All My Friends Are Ghosts

by S.M. Vidaurri, Hannah Krieger (Illustrations)

Effie is lost and only feels like a ghost – till she discovers an actual ghost school in the nearby woods and begins an unforgettable journey of self-discovery.

Effie is lost, and feels like a ghost. She skips school because she doesn't think anyone will notice, and doesn't feel like she belongs, or that school offers her anything that she wants. Simply, she has stopped trying. One day, when she realizes no one will notice, she escapes from her every day life… and discovers a ghost school in the nearby woods. But just as she’s beginning to learn all about the amazing things that ghosts can do – like possession, poltergeist-ing, demon magic and more – Effie is asked by her new friends to help track down a mysterious spirit that’s been spotted. But if Effie’s going to succeed, she’ll not only have to show her friends that she’s got something special,but also learn to believe she’s got it too.

Award winning writer S.M. Vidaurri (Iron, Steven Universe) and artist Hannah Krieger (Psychic Mansion) present a new original graphic novel about discovering what makes you special and helping others be seen for who they are.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Comics, Ghosts, Fiction, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2020

About the author

My apartment is filled with many animals. I like romance novels, superhero movies, rooms filled with plants and peach iced tea.

My first graphic novel Iron: Or The War After was published in 2012 and was nominated for the Graphic Album category in the Pépites 2013 Salon de Montreuil.

I read a lot, but for the purposes of my reviews on here, I'll only be writing about the books I absolutely loved, in the hope to support the authors I admire.

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad rating middle grade books low because I know I'm not the target audience, but as someone who reads SO MANY middle grade stories, I feel fairly comfortable in gauging when something "isn't for me" and when it just genuinely isn't enjoyable, and this was the latter. I was bored out of my mind through this entire graphic novel and couldn't stand almost any of the characters. A secret school full of ghosts should have been SO cool, but it failed on almost every front for me.

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[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

All My Friends Are Ghosts is a graphic novel for middle schoolers about a girl who loves to write but feels no one is hearing her. Then she comes across a school for ghosts in the woods and makes some new friends. I didn't like how Effie starts ditching school everyday and no one notices. It's mentioned at the very end that she has detention but then she skips that too. I'm not sure we should be sending kids the message that it's OK to skip school or that there won't be any repercussions. There was also way too much reliance on fart jokes. I'm sure kids will find all the fantastical elements a lot of fun. I do think some of the storytelling needs work though.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade with good messages & lessons. I flew through this graphic novel in no time and enjoyed the process. Effie is a lonely outsider @ her school with no friends & very much introverted in her thoughts. She stumbles upon a mysterious building while skipping school/walking home & her curiosity leads her to meeting a most strange but unique group of people that later become her friends. And as friends do, they support you whilst also keeping you humble & pointing out your mistakes. They help you grow individually so that you in turn can help them or others. A true message of humanity and the social instinct we have to interact. Highly recommend as it's short & sweet.

[JPL Children’s Department]

My one big criticism is that it feels like large sections of the book were taken out, either in service of shortening it down or fitting in more action beats to keep young readers hooked. As a result, the world building and introduction of the supporting ghost characters feels rushed. Where this book really shines is in its art and character design. The world of Minourghast Middle School for Wandering Spirits looks amazing and the premise for the world is fantastic. The problem is that none of them feel fully explored. A story that is supposed to be about finding friends, isolation, and the cyclical nature of bullying/animosity instead feels like its tacked on. If this series continues, however, it feels like there is a lot of potential.

[Cale · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm definitely not the right audience for this book - I didn't read the protagonist's issues as feeling invisible: I felt that she was working really hard for the wrong things - the amount of time and effort she puts into skipping school didn't make me like her at all. I think I've aged out of the target audience too far to sympathize.
The story itself is kind of cute, and the ghosts are fun. The ghost school offers some nice opportunities for fun art, but doesn't feel very developed, and its handling of lost souls felt way too short-sighted and lazy. The resolution is very twee and the reliance on fart jokes gets old quick. So aside from some creative vistas and cute art, I wasn't invested in this at all. Adolescents may enjoy it, but it's not something that ages up very well.

[Kenya Starflight · Rating 2 out of 5]

They say to not judge a book by its cover, but it's hard not to be entranced by the cover of this one -- a school for ghosts, with some very unique designs for some of the ghosts. Unfortunately, while this book had a charming idea, its story and artwork do little to flesh it out, and it ends up being choppy, unfocused, and weak, without doing much to build on its world or story or even to make us care much about the characters in question.

Effie feels like an outcast in her own school, unappreciated by her teachers and classmates. But when she runs away from school one day, she runs into three ghosts who are students at a school exclusively for ghosts! Effie ends up running away from school frequently to visit with her newfound friends, and to help them face the Lost Souls that haunt the woods. But what happens when one particular Lost Soul proves to be too strong for her friends... and Effie has to find her own strength?

The concept is good, and the character designs are super-neat -- it's nice to see some ghostly designs that aren't just bedsheet ghosts or what the person in question looked like when they died. And I admit, the owl-ghost is one of the main reasons I picked this book up. And there are some even more unique designs in the book as well. The art gets muddled a bit at points, but it does a good job at showing off these designs and the design of the ghost school itself.

It's unfortunate that this book didn't get a better story to match its concept. It feels like there are chunks of story missing, leaving gaps in both the worldbuilding and what we know of the characters, as well as awkward transitions between scenes. Effie herself is not fleshed out enough for us to like and sympathize with, and neither are her friends. We don't know many of the rules behind the ghost world and how it works -- I don't know if they were meant to be saved for a later volume or not -- and some of the rules feel made up as we go along, without real justification behind them.

Also, most of the humor in this book revolves around fart jokes and other bathroom humor. Which I suppose appeals to kids, but does get a little eye-rolling at times.

This graphic novel could have been fantastic, and it's a shame that great designs and a fun concept were essentially squandered. If the creators decide to make a second graphic novel, I can only hope they improve on this one and give us a better-constructed story next time.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
It was a little hard to follow but very unique and interesting all the same. The humor is definitely something that kids will enjoy (the word fart is written several times) and the characters hit all the right spots. I liked the art but like I said before, the story was a little difficult to follow at times. I liked the message though about lost souls and remembering/being heard.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay. It really needed to be two volumes with more character development.

[Paz · Rating 3 out of 5]

thirteenth read for #believathon! (back in november, but I'd forgot to update this, oops)

This was cut, short, and very curious. The colors, especially. And a little convoluted, if I'm being honest. But overall I enjoyed it! It was fun. Plus, nor only was original, but also deliver some great lessons I enjoyed even as an adult.

PS: Nik is the cutest.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had good bits in it, such as that the girl that was smart could become the MC's best friend in the end.

But, a week after reading it, I haven't even retained any of the characters names, or even what most of the story was about, so it wasn't highly rememberable.

[Rebecca Dawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd graphic novel I read of Vidaurri’s and I’m not the biggest fan of their storytelling style. He has the tendencies to unload a bunch of exposition in 1 or 2 sentences, that I have to read multiple times to understand what he meant. It’s not very clear and it’s frustrating. This one was better than the other graphic novels of his I read but still had that same problem.
I really liked Krieger’s illustrations though.

[Bill Coffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and heartfelt story about Effie, a bit of a misfit who discovers a group of ghosts living in the nearby woods and begins skipping school to attend middle school in the spirit realm, where she learns to help wayward souls navigate life after the mortal coil. Well suited for younger readers, with a nice finish about being okay with your feelings, having the courage to admit when you're wrong, and knowing that sometimes the friends you need aren't the friends you expect.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a crazy one-of-a-kind world! I’m a sucker for ghosts, and these are some of the weirdest (and therefore awesome) ones I’ve ever encountered. The story of trying to fit in, understanding your bully, and making new friends is universal, but the world (and ghosts) is what sets it apart!

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has absolutely gorgeous illustrations and little else; the story feels forced and disjointed and also feels like some of it is missing. I wanted more and it just never materialized. I am very disappointed - this could have been awesome and it was just meh.

[Aurora · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art was very cute, but that was the only thing it had going for it. The story was a mess and all over the place.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been on my Hoopla TBR for a long time and I figured I'd take the ghostly plunge. The color palette is to die for and the vibrancy jumps off the page. The character design was unique and they all felt like solid, realized structures. My main issue was how the concept of lost souls, poltergeists, and ghosts seemed messy. How did they exist in one universe yet still had the ability to interact with humans? I was lost in the story multiple times, trying to unravel the tangled narrative. I liked the ending and I wonder if more could be added to the story. All My Friends Are Ghosts was a imaginative middle grade graphic novel, but I wish it was more transparent with the plotline. Transparent like a ghost, get it? The comic was filled to the brim with originality and I wouldn't be opposed to reading more from the author. I may not have many, but at least not All My Friends Are Ghosts.

[Eliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Not my favourite graphic novel ever, but it was still fun! I loved the characters the most, they were really funny and I liked their relationships with each other. The premise actually kind of reminds me of Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series, which is my favourite series ever so that’s a huge plus for me. I just found the messages in this book to be a little in your face, this was very much a case of being told instead of shown. But regardless, still an enjoyable read!

[nel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute and imaginative graphic novel. The plot is quick and the characters are relatable. I love the art and then length of the book, both were perfectly suited to the author’s style and the plot expanse. Really an adorable book that was really quick and easy to read!

[Zander]

the main character relises that she can't be caught up in her own head, and realizes how to be with others.

[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and fast read! The art style was really cute and detailed.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effie is having trouble at school. While she's very creative and loves to write, her English teacher disapproves of her fondness for monsters and mythical creatures. Effie's classmates think she's weird. And her mom is constantly at odds with her walking home by herself. It's all of these issues that make Effie feel very alone.



During one of Effie's walks, she stumbles upon an abandoned building in the woods. But it's not the building that is so fascinating. It's what's inside that inspires; an entire school made up of ghostly students and phantom teachers!



Deciding to dress up as a scholarly apparition, Effie pretends to be a ghost in order to find other kinder spirits. However, it is the very nature of being a lost soul that could end up being trouble for the human girl. For spending too much time in the afterlife could cause Effie to become a ghost as well!



This was a very interesting story by Iron: Or The War After's S.M. Vidaurri. While some of the concepts seemed a little too complex for me, I thought this was a very well thought out graphic novel. Viduarri crafts not just one by two immersive worlds filled with amazing characters and unique situations. If you felt like the ghost school in this book was a lot like Hogwarts for wraiths, you wouldn't be alone. There's even a game called haunt pass that the ghostly students play. But just as with Harry Potter's Qudditch, there are some rules that I really didn't understand. But I think if further books about Effie and her phantom pals are in the works, S.M. Vidaurii has laid a great foundation on which to build upon.



I also want to give a massive shout out to artist and fellow North Carolinian Hannah Krieger for her work on All My Friends Are Ghosts. This is her first book and she really killed it. (Yes, pun intended.) There are some great action sequences in this book. And I really loved that dramatic pose of the character Caim towards the end of this graphic novel. I expect great things from Krieger.



All My Friends Are Ghosts is a fanciful tale that families will love. Despite being about ghosts, this really isn't a scary book. It's a book about what it means to have someone on which to call a friend. Why some ghosts don't even really look like ghosts. As they have started to forget their human pasts, some specters start to exhibit the looks of animals and other creatures. It makes for a very fresh take on the human child befriending a spirit story.

This book is recommended for readers aged 9-12 and I think that is a good starting point to judge if All My Friends Are Ghosts is appropriate for the young reader in your life. Some action scenes are intense. Plus, there's some preteen angst and a little bit of potty humor. Yet, overall, it's a graphic novel that will that you and your family to another plane of existence and excitement!

All My Friends Are Ghosts is slated to have dropped in stores just this week. However, some online purveyors list that the book will debut in print and digital formats on March 17th, 2020! If it's not available in your neck of the woods just yet, be patient!

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet story, if a little jumpy at times.

[rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so fascinating i love it

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Effie doesn't have friends at school, and her interest in writing fan fiction and werewolf stories gets made fun of by everyone, including the teacher. She stumbles upon a ghost community where they welcome her and her oddities to the point they sneak her into their ghost school. They work together to help a lost soul by using her storytelling abilities along with her new friends' special abilities too. I wanted to like this one, but it wasn't long enough and it seemed like panels were missing to fill in the story a little bit. Also, I got slightly confused by the speech bubbles in this one.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
Effie is miserable at school. She sets off to explore the state park - especially the old building - between school and her home. She meets several ghosts who make her feel welcome. They form bonds and learn about each other and what really matters in life.
Lovely message about not giving up on your talents no matter what others say.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thus is my 15th graphic novel I have read for the Cybils selection committee. While I wasn’t really taken with the story, I was captivated by the illustrations. They are beautiful, especially when our main and troubled character Effie is experiencing fantasy.

Here is the premise...

Effie is not doing so great in school, in fact she is failing. Effie would rather write monster stories than go to class, therefore she follows in a tradition of heroines searching for life far beyond the her normal existence.

This is where Effie befriends a trio of teen ghosts in her local state park: poltergeist Beulah, bird-headed pyrokenetic Caim, and “regular ghost” Nikhil. The three attend the Escher-esque Minourghast Middle School for Wandering Spirits, where they learn to stay connected to their former human identities and avoid becoming “lost souls.” Effie sneaks into their school in a comical disguise that features a mounted singing novelty fish for a head. We have all seen those annoying singing fish mounted on a board.

As the group plots to save lost souls without being consumed by them, Effie sorts through a falling-out with a human rival during a spirit-induced flashback. Vidaurri explains the emotional and energetic exchanges between humans, ghosts, and lost souls. The rich illustrations, diverse cast, and small twists on middle school drama establish a world where escape can be therapeutic, . Ages 9–12.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very rushed graphic novel about ghosts, lost souls (ghosts that have forgotten their memories), school troubles, bullying, and ghost school, all mooshed into one rather short volume. Having just finished the newest in the Night School series by Svetlana Chmakova (Weirn), this one felt too familiar and rushed.

Had this been two volumes, we could have had more time with our protagonist, getting to know her issues in school (unpopularity, difficulties w studying, no friends, being bullied both by other students and a teacher). Instead we’re barely given a glimpse before being thrown into the ghost situation. I wanted to get to know our ghost trio, let alone their school, bur due to the rushed pacing, it all felt disconnected.

Cute enough drawing style that matched the tone. Wasn’t blown away but if there is a second volume, I’d read it to see if things expand.

[Amanda B.V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this story to be very cute and even though it's meant for a younger audience, I really enjoyed it! Supernatural elements are my favorite in books so this just made the story much better for me.
I don't know if it's just me but I noticed that some parts of the plot were explained quite weirdly? To me it seemed like the writing was a little jumpy at times and it didn't flow as much; especially when our main characters try to help the lost soul the second time. I had to reread dialogue a few times to understand what was being said.
Honestly, this would have been a 3 star if it wasn't for the supernatural elements and the characters. But thankfully, it appealed to me a lot! I definitely wouldn't mind reading more in this world and following the characters on more adventures.

[Christyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

All My Friends Are Ghosts was an interesting read, it just felt too short, too rushed. I like the overall concept, I just wish we had more world building and time to really get to know the characters. I'm still unclear as to how certain aspects of this world work, but it is very intriguing. There is bullying (briefly) in the book, but it is superficially touched on (but in a way I think some kids would understand). The illustrations in this were full color and absolutely gorgeous! I hope to see it continued as a series, it certainly has the potential! If not, it was worth the hour or so read.

[Chris Meichtry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute story that reminded me a lot of The Owl House, but I felt like it was really lacking in substance. The author tried to fit everything into a small book and it ended up feeling like an abridged version of itself and we missed out on a lot of character development. Oftentimes, I was left wondering if I had accidentally skipped a page because of the way it jumped from scene to scene. If this had been written as a fleshed-out series rather than a quick one-shot, I think it would've worked out much better.