Of all the things anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Anyas ghost author vera brosgol has a new graphic novel. Anyas ghost first second, 2011 is the celebrated graphic novel by russianamerican vera brosgol. With an attitude and aptitude reminiscent of marjane satrapi persepolis who likewise conveyed the particulars of an immigrant adolescence, brosgol has created a smart, funny and compassionate portrait of someone who, for all her sulking and sneering, is the kind of daughter many parents would. Over a thousand years old, she was originally known as aud and lived in sweden. Her mother brought anya and her little brother from russia when anya was five, just before anya entered public school. Anyas ghost is a 2011 kirkus best teen books of the year title. Anyas ghost, as one may have guessed by now, is about three things. After failing to make anya popular and happy, emily becomes manipulative and controlling, leading anya to discover the truth about emilys death. In anyas ghost you really are reading a comic book, and less of an illustrated story or picture book.
Lets have an intense spiritual relationship for no believable reason. See more ideas about character design, drawings and art. The first book by cartoonist vera brosgol, anyas ghost was published on june 7, 2011 in the novel, unpopular anya befriends the ghost of emily, a girl around anyas age who died 90 years earlier. Thankfully, anyas ghost avoids most of the usual traps of the form. Anya frees herself emotionally and physically from the ghost by throwing the bone back into the well. There are even moments when i found myself gleefully surprised at a direction in which vera brosgol would choose to take her story.
Especially not a new friend whos been dead for a century. She helps anya do better in school albeit its by cheating, enables her to pluck up the courage to talk to a boy she has a crush on, and gives advice. A graphic novel about a teenage girl and her friend emily, a 100somethingyearold ghost who died 90 years earlier. Watch this video to hear a bit more about this wonderful work of fiction. Marvel, paper girls, blankets, the arrival, ghost world, and anyas ghost. She expresses a wish to befriend and help anya, but is unable to do so as she cant move very far from her bones. Anyas ghost comic read anyas ghost comic online in.
Anya christina emmanuella jenkins was a member of the scooby gang and a former vengeance demon. It won several awards including the harvey award 2012 as the best original graphic publication for younger readers, 2011 cybils literary award in the young adult category, and the best. A 2011 kirkus best teen book of the year a school library journal best fiction book of. Emily tells anya that shes been trapped for ninety years, chased to her death by the man who murdered her parents, and bound in place by an inability to leave her bones. Its more just that i never felt as if i couldnt, if i had wanted to, talk to someone and. At first, anya feels on top of the world and confidant, but this slowly takes a dark, sinister turn. I chose this book because it is a seemingly simple story with a strong message. Parents need to know that be prepared is a nonfiction graphic novel memoir by russianborn vera brosgol anyas ghost, who moved to the united states when she was 5.
Anya, embarrassed by her russian immigrant family and self. I am not ever in the mood to read a book and there are few things i would rather do more than sleep, that is how awesome anyas ghost is. Emily was a girl born in the united states in the early 1900s. Talk about how anya first meets emily at the bottom of the well. But her new bff isnt kidding about the forever part. She is a 90yearold ghost who had died around the same age as the novels protagonist, anya borzakovskaya. The first book by cartoonist vera brosgol, anyas ghost was published on june 7, 2011.
During her adolescent years, emily had fallen in love with a boy around her age, but was heartbroken when he spurned her for. A graphic novel about a teenage girl and her friend emily, a 100somethingyear old ghost who died 90 years earlier. Awesome comingofage graphic novel by vera brosgol prev. Anya is unpopular at her new england private school, aside from her best friend siobhan and fellow russian immigrant dima, who anya avoids due to being too fresh off the boat, and wishes to join the popular kids, including sean, the object of her affections, and. She accepted and was transformed into anyanka, earning.
The book is the story of a teenage girl named anya, who believes she has trouble fitting in at school. Anyas ghost by vera brosgol meet your next favorite book. And best of all, neither book comes off overly preachy in their lessons, which is always nice for stories that contain overt morals at books end. Join us once a month to talk about a popular graphic novel. Talk about how anya feels about her body describe how she sees herself in the mirror. When anya is rescued she unknowingly takes emilys pinky bone with her, enabling emily to come along. Sometimes, when you pick up a book, you arent sure what to expect. Anya, a russian immigrant teen, is struggling with a number of things. One day, she falls down an abandoned well and discovers the bones of a young girl who fell down there before. Anyas ghost is a comingofage ghost story in graphic novel format.
A girl named anya, high school shenanigans, and, of course, a ghost. Conflict and resolution graphic novel it shows pictures and has the people in the pictures talk. There is no symbolism in this novel, and while there are some underlying messages about friendship, anyas ghost would be better suited as a pleasure read than a book talk or essay book. Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere, anyas ghost is a wonderfully entertaining debut graphic novel from authorartist vera brosgol.
It portrays 9yearold veras struggles to be accepted at a camp for russian speakers only. Anya borzakovskaya is an immigrant from russia who lives in the united states, alongside her mother and brother, sasha. I havent really explored the graphic novel section of ya so i wanted to give it a go and ive heard fabulous things about this particular story summary from goodreads anya could really use a friend. There is a 30 minute discussion of the book followed by a 30 minute themed activity. In the novel, unpopular anya befriends the ghost of emily, a girl around anyas age who died 90 years earlier. Anyas ghost is the first book written and illustrated by vera brosgol, who used her russian heritage to help bring anyas story to life. After a miserable day at school, anya falls through a hole and finds a ghost that cant leave her bones. But when an unsolicited copy of anyas ghost from publisher first second books, the debut book by vera brosgol, arrived at our house this. Focusing on youngadult readers, the book delivers an exciting comingofage story of a teenage girl and a ghost. Anya, embarrassed by her russian immigrant family and selfconscious about her body, has given up on fitting in at school but falling down a well and making friends with the ghost there just may be worse.
Anyas ghost would have benefited if it had been a longer book, but the main plot is too thin to spread over more than one volume. Anyas ghost vera brosgol not another teen bookclub. Anyas ghost graphic novel the seattle public library. Anyas ghost book omaha public library bibliocommons. One day she falls into a well and ends up taking a ghost with her when she is rescued.
Emily reilly is the main antagonist of the awardwinning supernatural graphic novel anyas ghost. Anyas ghost, vera brosgols debut graphic novel, starts out as a simple young adult story about a girl whos having a hard time fitting in at school, moves smoothly into a lighthearted story. Last weekend at wordstock, i sat in on a panel with jonathan hill and vera brosgol, both portlandbased cartoonists who have published books with first second books this past year. With an attitude and aptitude reminiscent of marjane satrapi persepolis who likewise conveyed the particulars of an immigrant adolescence, brosgol has created a smart, funny and compassionate portrait of someone who, for all her sulking and sneering, is the kind of daughter many parents. Critical evaluation the story is told through anyas perspective and most teens can relate to her laid back attitude towards life and her need to not be at the bottom of the social ladder. Anya s ghost was insightful, quick, and a bit creepy. Falling down a well is bad enough, but anyas normal life might a.
Anya is an immigrant who has done lots of work to lose her accent and fit in better. If you are unfamiliar with them, but are a fan of anyas ghost, check them out. Anyas ghost is a masterpiece, of ya literature and of comics. But when an unsolicited copy of anyas ghost from publisher first second books, the debut book by vera brosgol, arrived at our house this winter, i was the first one to grab it. I asked them today what was their favorite book so far and there were a range of answers, but by far the favorite so far overall is anyas ghost, and our pretty lively discussion ps. First published in 2011, anyas ghost is a brilliant graphic novel by vera brosgol. One of school library journals best fiction books of 2011.
Young adult books anyas ghost by vera brosgol the new york. This ghost becomes a best friend, and helps her come out of her shell and go after what she wants. Read online cover page of vera brosgols graphic novel anyas ghost read cover page of anyas ghost graphic novel. After cursing her unfaithful lover, aud was approached by the demon dhoffryn with the offer of becoming an immortal demon and dedicating her life to vengeance. The characters that surround anya and emily are fleshed out, but theyre pushed to the wayside by the ghost story. Anyas ghost is a singleissue graphic novel by vera brosgol. A girl from russia has a hard time fitting in as an american teenager in vera brosgols graphic novel anyas ghost. Upon getting rescued, she accidentally takes one of the ghost s fingers in her book bag.