Ghoulia and the Ghost with No Name (Book 3)by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Ghoulia befriends a boy ghost. He will be lost to Oblivion if he can't remember who he is and be remembered by others. Ghoulia is here to help, even risking sneaking into the local church!I love how Ghoulia's family members are so helpful and accepting; each of them offers something different and support Ghoulia's attempt to help the ghost boy. The only warning comes from her aunt, warning her not to go to the church, as she might be seen. Of course, Ghoulia goes, but she's smart about it. Even so, it was a close call that resulted in quite the fright! (It's also fun and exciting!) When sneaking out, Ghoulia takes herself apart to drop from an upper story quietly, then puts herself back together (very Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas), which is something we didn't previously know about her. I like how Ghoulia (and her animal friends) use the library to figure out when the boy was alive based on his clothes, and the church register for his name; it shows cleverness, the importance of research, and a bit of bravery. I love the tie-in to New Year's and the celebration of the "Dead But Not Departed". It's so fitting for this Addams-style family. The logic behind needing to be remembered or fading into "oblivion" is not new, but the way it's presented here makes Oblivion seems scary and something to be avoided (like death for the dead). Ghoulia not only helps the ghost remember his name, she comes up with a nice solution for them to always remember each other. Interestingly, Ghoulia also thinks he's cute -- a line that surprised me but fits with the target audience. Ghoulia's friends from the village do make an appearance for the party, which has some fun scenes. I like the party foods that are appropriately gross and spooky. And, like always, there are tons of fun details in the art, including some real pics and some arrows with text to provide extra explanations. Every page is a delight. The extras at the end even include a memory game after looking at a detail-rich image of Ghoulia's room. The other extra is tracing clothing pieces (based on outfits in the book) to mix and match for costume designs (and even suggests a couple things like pairing "the dress with the top hat"). This series is perfect for the goth in your life and those who like the creepy and kooky, regardless of age. It's only $10 and hardback! And there's a teaser for book four, so there's more fun to look forward to. Written: January 21, 2021
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