You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Liked the story, it was sweet and sad. Loved the art. Whimsical and for some reason the sepia really worked for me.
Picked this up at my library based on the cover alone. I really enjoyed the art inside and though the story was a quick read without much description, I think the writing style went well with the art. I enjoyed the unique little story and it's definitely worth the quick read if you find it at your local library.
LOLA: A GHOST STORY by J. Torres and illustrated by Elbert Or is a middle-grade graphic novel that follows a boy named Jesse who inherits his Lola’s powers of being able to see ghosts (“Lola” is Tagalog for grandma).
With the recent passing of his Lola, Jesse and his family leave Canada and fly to the Philippines for the funeral. Jesse is anxious and doesn’t want to go. Since their arrival, he’s seeing more of his dead cousin Jon Jon and other supernatural creatures. No one in his family knows of his gift and Jesse doesn’t know how to come to terms with it.
This is a slim novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely wanted more of especially more backstory on their titular Lola.
A lot of Filipino folklore is sprinkled throughout the novel—aswang, kapre, tiyanak, etc. Aswang still scares the shit out of me everything I hear it mentioned.
What I found powerful in this though is much of the terror is reflected on Jesse’s confusion and feelings of defeat in trying to understand what’s going on with him. I think Or did a wonderful job on the illustration.
Last thing, although it is a ghost story, I felt it to be beyond that. It goes deeper into understanding your roots and your family. And how important it is for families to hold on to those “inheritances” from our ancestors—Jesse didn’t want his powers while his cousin in the Philippines Maritess envied him for it because it’s from their Lola.
With the recent passing of his Lola, Jesse and his family leave Canada and fly to the Philippines for the funeral. Jesse is anxious and doesn’t want to go. Since their arrival, he’s seeing more of his dead cousin Jon Jon and other supernatural creatures. No one in his family knows of his gift and Jesse doesn’t know how to come to terms with it.
This is a slim novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely wanted more of especially more backstory on their titular Lola.
A lot of Filipino folklore is sprinkled throughout the novel—aswang, kapre, tiyanak, etc. Aswang still scares the shit out of me everything I hear it mentioned.
What I found powerful in this though is much of the terror is reflected on Jesse’s confusion and feelings of defeat in trying to understand what’s going on with him. I think Or did a wonderful job on the illustration.
Last thing, although it is a ghost story, I felt it to be beyond that. It goes deeper into understanding your roots and your family. And how important it is for families to hold on to those “inheritances” from our ancestors—Jesse didn’t want his powers while his cousin in the Philippines Maritess envied him for it because it’s from their Lola.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This sweet graphic novel draws heavily on Filipino folklore and is a cute story of acceptance and grief. The sepia toned illustrations provide a sense of nostalgia and the illustrations themselves feel very fluid.
Unfortunately I did get confused between characters at points but overall this was a quick read and I think a perfect graphic novel for a younger reader.
3 out of 5 stars!
This sweet graphic novel draws heavily on Filipino folklore and is a cute story of acceptance and grief. The sepia toned illustrations provide a sense of nostalgia and the illustrations themselves feel very fluid.
Unfortunately I did get confused between characters at points but overall this was a quick read and I think a perfect graphic novel for a younger reader.
3 out of 5 stars!
Jesse sees ghosts and has visions, just like his grandmother. After his grandmother dies, Jess travels to the Philippines for her funeral. There, he is haunted by the past and begins to learn to make peace with it when his cousin finds out his secret.
The story relies on Philippine folklore and has a lot of good creepy moments. It has a steady pace to it, allowing each scene to unfold from frame to frame without needing to explain too much or rush the process.
The one bad thing was that there was not enough of it. Having become so attached to Jesse and his family, I wanted the story to continue. But it ended at a point where it seemed to be just getting started. I have no idea if the author plans to continue the story, but I sure hope he does.
The story relies on Philippine folklore and has a lot of good creepy moments. It has a steady pace to it, allowing each scene to unfold from frame to frame without needing to explain too much or rush the process.
The one bad thing was that there was not enough of it. Having become so attached to Jesse and his family, I wanted the story to continue. But it ended at a point where it seemed to be just getting started. I have no idea if the author plans to continue the story, but I sure hope he does.
This was a cute spooky middle grade ghost story. It was kind of creepy in some parts regarding Jesse seeing his dead relatives. What I really enjoyed about this book was the Philippine culture and family aspect. Also, appreciate the "tagalog" phrases translated! Really cute book to pick up during the spooky season.