Taxi Ghost (a Graphic Novel)

 

From the Publisher:

In this hilarious and heartwarming graphic novel, a young girl's first period brings an unexpected gift: the ability to see ghosts! As she meets these spectral visitors, she uncovers her family's secret lineage of mediums, while learning about the power of compassion and community.

Adèle just wants to spend her winter break at the library, cozied up with her favorite books, and completely forgetting abut her friends who are all traveling to warmer climates. Unfortunately, life has other plans...not only does Adèle get her first period...but she learns she comes from a long line of mediums!

And if seeing ghosts wasn't enough of a surprise, Adèle learns that not only can she interact with them, but apparently, they've been using her sister's car to get around the city for years! When the ghosts won't leave her alone Adèle starts to get to know about them and their problems. Maybe helping them out will be just what she needs for an exciting winter break!

From Sophie Escabasse, the author of the beloved Witches of Brooklyn, comes a brilliant graphic novel that explores growing up and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.

My Thoughts:

What a shock when Adèle gets her first period and can suddenly see and talk to ghosts. In addition, once these neighborhood ghosts figure out that she can see, hear and talk to them, she starts getting ghosts stalking her. That seems scary to have a ghost out in the snow outside your New York apartment waiting for you, but for Adèle, once she gets over the freak out, she learns so much about these people that have always been in her neighborhood. 

She soon finds out that this ability to see and talk to ghosts is a gift in her family that seems to skip women, but always comes with the first menses cycle. Her older sister does not have the gift, so she can only join her quest vicariously through seemingly one sided conversations. 

There is so much in here that I cannot talk about, but as I'm reading, those scenes still make me smile. The title has to do with the ghosts in her neighborhood putting a ghost mark on people's car so that when they want to go from one place to another, they know which car is going near their "home." That is how Adèle lets her sister know that she has been a Taxi for neighborhood ghosts. Hilarious.

The other funny scene is when Adèle learns that ghosts have a hard time in the NY snow (unless they are very old), so when she wants to take a ghost somewhere (like her cute library friend), she drags a flattened cardboard behind her and the ghost rides along while others think she is just a girl dragging a cardboard sled behind her. 

This is not a book that I would use in whole class activities, however, this is a great book to have in your classroom library for silent independent reading. It is approachable, but it is also complex with both seriousness (gentrification, social justice) as well as levity and spirituality.

Follow this with:

There really is no story like this, but if you look at this as a kind of coming of age story, I would suggest the following. There is no really good fit, so I am looking more at the age level and the use of both social commentary and humor.

• Turtles in Paradise a Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm. Taking place in Key West, Floriday in 1935, Turtle, the main character, is a spunky and convincing liar who finds adventure as a member of the "Diaper Gang."
• Girl on Fire graphic novel by Alicia Keyes. 14 year old Lolo goes through two disturbing incidents in the neighborhood which triggers her superpower abilities. She tries to keep her powers secret, but the local drug dealer wants to use her as a weapon for his crew.
• Sheets by Brenna Thummler. This one is a little more emotional, but it is lovely. Read the review. I cannot do it justice here.

Publication Information:

Author: Sophie Escabasse

Publisher: Random House Graphics (September 3, 2024)

Paperback: 224 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0593565971

Grade level: 3-7