Publisher: Graphix
Release Date: September 13, 2016
Catrina is not particularly happy about moving to North California, to a town that only sees sunlight 63 days out of the year. Even though she knows it is to help her sister Maya who has cystic fibrosis and needs the good ocean air to help her breathe better, Catrina just can't work up any excitement about her new home. To make matters worse, everyone in this town is obsessed with ghosts. The reason she discovers, is because BahÃa de la Luna is peppered with ghosts. Maya is determined to meet one, but Catrina is worried about the ghost's intentions and what they might think of her little sister who always seem to have one foot in death's door. As the Day of the Dead approaches Cat must figure out how to deal with her fears and allow her sister to face hers too.
Raina Telgemeir certainly knows how to write sisters. All of her books have always had such great familial bonds, making for some wonderful characters. Something unique in this book is the supernatural element. Telgemeir's other books have been either autobiographical (Sisters, Smile) or at least felt that way (Drama), so it was a bit surprising that the ghosts in this story turned out to be real. At first, this felt a bit jarring, but as the reader becomes more and more emotionally invested in the characters, it becomes an important aspect of the book. I loved that the ghosts are not just a means to discuss death and the possibility of it happening to Maya, but also about familial connections and alleviating fear. This was not my favorite of Telgemeir's books though. Although Cat is the main character in the book, her surliness and complete rudeness to the boy next door really made me dislike her. I loved her little sister and some of the secondary characters, but could never fully connect with Cat. This probably has more to do with my own personal relateability though and I think there are a number of young readers out there who would relate to her.
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