behind-the-scenes vs highlight reel

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Anya is a first generation American and a self-conscious, brooding teenager trying to fit in. On her way home one day, Anya falls into an abandoned well. There she discovers a skeleton and... a ghost.

This is Vera Brosgol's debut graphic novel. She has created a smart, funny and compassionate portrait of someone who, despite all her sulking and sneering, is the kind of daughter many parents would like to have... and the type of teen many parents once were.


Anya's Ghost is a mystery, a ghost story, and a horror story - all wrapped in a gray/black/purple graphic novel. But even more importantly, it's a story about self-acceptance and figuring out what you really want in life.


As Anya  says toward the end of the book, "Everyone else's life seems so much easier..." It reminded me of a quote I read on pinterest: "The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." ~Steven Furtick


Anya's Ghost is a humorous, beautifully drawn reminder that our lives, especially as teens, aren't so easy.



Parental Warning: this book is aimed at teens. There's smoking, implied underage drinking, etc...
Read the first part of the book here.