Eerie and poignant.
A teenage girl and her otherworldly friend uncover the secrets behind unusual happenings.
Fifteen-year-old Lyn’s best friend, Meg, died last year, leaving her isolated. Her family has moved to a new apartment building, further shaking up her life. Lyn meets the neighbors, who mostly seem nice enough, though some people warn her to avoid the grumpy Mr. Cho, claiming that he had something to do with his wife’s death and his son Julien’s disappearance. While unpacking, Lyn finds a comic book that isn’t hers with an ancient pendant tucked inside the pages. The comic reminds her of Meg, who would have loved the creepy story. Struck by a fresh wave of grief, Lyn falls asleep crying, and her tears trigger something magical within the pendant. The next morning, she finds Ghoul, a character from the comic book who’s an angular, solid black creature with a tail, in her room. No one else can see Ghoul, who sticks close to Lyn. They secretly follow Mr. Cho into his dark, sinister old cafe—and when strange events plague the apartment building’s residents, Lyn and Ghoul investigate. Determined to investigate what’s going on, they build an unusual friendship. This heartfelt graphic novel explores grief, loss, and relationships. The dark color scheme with its muted pinks and purples is atmospheric, while the cute and expressive illustrations add levity, lightening the spookiness. Lyn’s Filipino immigrant parents speak a mix of English and Tagalog.
Eerie and poignant. (soundtrack, glossary, mini comic, sketches) (Graphic paranormal. 13-17)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781603095839
Page Count: 292
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn’t last on Broadway.
Stephanie and her family move into an old mansion rumored to have been put under a curse after a turn-of-the-20th-century rich boy meddled with an Egyptian mummy.
After her young sister complains about strange events, high school student Stephanie befriends Lucas, a geeky, good-looking boy, and meets the other members of SPOoKy, the Scientific Paranormal Organization of Kentucky: Charlotte, Wes, and Patrick. Stephanie learns the history of her new home from Lucas, who attracts her romantic attention, but the usually levelheaded girl is soon drawn to Erik, the handsome phantom who first comes to her in dreams. The story is told in chapters narrated by Stephanie, Lucas, and Zedok, whose identity is initially a source of confusion to Stephanie. Zedok appears wearing different masks, “personified slivers” of his soul, representing states of mind such as Wrath, Madness, and Valor. Meanwhile, until gifted singer Stephanie came along and he could write songs for her, Erik’s dreams were thwarted; he wanted to be a composer but his family expected him to become a doctor. In the gothic horror tradition, Erik’s full background and connection with Zedok are slowly revealed. Romantic dream sequences are lush and swoon-y, but the long, drawn-out battle to end the curse, aided by a celebrity clairvoyant, is tedious, and the constant introduction of Erik’s different personae is confusing. Most characters default to White; Patrick is Black.
The Phantom of the Opera served as inspiration, but this wouldn’t last on Broadway. (Horror. 13-16)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-11604-3
Page Count: 528
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
Though this debut feels unevenly paced, the writing is strong, and the author shows promise.
When an ancient evil descends on her city, one girl considers the sacrifices required to thwart it.
The city of Vaiwyn is alive; the streets are its veins, and its heart beats like a clock. Mina Strauss’ family has a long history of protecting both the sentient city and its inhabitants. The city’s five Vesper Bells were forged by the Lost Alchemist generations ago to hold back a great evil—if a bell tolled 13 times, that evil would be revived. A Strauss stands guard at each bell, cutting the clappers that grow back every night. Mina inherited her bell earlier than anticipated when her beloved father died of the Talus Pox. Now she contends with the weight of that responsibility—and her cold, distant mother’s persistent disapproval. Mina finds solace with Max, the boy she’s slowly been falling in love with, and she’s with him the night her bell tolls 13 times and unleashes terror upon Vaiwyn. Mina is desperate to save the people she loves from imminent destruction, but there’s more to Vaiwyn’s history—and her own—than she knows. Despite strong prose, the exposition-heavy beginning and a few overly telegraphed plot twists hamper the narrative’s pacing. Still, readers will likely be drawn to the original concept, complicated family dynamics, and well-articulated depth of demisexual Mina’s developing relationship with Max. Most characters read white.
Though this debut feels unevenly paced, the writing is strong, and the author shows promise. (content warnings) (Fantasy. 13-17)Pub Date: March 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781250322807
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
