This was the first book that I’ve read as an “adult” (I do hate to use that term because I don’t feel like one) that was combined with cartoon type pictures instead of just text. The comic style was a little intimidating to me, as I was not used to it. I thought I might miss something important or misinterpret the images. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only did I like Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol; I did not have any trouble understanding it.
I was surprised that the book had as much depth as it did; something about including pictures makes me take a book less seriously. Not only is this a silly assumption that probably kept me from reading similar books, it is also incorrect. Anya’s Ghost touched on many serious themes such as body image, love, culture, acceptance, and jealousy.
The story follows Anya, a teenage girl, as she tries to shed her culture heritage in order to fit in at school. She struggles with feelings of loneliness, despite having a loving mother, brother, and friend. When Anya falls into a well, she meets a ghost attached to a set of bones. The ghost is named Emily, who eventually wins Anya’s friendship by helping her cheat in school and gain confidence in talking to her crush. Emily gets pushier as time goes on, and her actions turn sinister when she starts pushing Anya to break morals. Emily even goes as far to injure Anya’s mom, pushing Anya to figure out how to get rid of the pesky-turned evil spirit. When Anya discovers that Emily murdered a young couple in a fit of jealousy, she decides to do whatever it takes to make her go away. Along her journey to get rid of Emily, Anya realizes that she has judged her life harshly, and gradually starts accepting herself.
I think this book can resonate with a lot of early teenage students, or anyone who can remember a time they felt awkward in their adolescence. Anya struggled with feeling accepted at her school, often denying or avoiding her culture to do so. She tosses out the lunches her mother packs for her with traditional russian foods, thinking she will get made fun of if she brings them into school. Anya also tries her best to dodge Dima, a russian boy from her family’s church. Anya feels that if she is caught hanging out with someone who has not assimilated into american culture that she will be pinned as an outcast, or a “dobby”.
She also critiques her body image, and is quoted while Emily helps her pick out an outfit for a party. Anya is trying on a skirt, and quips “I need some industrial tape to hold my stomach in” (p.113). Unfortunately, I am sure this resonated with many women who remember being that age. You pick yourself apart with comparisons, failing to see that you are already whole and beautiful as you are. These beauty standards can also pressure young women into clothing that they aren’t comfortable wearing in order to fit in. When Anya remarks that the outfit Emily picked out for her “this feels kind of…slutty” Emily manipulates her emotions. Emily knows that Anya wants to get the attention of Sean, so she says “Do you want Sean to notice you or not…So wear it!” and Anya reluctantly accepts the clothing. This is just one example of how relatable the novel is to young girls.
In the end, Emily did help Anya realize that she is grateful for her life. She has a friend in Siobhan, a loving mother and brother, and is branching out at school. She learns not to judge a book by its cover when she befriends Dima after he assists her in the Emily mystery.
I wanted to write about this book because I unfortunately missed the class that we discussed it in. Now that I have read a book in this style, I am more confident about exploring the graphic novel genre. I am really glad Anya’s Ghost was included in our reading list for the semester, as I do not think I would have read the novel otherwise.
-Audrey
Representing Adolescence @ Pitt 