Review by Booklist Review
The night that July Chen was born, her mother died, nearly taking baby July with her. Now 12, July has the ability to see ghosts but is otherwise unremarkable--so much so that no one remembers she's around. When some kids in her class try to summon a Hungry Ghost ("with gross tumors all over it") rumored to haunt their school, July joins in, hoping it might help her make a friend. The scheme works, but not in the way that July envisioned. Rather than making a lasting impression on her classmates, she attracts the attention of a wandering soul still tethered to his body--that of 12-year-old William Xiao, "the luckiest unlucky boy," who is prone to near-death accidents. The two become friends while trying to get a message to William's mother and unravel the reason behind why these accidents keep happening to him. Lai is a master of middle-grade sensibilities, mixing pus-spurting tumors with slapstick and genuine concerns about friendship and family. Her artwork elevates each scene to its fullest potential as wacky and disgusting ghosts float through panels (and walls and floors), their luminous forms lighter than the saturated physical world, and the friends discover how their fates are deeply entwined. An unforgettable adventure full of surprises, laughs, ghosts, and dumplings.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Lai (Pawcasso) navigates profound questions of fate and friendship via Chinese mythology in this playful graphic novel ghost story. Twelve-year-old July Chen goes largely unnoticed by kids at school and even her own father, making her feel invisible. But thanks to her ability to see ghosts, she meets tween William Xiao, her first friend, whose soul is trapped between life and death following a near-fatal experience. July offers to help William return to his body, resulting in the duo journeying through the underworld. There, they learn that because of a secret deal July's dad struck with the King of the Underworld's henchmen, the fates of July and William, born on the same day in the same hospital, have been twined since infanthood. In Lai's richly imagined underworld--populated by silly and creepy ghosts, tile-roofed houses, and stands selling cuisines such as Dancing Soup and Honesty Soup--the new friends must outsmart the shepherds of the underworld if they hope to uncover the secrets of their past and save William. Animated illustrations featuring dreamlike backdrops and bold hues render both a youthful adventure and a mature meditation on the double-edged sword of memory. Ages 8--12. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4 Up--Mild horror and humor collide in this delightful graphic novel inspired by Chinese mythology, set during Hungry Ghost month. All kinds of ghosts fill the halls of Redhill Elementary, home to the gates of the Underworld. July Chen, 12, pretends she can't see the ghosts in her school so as to appear normal, but the spirit of a wandering soul named William Xiao is persistent in enlisting her help to free himself from a series of tragic events. Solid character development and plot drive this tale that touches on friendship, family, loss, and legend. Fans of Lai's other works, such as Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall, will note her signature art style evident in the book, though the full color is heavy on darker blues and greens, which set the perfect tone for the spookier elements of the story. VERDICT Fans of Lai's other works, as well as Kat Leyh's Snapdragon, and Emma Steinkellner's "The Okay Witch" series will enjoy this modern ghost story with a hopeful ending. Recommended first purchase for upper elementary and middle school collections.--Monisha Blair
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Review by Horn Book Review
Twelve-year-old July Chen has lived a lonely life. Her classmates and teacher constantly forget her ("Are you a new student?"), and her father is too tired and preoccupied to pay much attention to her. Ghosts, however, can see her, and unlike most people she is able to see and communicate with them. July finds an unexpected friend in William Xiao, a wandering soul of a boy who has already survived several near-death experiences. On the night of the Hungry Ghost Festival, the two are chased by a death god and several zombie-like ghosts; they travel to the Underworld to find a way to protect themselves permanently. This graphic novel adventure skillfully highlights the importance of friendship, family love, and remembering lost loved ones. Lai weaves many aspects of Chinese folk religion and Taoism into the plot while also creating colorful, memorable characters in both the living and spectral worlds (monstrous and friendly spirits who look like animals; blob-like aliens). She also infuses plenty of humor into a narrative that deals with mortality and the supernatural. An entertaining, engaging read with echoes of Miyazaki's film Spirited Away. Michelle LeeSeptember/October 2023 p.76 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A girl helps the wandering soul of a boy escape death. "Twelve years ago, the girl lived. The boy lived. One should have died." July Chen might as well be invisible, as she's usually forgotten by everyone around her. Using her ability to see ghosts, July tries to summon one in hopes of making friends. In addition to calling a hungry ghost, July meets the wandering soul of William Xiao, a boy whose physical body lies in a coma. William has experienced multiple near-death incidents, and he collects information on the underworld in the notebook he calls his Ghost Book. Using the Ghost Book, July helps William evade hungry ghosts and underworld underlings who are trying to claim his soul. While trying to find a way to get to the underworld and back to save William, the friends discover an unfortunate secret truth about their intertwined lives. This full-color graphic novel skillfully balances dark, humorous, and heartwarming elements. Themes of friendship, kindness, sacrifice, and being remembered, both in life and in death, are prominent throughout. July and William's adventure exquisitely captures Chinese mythology, traditions, and beliefs surrounding the afterlife, like burning joss paper offerings during Hungry Ghost Month. The clean and expressive illustrations complement the story, being a bit eerie and scary but leavened with humor and lightness. A delightful balance of spooky, sweet, and funny. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
