure.

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