Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Raina Telgemeier is a middle-grade graphic novel powerhouse, and Ghosts shows why—she takes on illness, death, and cultural traditions with emotional intelligence and beautiful art. This isn't a light read, but it's an important one that gives kids language for hard feelings.

The cystic fibrosis storyline is handled with care, showing both Maya's determination and Cat's complicated mix of love and fear. The Day of the Dead setting reframes death as something families can celebrate and honor, which is genuinely enriching for kids whose primary death narrative is probably "sad funeral."

That said, there's a legitimate conversation happening about cultural appropriation here. Some Indigenous and Mexican critics have questioned whether Telgemeier—as a white author—should be the one introducing kids to these traditions, especially given some simplifications in how the culture is portrayed. It's not a reason to avoid the book entirely, but it's worth being aware of and maybe pairing with books by Mexican authors about Day of the Dead.

Bottom line: This is a beautiful, tear-inducing book that treats kids like they can handle complexity. Just make sure your kid is ready for the emotional weight.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-13, particularly kids ready for emotionally complex stories about illness and loss. Telgemeier's accessible graphic novel style helps younger readers engage with heavy themes, but families should gauge readiness for mortality discussions. Older middle schoolers will still connect with the sister dynamics.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Telgemeier delivers an emotionally mature story about family bonds, chronic illness, and grief that handles heavy themes with gentleness. The relationship between sisters Cat and Maya is authentic—protective but sometimes resentful, loving but complicated. The book models empathy, courage, and putting others' needs first without being preachy. The pacing is excellent, never chaotic, and the tone respects both the reality of Maya's cystic fibrosis and the hopefulness of childhood.

Imaginative

85

The Mexican Day of the Dead setting brings vibrant, culturally-rich supernatural elements into a contemporary story. Telgemeier's graphic novel format invites visual exploration, and the ghost mythology is presented as celebratory rather than scary—ghosts reunite with loved ones annually, which is a fresh take. The story encourages kids to think about death, memory, and cultural traditions in new ways, though it's more emotionally imaginative than world-building imaginative.

Safe

78

This is a book about terminal illness and death, which means it carries emotional weight that some families may not be ready for. Maya has cystic fibrosis, and while the book doesn't show her dying, the specter of mortality hangs over the story. The ghosts are friendly and tied to Day of the Dead traditions, not horror-scary. However, there's documented controversy: some critics (particularly Indigenous reviewers) have called out cultural appropriation concerns around how Telgemeier—a white author—handles Mexican traditions. As a book, there are no content surprises like gore or violence, but the themes require readiness.

Enriching

90

This book does serious emotional work. It introduces kids to chronic illness, mortality, cultural traditions around death, and the complexity of fear versus love. The Day of the Dead framework teaches about Mexican culture in an engaging way. Kids learn empathy for siblings with health challenges and see a protagonist overcome fear for someone else's sake. The graphic novel format makes heavy themes accessible. Common Sense Media and reader reviews consistently praise its emotional depth and conversation-starting power.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Handles chronic illness and mortality with emotional honesty that respects kids' ability to process hard topics
Beautiful introduction to Day of the Dead traditions and how different cultures celebrate and remember the dead
The sister relationship feels real—protective, complicated, sometimes resentful, always loving
Graphic novel format makes heavy themes accessible and engaging for reluctant readers
Sparks meaningful conversations about fear, courage, and what we do for the people we love

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What to Watch For

This is about a child with a terminal illness—Maya has cystic fibrosis and the story doesn't shy away from mortality
Some critics (particularly Indigenous reviewers) have raised concerns about cultural appropriation in how a white author handles Mexican traditions
Kids who've experienced loss or have chronically ill family members may find this either comforting or triggering—know your kid
The ghosts are friendly and celebratory, not scary, but death is a central theme throughout

Conversation Starters

"What would you do if you were scared of something but someone you loved really wanted to do it?"
"How does your family remember people who have died? What traditions do we have?"
"Why do you think Cat is so protective of Maya? Is it ever hard to be the healthy sibling or the sick one?"
"The book shows Day of the Dead as a celebration—how is that different from how we usually think about death?"
"If you could meet a ghost of someone who loved you, what would you want to ask them?"

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