Anya's Ghost

Jul 18, 2011 Catie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Catie by: Minli

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya, graphic-illustrated-novels

4 1/2 stars

It’s been a while since I’ve read a real graphic novel that’s not just text with illustrations. So it may be partly because I’ve been missing the format, but I was completely blown away by this book. It made me remember everything that’s possible in a graphic novel, but impossible when the story is confined to mere words. Beyond that, I think that it takes an incredible amount of talent to convey so efficiently and precisely the story, characters, emotions, and just everything in the...more 4 1/2 stars

It’s been a while since I’ve read a real graphic novel that’s not just text with illustrations. So it may be partly because I’ve been missing the format, but I was completely blown away by this book. It made me remember everything that’s possible in a graphic novel, but impossible when the story is confined to mere words. Beyond that, I think that it takes an incredible amount of talent to convey so efficiently and precisely the story, characters, emotions, and just everything in the space of a drawing. Vera Brosgol infuses every cell with so much meaning and emotion.

I think that I fell in love with Anya on about page two. She is a curvy, sarcastic, insecure, unmotivated, smart, snarky, dark, sweet Russian girl who wishes to be everything that she’s not. All of this comes across within the span of a few pages. There are very few words to this book, but any more would be simply unnecessary. The story is rich and detailed and complex as it is.

Anya has a hopeless crush on the school basketball captain, and an envious sort of hatred for his girlfriend, the perfect blonde Elizabeth. When she falls into a well one afternoon, she discovers that she’s not alone. The ghost of a young girl lingers there, her body left to desiccate for ninety years. Anya is scared at first, but soon she discovers just how useful a ghost can be.

There is a lovely message within these pages too. Anya feels so much like an outsider, and the bullying that she suffers as a child after immigrating to the U.S. encourages her to turn away from her identity and heritage. This is a common feeling for young people who must start over in a new place, but it is also a feeling universally shared by teenagers. I think that a lot of young people have that insecurity, that feeling of ill-fitting discomfort, like your entire person just doesn’t quite belong anywhere. There can be a tremendous amount of pressure to change and mold and adapt yourself to assimilate. Anya rejects everything curvy and smart and Russian. But Anya finds out that not all that seems perfect actually is, and that it’s a good thing to be different.

This theme is nothing revolutionary, but the humor, the dash of the paranormal, and the fantastic artwork all contribute to the extraordinariness of this book. I highly recommend this for everyone.

Perfect Musical Pairing

Regina Spektor – Raindrops

Regina seems like an obvious choice for this book, and this song is very fragile and sweet, like I imagine Anya is on the inside. This is a song about looking for connection and hoping to meet that special person that’s still unrevealed.

Also seen on The Readventurer.(less)

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Jul 10, 2011 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, ya, soul-sister-heroine, creepycreepy, when-can-i-move-in

This review is probably going to be shorter than others because of risk of spoilers. Just take my word for it and read this book.

"You may look normal like everyone else, but you're not. Not on the inside."

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Aww. I wish all books were graphic novels.

High Points.
Just the fact that this book is a YA graphic novel makes my heart soar with joy. I can’t get enough of them and I don’t trust people who don’t like them. Seriously, people who don't like them... what is wrong wit...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Ronyell rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Ghost Stories!!!

Shelves: best-books-of-2012, books-i-want-to-own, drama, fantasy, favorites, family-situations, graphic-novels-comics, horror, humor-satire, my-blog-reviews, mystery, read-in-2012, reviewed-books, russian-hero-or-heroine, school-related-books, strong-heroine, surreal, young-adult-teen-books, first-second-comics, ronyell-s-epinions-reviews

Brief Introduction:

After reading so many graphic novels that dealt with superheroes and electrifying bloody action scenes, I finally came across a graphic novel that is aimed at young adults, but actually deals with the more mundane aspects of our lives (or should I say, the more spooky and supernatural aspects of our lives). “Anya’s Ghost” is a young adult graphic novel by Russian born author Vera Brosgol and is also Vera Brosgol’s debut book and it has everything that you would enjoy from any...more

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May 25, 2012 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Noelle by: Jo

As if it being five o'clock on a Friday of a three day weekend isn't exciting enough, I found a blue library envelope on my doorstep this afternoon with a brand spanking new copy of Anya's Ghost inside. Guys, it is GORGEOUS. I'm talking Golum "my precious" impersonation inspiring gorgeous.

Less than an hour later, I'm at the last page and officially have a new favorite YA graphic novel.

Let's get this out of the way first: Anya Borzakovskaya is awesome. She's got the normal teenage insecurities go...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Angelina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This graphic is fantastic on so many levels. The artwork is grayscale yet complex like the story. The main character Anya is a first generation immigrant who has managed to obscure enough of her native nationality to blend in with the American high school population. She is not part of the popular crowd and is trying too hard to be cool. In the beginning of the story she tries to maintain her "coolness" by rejecting Dima, another first generation immigrant who hasn't lost his accent and isn't em...more This graphic is fantastic on so many levels. The artwork is grayscale yet complex like the story. The main character Anya is a first generation immigrant who has managed to obscure enough of her native nationality to blend in with the American high school population. She is not part of the popular crowd and is trying too hard to be cool. In the beginning of the story she tries to maintain her "coolness" by rejecting Dima, another first generation immigrant who hasn't lost his accent and isn't embracing the cool.

Anya begins to transform emotionally after she falls down a hole while stomping through the park, obsessing over all the things she can't change. This is where she meets her ghost. The ghost is innocent and charming. Anya is freaked out and rude in turns. The ghost helps her get out of the hole and then tags along. The ghost seems almost like a guardian angel at first. She helps Anya with school work and boosts her self-esteem. Anya begins to bond with her ghost but becomes more agitated and less patient with her friends and family.

The turning point happens when the ghost has attempted to help Anya "get the guy". Anya discovers the guy is not worth getting and the relationship with her ghost begins to unravel. The ghost becomes crass and abusive because Anya is not interested in the boy anymore. Anya decides to research the "murder" of her ghost. At the library she runs into Dima who offers to help her with her search. During the search she begins to soften towards Dima and gives him encouragement about getting through highschool. This line summed up her changed emotional view, "Impressing a bunch of snooty teenagers is a pretty lame life goal to have." She talking to Dima, but she's describing herself.

After Anya discovers the shocking truth of the ghost's past and confronts her, the ghost goes after Anya's family. Anya, ironically, with her new found self confidence rescues her family and banishes the ghost. Anya has made peace with herself, patched her relationships with friends and family, and wears a rare smile in the end of the novel. The second to last bit of dialog comes from her friend Siobhan, "You may look normal like everyone else, but you're not. Not on the inside."(less)

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Feb 12, 2012 Kereesa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: YAers

Shelves: first-reads, graphic-novels, young-adult, paranormal, own, necromancy-ghosts-and-the-dead, grrl-power, friendship, favorites, urban-fantasy, 2011, own-softcovers, own-graphic-novels

***A big thank you to the Goodreads First Reads program and the publishers for sending me a copy!***

Anya's Ghost was definitely a fun read. Full of snark, one bad ass heroine, and humour, the graphic novel is a delight both art-wise and story-wise. While I do have to admit there was an aspect of predictability in the story, I still really enjoyed Anya's Ghost.

So the graphic novel is about this girl, Anya, who's family immigrated from Russia to the West, and struggles with fitting into the image...more ***A big thank you to the Goodreads First Reads program and the publishers for sending me a copy!***

Anya's Ghost was definitely a fun read. Full of snark, one bad ass heroine, and humour, the graphic novel is a delight both art-wise and story-wise. While I do have to admit there was an aspect of predictability in the story, I still really enjoyed Anya's Ghost.

So the graphic novel is about this girl, Anya, who's family immigrated from Russia to the West, and struggles with fitting into the image of that skinny, blond, popular girl she believes will make her happy. In typical high school style, she has a crush on a popular boy, and as the graphic novel progresses tries to win him over by changing herself. There's also the other side to this story with the addition of Elizabeth, the ghost of a dead girl Anya stumbles upon when she falls into an abandoned well. But Elizabeth, in typical ghost story style, is more than she appears, and has a darker plan in mind for her new friend Anya.

Story-wise, I really liked Anya's Ghost. Yes, it was kind of predictable, and the thematic qualities to the piece were a bit heavy-handed (be yourself, be proud of your heritage, don't change for others, yada yada), but it wasn't a predictability that was annoying, but rather familiar, comfortable even. I knew that Elizabeth would be bad for Anya, but I also knew Anya would get out of it, and I think her inner strength, her growth as a character was the important part I concentrated on. It wasn't one of those times where you want to smack the heroine on the head (okay, a little, but not repetitively) for being so stupid is what I'm trying to get at. The thematic qualities were things I did see coming, but I still appreciated them being there, because while they were apparent, they fit well with the story. In other words, I didn't feel forced to notice these lessons, but rather knew they were there, and was happy to acknowledge them because they were good, positive messages.

~~And we need a little more of those in YA~~

Anya as a character was easily one of the best things I liked about Anya's Ghost, because not only was she snarky, but she was real and relatable. She had strengths as much as she had weaknesses, and I liked how the author was able to balance those two in making her a heroine that's both kick ass, but with more than few flaws to make her human. The other characters were fun as well, though the graphic novel was focused on mostly Anya and Elizabeth-who had her own villainous qualities as well.

In terms of art, I thought Anya's Ghost did a good job using a limited number of colors (most blacks, whites, greys, and blues), that made it different than our usual black and white standard, yet didn't divulge itself into the color scheme. In some ways it reminded me of the artstyle in The Walking Dead, Vol. 1: Days Gone Bye, which I really enjoyed (though let's not talk about the story). In addition, I also really liked how the art was cute, but had a few creepy moments too. That play between the two was a good setting for the 'light horror' feel the graphic novel had going for it.

All in all, Anya's Ghost is definitely something to consider when you're looking for a fun, hilarious, and a even a bit serious ghost story to occupy your time for an hour or two. Its art, its story, everything in this little package is definitely worth the read. 4-4.5/5(less)

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Jun 12, 2011 Andrew Shuping rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

I first started hearing about this graphic novel a couple of months ago and it immediately caught my attention. How often does Neil Gaiman lend his praise to a work? And then I started seeing the sample pages that First Second released and I was captivated by the illustrations. So needless to say I was really looking forward to reading this book (I kept trying to find someone that would let me read it an ARC because I was so excited about it.) And the book doesn't disappoint at all. It's the per...more I first started hearing about this graphic novel a couple of months ago and it immediately caught my attention. How often does Neil Gaiman lend his praise to a work? And then I started seeing the sample pages that First Second released and I was captivated by the illustrations. So needless to say I was really looking forward to reading this book (I kept trying to find someone that would let me read it an ARC because I was so excited about it.) And the book doesn't disappoint at all. It's the perfect story for young and old alike that deals with so many of the same issues that we all face--anxiety about who we are, body image, who are friends are, and growing up just a little bit.

Anya is a young teenage girl in high school who is embarrassed by where she and her family came from...Russia. She's trying hard to fit in by losing her accent, wearing the "right" clothes, going on diets, and trying to hang out with the "right" people...in other words not the nerdy Russian boy in her class. But...try as she might she doesn't fit in with the crowd that she really wants to...the popular ones. And then one day, she falls down an abandoned well in the park and meets a skeleton...and the ghost of the young girl from 1918 named Emily. Emily has been forgotten about and can't wander far from her skeleton and was just waiting for someone to come back and visit her. She keeps Anya company as she waits to be rescued, which she soon is, and one of Emily's bones hitches a ride...and Emily's ghost follows. Although there's trepidation at first Emily soon becomes Anya's confidant and helping her get the right answers on exams, making suggestions about what to wear, and help Anya get the attention of her crush. But things soon take a darker turn when it's revealed Emily isn't who she said she was and Anya must protect her family from Emily's darker nature.

This is a powerful debut full length graphic novel for Vera (she's done a couple of short stories before) and it's a wonderfully told story. It's a tightly woven tale with mystery, intrigue, and some growing up as well for all of the characters, not just Anya. It moves along at a nice pace and we get a strong sense of who the characters are and what motivates them. It's one of the best stories I've read in a while and unlike some other writers going from short features to full length, Vera doesn't suffer from having gaps in the tale or missing elements. And the illustrations are reminiscent of some old black and white horror films with juuuust the right amount of depth to them without being overly cartoony.

It's a fantastic read and I can't say enough good things about it. I highly recommend it to all and I look forward to seeing what Vera does next. (less)

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Nov 24, 2011 Kellee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, ghost-story, ya-teen, multicultural, teach-mentor-texts, amazon-review-done, 2011-nerdies, my-best-of-2011, website-review-done

Reviewed at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/...

Summary: Anya isn't exactly the most popular girl in school. She has one friend and they spend most of their time skipping class and feigning interest. She'd give anything to be more popular and be noticed by Sean, the basketball player, but that doesn't seem likely. She is ashamed of her Russian heritage and wishes she could look like Elizabeth who doesn't even have to try. But then when she falls down a well and spends 2 days hanging out wit...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, graphic-novels

Anya's Ghost is a beautifully drawn comic with a perhaps Grimm-inspired story attached to it.

It's about Anya, the American daughter of a poor Russian mother, and her struggles to deal with her new "B.F.F." and also the cut-throat culture of both America and High School. It's a cautionary tale where the titular ghost takes the part of Anya's peers, and Anya takes the part of any self-conscious "loser" teen, meaning this book has massive appeal across teen/YA fiction.

I won't spoil the book, but I...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Brier added it

This was a very good book. A bit creepy but also very funny. I would definetley recommend to anyone who wants a quick read (and I mean really quick) about ghosts. Anya feels she doesn't quite fit in. she is funny, sarcastic and also self conscious. She is an immigrant from Russia and wants nothing to do with her home country because of constant bullying she had in the past. One day she is walking home from school and falls in a well. She finds she is not alone, when a spirit that has been there...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Rain Misoa rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Graphic novel lovers and people with a high tolerance for self-absorbed girls.

Recommended to Rain by: Library

Shelves: graphic-novels

One of the better graphic novels I have read in a long time. I'm not going to lie. It did take me a while to warm up to the story and its characters, but after about a third of the way through, I found myself captivated by the story, art, AND characters. I've been seeing this comic around for some time now and I remember looking at the cover and thinking that it looked a lot like something I would be into. After reading the summary, I knew that I just HAD to read it. Anya's Ghost was such a fun,...more One of the better graphic novels I have read in a long time. I'm not going to lie. It did take me a while to warm up to the story and its characters, but after about a third of the way through, I found myself captivated by the story, art, AND characters. I've been seeing this comic around for some time now and I remember looking at the cover and thinking that it looked a lot like something I would be into. After reading the summary, I knew that I just HAD to read it. Anya's Ghost was such a fun, cute, somewhat bizarre read which, mind you, made it all the more enjoyable. Definitely glad that I gave this graphic novel a chance.

Vera Brosgol is a fantastic creator! You can tell she was a great sense of humor with the quirks she gives to her characters. She plays up certain roles to get across to the reader the ridiculousness of it all. There's this one scene in particular she makes Anya have about a boy she likes that just... cracked me up! I was laughing quite a bit at that! Another thing I want to mention, is the artwork. It's simplistic yet elegant. Brosgol's art style is very unique. I have not seen an art style like this... ever really. She knows her world. She knows the story she wants to tell and she is able to capture that essence into her art and it flows very well. Her ability to tell the story through her art is incredible and her ability to tell a story, in general, is great. I was not too happy at the beginning of the comic because I felt that it was too shallow to be taken seriously. However, as the story progresses, she was able to take this simple, silly concept and morph it into something greater and for that alone, Brosgol deserves praise.

As I said, the story was so much fun! It even got creepy at some points. Anya, when you first meet her, is very shallow. She has no depth to her whatsoever. She was obsessed with her image and this boy that was not even worth the ground he walked on. I was not a fan of her at all. She was mean, selfish, and pathetic. BUT! She grows! She grows as a character and matures in a way that just... works. She learns from her mistakes and she realizes that not everything is image-based. She learns to appreciate her heritage, her family, and the people around her. For someone as self-absorbed as Anya to learn that was pretty amazing to read about. Emily, the Ghost that Anya finds one day after falling into a hole/well (I don't think they ever really specified what it was), was a FANTASTIC character. She was my favorite throughout the entire comic! She, too, went through a transformation. She starts off being so kind and gentle. She was very cute! However, there's a dark side to her and you, as the reader, are aware of it from the beginning... but you can't help but fall for her anyway! She was psychotic and dark and, in truth, you wouldn't want her any other way. I enjoyed her character a lot because of her complexities! (Can you tell I have a thing for the crazies?) There were plenty of other characters, too! Like Siobhan, Anya's friend; Dima, a Russian immigrant that wants to be friends with Anya but to who she always treats poorly; and Anya's mother and brother, who also were very sweet and endearing characters. I could go on and on, but I want to leave you finding out who these people are for yourself.

To wrap up, I love this comic. It was difficult to get into at first, but after that initial hurtle, the story just takes off and you just go along with it. It's funny, energetic, creative, and just plain good fun! If you love reading graphic novels, you should definitely give this a try. Even if Anya annoys the living daylights out of you, I think you will be able to appreciate it for the art and the message of being yourself (it's not as corny as I make it sound, trust me). If from what I said puts you off then... read it anyway! You might be able to get something out of it that I missed! I encourage everyone to read whatever they want despite what a reviewer has to say. If this book calls to you, read it. If not, read it anyway just so you can form your own opinion on it and have reasons to back up your argument as to WHY you didn't enjoy it. I mean, isn't that what this site is all about? :D Seriously, go out and read this! You will not regret it!(less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Julia Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-school, modern-fantasy, multicultural, novels, picture-books, post-2000

Anya's Ghost is an interesting sort of coming-of-age tale. Anya is a fairly normal teenage girl. A Russian immigrant, she is deeply concerned with being as normal and slim as possible, and obsessed with a particular boy and becoming her own ideal. She is a bit of a loner, shuns the other Russian at school to avoid being associated with him, and obsesses over her weight. She's a bit of a delinquent who smokes to try to look cool and who often skips classes with her friend Siobhan.

Then, one day,...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Krystl Louwagie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I finished a lot of graphic novels today because I sat in the backseat of the car on a trip to and from Sioux Falls while my parent's drove, so I have lots of reading time. :)

I wavered between a 4 and 5 star rating here and ultimately went with 5 because I think this graphic novel accomplished what it was trying to accomplish very well. The only reason I thought about not giving it a 5 star is I still prefer more adult, in depth themed graphic novels (such as Preacher and Walking Dead) ultimatel...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Anya is a first-generation Russian immigrant teenager who is trying hard to fit in. She's been in America since she was five, and by now, she's managed to nearly get rid of her accent, but that’s not enough. She wishes she could be like Elizabeth, the flawless girlfriend of basketball star Sean.

When Anya accidentally falls into a well, she meets the ghost of Emily, a girl who died when she fell into the well ninety years ago, and has been stuck here ever since, tied to her bones. By carrying a b...more Anya is a first-generation Russian immigrant teenager who is trying hard to fit in. She's been in America since she was five, and by now, she's managed to nearly get rid of her accent, but that’s not enough. She wishes she could be like Elizabeth, the flawless girlfriend of basketball star Sean.

When Anya accidentally falls into a well, she meets the ghost of Emily, a girl who died when she fell into the well ninety years ago, and has been stuck here ever since, tied to her bones. By carrying a bone fragment with her, Anya can introduce Emily to the modern era. Emily quickly makes herself useful—an invisible friend comes in handy during test time and when a certain guy’s phone number is needed.

What could go wrong?

In all, I enjoyed this graphic novel. I thought Anya was a realistic character—conflicted, but not overly so. She’s obsessed with her own problems just like a typical teen. I also liked the struggles of this Russian immigrant family. It was poignant, but subtle, and therefore powerful. The secondary characters are relatable and surprisingly rounded for so short a story. I also liked how the blue and gray tones of the illustrations helped set the tone. The illustrations themselves are simple—without a lot of stuff going on in a panel—which kept the pace going. This style highlights Brosgol’s ability to show conflict and emotion in her characters. I don’t often “feel” while reading a graphic novel—the pace is too fast and the story too short—but I felt along with these characters.

There aren’t many nits to pick with this one. The ghost story felt cliché and predictable, but not so much to truly bother me. I was reading for Anya’s story, not the ghost story. Emily did come off as too modern in her tastes and opinions, even before she becomes acquainted with the present. Finally, I had some difficulty grasping Emily’s motivation as the story progressed. She makes some choices that add to intensity, but don’t seem very well thought out. (But then again, this is still consistent with her character.)

I would recommend this for teen and adult readers.

• Moderate swearing and slurs
• Sexual issues: Sean and Elizabeth are seen kissing. There’s also something going on behind a closed door during a party. There are a few mentions of boobs.
• Anya and her friend smoke (a habit Anya eventually gives up) and skip school. Underage drinking is discussed and shown.
(less)

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Feb 15, 2013 P. Kirby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, ya

Anya Borzakovskaya has worked really hard to overcome her immigrant origins, losing her Russian accent and doing her best to seem like a normal American teen. But...she still feels like she doesn't fit in.

Walking home from school one day, after a really bad day, she falls into a well, where she encounters the ghost of girl who was murdered several decades ago. Anya gets out of the well, thanks to a helpful passerby, but find that the ghost, Emily, has followed her home.

At first, Emily is the bes...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is Vera Brosgol's first book, and for a first book, it's pretty damn good! I bought it yesterday and just finished it in one sitting (minus some heavy browsing in the book store). It's brief in several ways: the art is simple most of the time, character interactions are short and kind of plain (the high school vernacular is pretty typical), the relationships are maybe kind of stunted; but this is not meant to be a complex, fully detailed story. Rather, it's a story about a girl who falls in...more This is Vera Brosgol's first book, and for a first book, it's pretty damn good! I bought it yesterday and just finished it in one sitting (minus some heavy browsing in the book store). It's brief in several ways: the art is simple most of the time, character interactions are short and kind of plain (the high school vernacular is pretty typical), the relationships are maybe kind of stunted; but this is not meant to be a complex, fully detailed story. Rather, it's a story about a girl who falls into a hole and accidentally inherits a young, lonely ghost who helps her look beyond her insecurities and her desire to fit in.

The protagonist, Anya, is an outsider at her private high school, being that she is Russian and curvy and spends more of her time cutting class and smoking cigarettes than studying and going to church. Emily, the ghost, claims to have died during WWI after losing her beloved. Initially, Anya uses Emily to continue her deviations at school, and Emily lives vicariously through Anya.

At first, I was concerned that this was going to be a "cool I found a ghost and I'm all insecure about being Russian and gee I wish the basketball star would notice me" story, but when Neil Gaiman calls a book "a masterpiece" with an exclamation point, you listen! The payoff comes halfway through when Anya goes to a party, and the plot really begins to show itself. From there, Anya's identity conflict and her relationship with Emily take center stage. I actually got chills at some points (but that could also be from my drafty, old house).

In the end, it doesn't matter that parts of the book are brief in nature; Vera Brosgol backs it up with steady pace and a marvelous climax. Within her day-in-the-life illustrations, Emily's eerie visual presence is a strong juxtaposition and helps move the mood of the story. Part of Brosgol's strength lies in her visual layout (particularly pages 13-15, 60, 91, 154-156) and her ability to use panels to effectively frame her plot.

I felt just a little bit underwhelmed by the very last scene, but I can see it from another perspective as a succinct close to an awesome graphic novel.

I wish I had the ability to balance a plot as well as Vera Brosgol. I'm giving this 5 stars for an excellent debut. I'm definitely going to keep my eye on this artist, and you should, too!(less)

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Dec 26, 2012 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first saw this on the shelf, I assumed that this would be very much like so many other similar looking graphic novels about teenagers. Our main heroine would run into a ghost that would teach her about life, love, and in the process of various shenanigans she'd learn a valuable life lesson and there would be hugging and tears. Yeah, it's not really that type of book. In fact, it's surprisingly dark for this type of read. No worries parents, there's no bloody murders or little boys running...more When I first saw this on the shelf, I assumed that this would be very much like so many other similar looking graphic novels about teenagers. Our main heroine would run into a ghost that would teach her about life, love, and in the process of various shenanigans she'd learn a valuable life lesson and there would be hugging and tears. Yeah, it's not really that type of book. In fact, it's surprisingly dark for this type of read. No worries parents, there's no bloody murders or little boys running around screaming "redrum". It's dark, but it's not that dark.

One of the first things I always notice when it comes to graphic novels is the artwork. This one is rather simple looking at first glance, but this works to the story's advantage. It's why I initially thought it was going to be one of those touchy feely books with cute and quirky characters. Brosgol is a very talented artist and one that I hope to see more from in the future. She's got a nice way about her drawings that makes her characters somewhat endearing.

The story is also fairly nice. Our main character of Anya is a young woman who goes through many of the issues that your average teenage girl goes through. She worries about her weight, has a crush on guys out of her league, and assumes that everyone else has it so much better than her. She's not entirely likeable, as she also goes out of her way to ignore the bullying of a young Russian boy for his intelligence and accent. This helps explain why she'd eventually take to the ghostly Emily's efforts to give Anya everything she thinks she wants. Anya has given up so much of her own personal and cultural identity in a desperate attempt to fit in with someone other than her grating friend Siobhan that it's understandable that she'd allow a long dead girl to tell her what to do. It also showcases exactly how lonely Anya really is. The story really picks up towards the end when certain revelations come to light about all of those glittering perfect kids and Emily herself. I can't elaborate more without spoiling the story, but it really was nicely done.

It's easy for a lot of people to write this off as a ghost story, but I truly enjoyed the messages in this about staying true to yourself and not sacrificing your culture. Sometimes what you think you're getting in return isn't worth losing sight of yourself over and what you might become might be truly frightening. My only gripe would be that the ending felt a little abrupt. I like that it wasn't all sunshine and kittens shooting rainbows out of their furry derrieres, but I just wish there'd been just that one more page to wrap things up a little more.

Overall though, this is an excellent read and one I'd definitely recommend to fans of books such as Faith Erin Hicks's Friends with Boys or Jen Wang's Koko Be Good.(less)

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Dec 05, 2012 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: magical, multicultural, mystery, odd, graphic, romance

Anya tried hard to loose her Russian accent and assimilate but it's hard when another immigrant likes her at school. While Anya is busy impressing a popular boy she likes by losing weight and making herself available, she actually falls down a hole that holds the skeletal remains of a long-dead young girl. The girl's ghost actually escapes up the hole when Anya is rescued.

At first the ghost is helpful, but as Anya promises to help solve the crime of her murder, she realizes that Emily has some...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Ed added it

Brosgol, V. (2011). Anya’s ghost. (Ill. by the author). New York: Roaring Brook Press/First Second. 222 pp. ISBN: 978-1-59643-713-5. (Hardcover); $19.99.*

Anya falls into well that serves as the home for a lonely ghost. When Anya is rescued, the ghost hitchhikes its way into her life. The ghost provides Anya with useful information that helps Anya find ways to be successful in school, just as she had been wishing. Ghosts, however, often have their own agenda, which often makes life very dangerous...more Brosgol, V. (2011). Anya’s ghost. (Ill. by the author). New York: Roaring Brook Press/First Second. 222 pp. ISBN: 978-1-59643-713-5. (Hardcover); $19.99.*

Anya falls into well that serves as the home for a lonely ghost. When Anya is rescued, the ghost hitchhikes its way into her life. The ghost provides Anya with useful information that helps Anya find ways to be successful in school, just as she had been wishing. Ghosts, however, often have their own agenda, which often makes life very dangerous and frightening.

Anya’s Ghost is a graphic novel drawn mostly with black and gray, but employing delightful dollops of eerie purple to evoke the ghostly mood that makes this story work. While we obviously celebrate the art (which even Neil Gaiman compliments), the text of this story should not be overlooked. The exchanges between Anya and her mother are prototypical teen/parent conversations, despite the fact that Anya is a Russian immigrant who believes her ethnicity is somehow preventing her from fitting into her school. The strength of this book isn’t so much the evil ghost story (although I predict most teens will like this element best), but the very ordinary story of a young girl who feels like she doesn’t fit in, believes that boys do not find her attractive, yearns to make friends, and is annoyed when life doesn’t go out of its way to make things easy. Along the way Anya is forced to come to terms with opportunistic friends, evaluating her own family culture, and recognizing that our real self worth is something we create and not something others decide. While the text is strong, the artwork in this book is exquisite in the way that it shows emotions and character growth (I especially like the humiliation that is drawn so well during the scene in which Anya and Liz are at the party). Secondary characters are fully alive both in art and plot. Our ghost is delightfully, increasingly creepy. Purchase this one for both middle school and high school libraries.
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Nov 26, 2012 Ania rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: slis-5425

Anya’s Ghost attracted me by its title – we share our first names. She is of Russian descendant, I am Polish. The cover of this graphic novel is very appealing too hence I borrow it eagerly from the library and read it the same day.
Anya, the protagonist, is an unhappy teen – she is ashamed of her family as they came to USA from Russia. Her mother tries to feed her greasy meals and Anya refuses as it is not the American style. Anya tries really hard to fit into a snobby private school but feels r...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Danielle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, graphic-novel, memoir, mystery, young-adult

Vera Brosgol is an animator by training and trade. She is also the artist behind Anya’s Ghost, a debut graphic novel. Brosgol first thought of the book’s protagonist, Anya, the “disgruntled, superior schoolgirl”, for another project. She enjoyed the character of Anya and “The rest was written like everything else gets written: pulled out of whatever weird space ideas come from, a weird mishmash of my own life and made-up stuff” (Brosgol on her blog Verabee).

Brosgol was born in Russia, and moved...more Vera Brosgol is an animator by training and trade. She is also the artist behind Anya’s Ghost, a debut graphic novel. Brosgol first thought of the book’s protagonist, Anya, the “disgruntled, superior schoolgirl”, for another project. She enjoyed the character of Anya and “The rest was written like everything else gets written: pulled out of whatever weird space ideas come from, a weird mishmash of my own life and made-up stuff” (Brosgol on her blog Verabee).

Brosgol was born in Russia, and moved to America as a young child. Similarly, the character of Anya Borzakovskaya is a first-generation Russian-American teen. In the novel, Anya is doing her best to fit into her New England private school. She’s doing a pretty good job of staying under the radar, but then she falls down an abandoned well and befriends a ghost. With a new ghost friend comes new situations, and Anya is forced to decide where her allegiances really lie and to assert herself.

There is so much to enjoy in Anya’s Ghost. First and foremost is the realistic female protagonist. Before Anya meets Emily, the ghost, she is self-absorbed and discontented. She is struggling with her identity: she has a strong desire to fit in, a negative body image, is unsure how to deal with her emotions, and is just starting to assert her independence. When Emily escapes from the well along with Anya, we get an especially good look at Anya’s struggle with interpersonal relationships. She is typically respectful and affectionate to her family, her mother and a younger brother, but has a tendency to shirk family responsibilities. She has a hard time knowing who her friends are, and how to treat them. After Emily gets Anya into a party with her crush, Sean, and his girlfriend, Anya starts understanding that relationships can be complex. Unfortunately, Emily is not enlightened by the same experience

Brosgol’s work as a storyboard artist has taught her to efficiently draw fluid shapes that clearly communicate to her audience. This is especially true as the reader views Anya’s facial expressions and the subtle shifts in Emily’s appearance. The illustrations are rendered mainly in black and white, with subtle shades of grays and blues. This creates an appealing visual experience. It also helps create mood as the story becomes darker.

Finally, Anya’s Ghost presents an unique storyline with supernatural elements, suspense and a plot twist. The clear drawings and steady pacing of this mid-length novel will keep readers turning the pages to find out what happens.

Anya’s Ghost has won a number of accolades. It has popular appeal, winning the 2012 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Young Adults, Ages 12-17. The Eisner Awards, sponsored by Comic-Con International to raise awareness and appreciation of comics, have been called the ‘Oscars’ of the comics industry. In addition, it has garnered praise from library professionals. It was named a Best Book of the Year by School Library Journal, a Horn Book Best Fiction Book, and an ALA Notable Book for Children.

This book may have special appeal to young women, and/or teens who have experienced social barriers. This graphic novel is a wonderful addition to any collection serving teen readers.

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Nov 15, 2012 Jesse Orbea rated it 4 of 5 stars

(Young Adult & Cybils Award Winner)

This award winning young adult graphic novel is a perfect book for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. The story of a young Russian-American high school girl named Anya who doesn’t feel like she fits in. She’s not blond or thin or from a family that eats American foods. She doesn’t have the attention of the cute boy at school that she likes. One day Anya is walking in the woods taking a moment to sneak in some cigarettes. When she accidentally falls...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Isabella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Anya is just another teenage girl trying to survive through high school: self-conscious, desperate to fit in, with an annoying younger sibling, a mom who doesn’t understand her, and more than a few skeletons in her closet. Unfortunately one of her skeletons isn’t so figurative. “Anya’s Ghost” by Vera Brosgol takes place in a High school not unlike the ones we know today with an ordinary girl named Anya. Overwhelmed with her normal life, Anya falls down a well when not looking where she was going...more Anya is just another teenage girl trying to survive through high school: self-conscious, desperate to fit in, with an annoying younger sibling, a mom who doesn’t understand her, and more than a few skeletons in her closet. Unfortunately one of her skeletons isn’t so figurative. “Anya’s Ghost” by Vera Brosgol takes place in a High school not unlike the ones we know today with an ordinary girl named Anya. Overwhelmed with her normal life, Anya falls down a well when not looking where she was going, and meets an adorable nine-year-old girl named Emily. The problem is Emily has been dead for almost 100 years. Accidently taking Emily with her once she escaped, Anya finds her extremely helpful. She helps Anya cheat on tests and is a lookout for teachers when Anya misbehaves. Most importantly she helps pair her up with her all-time crush: Sean. But are her intentions all out of goodwill? And what’s this story she speaks of, of true love with her ‘husband’? Emily’s stories may not be completely truthful, and Anya is going to figure out exactly what happened, and the darker past of the ghost she has befriended.
I think Anya’s Ghost is an amazing book, and I really enjoyed reading it. It was brilliantly detailed and makes Anya truly look like an everyday girl, with everyday problems (like on page 87: “Mommmm! Sasha buried my jewelry in the gondamn yard again! You promised you’d make him stop! Mom: Annushka, you know he’s just playing. It’ll wash right off.”), these lines made me empathize with her. I understand her flustered nature when she’s around her crush (I have experienced it myself), and would jump at the opportunity to use someone like Emily to help, which I think initially blinded Anya from the suspicion. Vera Brosgol has an interesting way of making Emily look like nothing more than a nine-year-old girl who has the misfortune to fall down the well, but then once I read what the true backround is with Emily, I realized there were interesting details I seemed to have overlooked, when going back and reading it again, it seemed so obvious. When first I read it, I was a bit angry with the way Anya was treated, and truly felt bad for her. On page 150 Anya said: “ Hey, when I first came here I got bullied too. I was fat, my clothes were from goodwill, and I had an accent.” At the same time it interested me that this was a different take on the cliché ‘I’m in high school and don’t fit in’ idea. Her problems seem less about popular kids disliking her, but about her point of view of what she actually has, making it seem a lot worst that it is in her mind (Something that happens to me ALL the time). Vera manages to blend reality with the supernatural world together perfectly, and does a great job of making the connection just the right amount of scary to be creepy, but not quite to the point of horror, something that can often be hard to do and is impressive. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys creepy stories, without being downright horrifying, and who like books with realistic people who have problems you see in everyday life, making the character(s) look and seem real. It is a book that balances truths and lies of high school and proves to teens they aren’t alone, all while making an enjoyable read of a wonderful story known as Anya’s ghost.
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Sep 16, 2012 Amanda Childs rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: engl-420-fall-2012

GRAPHIC NOVEL CATEGORY
An immigrant from Russia, Anya spends most of her time trying to fit in as an average American teenager. That means losing her accent, ditching her mom's home cooked traditional foods, hanging out with friends, and trying not to embarrass herself in gym. When Anya falls down an empty well, her life seems to have hit bottom, especially since the ghost she encounters in the well decides to follow her everywhere. At first, her ghostly companion seems harmless and even fun, but...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-comic-books

I heard great things about this one, so maybe my expectations were a bit high. The first 3/4 of the book was familiar realistic fantasy story (self-conscious girl, coming-of-age stuff, befriends a ghost). She was fairly whiny and judgmental but hey, she was a high school girl. So no surprises there. Spooky the Friendly Ghost helps her out with academics and boys and then there's a Big Party. The book was starting to lose me but...

This is where the character starts to develop. Anya realizes thing...more

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Aug 25, 2012 April Helms rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, ghost-story, graphic-novel, young-adult

I really liked this graphic novel, a good book for younger teens. Anya is a teen struggling with her self image, her Russian heritage and her first crush (the author herself was born in Moscow.) One day, while coming home from school she goes to a nearby park to blow off some steam, and falls into a deep hole. There, she meets up with a ghost, who tells her that she, too, had fallen in nearly a century ago. Anya escapes and the ghost is able to follow. At first, Anya's spirit friend seems to be...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Emily Green rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Anya’s Ghost, Vera Brosgol’s first book-length work, has at least two great things working for it: a quirky main character and a plot. As a writer, I know how difficult it can be to create these two essential elements, and throw in a ghost and a mystery, and you’ve got the potential for an awesome book.

Anya has typical high school girl problems: she’s miserable with her family, body, and friends. But her dark sense of humor, immigrant status, and attitude distinguish her as a likable heroine. Wh...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you looked up the word "popular" in the dictionary, there is a good chance that Anya's picture won't be there. Embarrassed by her family, her body, and her social status, Anya begins to think that all hope is lost. That is, until she meets someone that really has lost everything, including her life.

Anya meets Emily after falling into a well while on a walk, and while Anya survives the fall it is clear to her that Emily, a girl who lived over one hundred years ago, did not. Surprised at seeing...more If you looked up the word "popular" in the dictionary, there is a good chance that Anya's picture won't be there. Embarrassed by her family, her body, and her social status, Anya begins to think that all hope is lost. That is, until she meets someone that really has lost everything, including her life.

Anya meets Emily after falling into a well while on a walk, and while Anya survives the fall it is clear to her that Emily, a girl who lived over one hundred years ago, did not. Surprised at seeing the ghost girl, Anya is even more surprised when one of Emily's bones ends up in her bag, allowing for Emily to follow her home.

At first, things are working out alright. Emily aids Anya in numerous aspects of her life, academic and social. But as time progresses, Anya learns that Emily may have a bigger problem than the obvious.

Anya's Ghost was overall enjoyable, and I can understand all of the love it has gotten (and has been getting) from novel and comic blogs alike. The main character, Anya, is easy to relate to as a teenager. She struggles to fit in, on which she blames her lack of friends, lack of a boyfriend, and her body. The buildup for the other main character, Emily, was certainly an interesting if not creepy one. At the beginning, she appears to only want to help Anya improve her life, but then as the story progresses the reader begins to realize that Emily is changing, and not for the better. Anya's crush Sean, who is not as appealing as he seems, her sort-of best friend Siobhan, and her doting Russian-immigrant mother round off the cast of interesting minor characters.

I found myself getting very into the book, plot-wise. Of course, from the moment that Emily offered to help Anya to improve her grades and her love life we knew that things were too good to be true for the ghost girl, and the build-up is steady with a quick-paced climax and happy ending.

The art itself is great, with a color scheme of black, white, and shades of purple that is not so complicated that you lose track of the characters or the story in the process of admiring the drawings. Brosgol's style is easy on the eyes with just enough attention to detail to show that she put love and effort into drawing, as well as writing, Anya's Ghost.

4.5/5- Recommended for anyone with an interest in single-volume comics with PG rating (assigned by myself; actual volume is not rated)(less)

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Jun 29, 2012 Abigail rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics

I admit I bought this because of the Neil Gaiman blurb giving it 'masterpiece' status and while I do not generally pay attention to blurbs (who does?), the last time Gaiman called something a masterpiece or something of the sort was Craig Thompson's Blankets: one of the best 'graphic novels' I have ever read. So admittedly, I went in with high hopes for this. While I do acknowledge that this was intended more for 'youths' than for 'adults', I regularly read books from the teen section because th...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, fantasy, young-adult

After my bad reading experience with Daniel Handler's WHY WE BROKE UP, I was in a reading rut. I needed a good book to make me excited about reading again, and ANYA'S GHOST did the trick. It helped that it was a graphic novel because I could blaze through it.

Anya wants to be a typical teenager. She's worked hard to abandon her Russian accent. She dresses in uniform like the rest of her classmates at the private school she attends. But sometimes life gets too hard. After a day of stress, Anya run...more

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