miblette 's review for:

Ghost Roast by Shawneé Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs

5.0

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Reminiscent of The Ghostbusters set in modern-day New Orleans, this suspenseful story is filled with mysticism and history. Fifteen-year-old Chelsea Grant just wants to fit in with the cool kids at her highschool, but she has a pretty big secret - her father is a professional ghost exterminator, or “ghost roaster.” She appreciated his work when she was little, but as she’s maturing, the family business feels more like an embarrassment. After getting caught trespassing in a graveyard with her friends, her father comes to pick her up, and her cover is blown. When the popular girls post about Chelsea’s secret on “the ‘Gram,” her father’s business starts booming with calls. And as for Chelsea, her punishment is to work with her father and his assistant for the entire summer. As they are investigating paranormal activity for one of the city’s most prestigious families at their former sugarcane plantation, Chelsea discovers that ghosts are real. And unbeknownst to her father, Chelsea can see ghosts. Instead of “roasting” them, she wants to help them uncover a deep family secret before it’s too late. 

This is one of my favorite graphic novels of the year. It was fast-paced and suspenseful while tackling the subjects of fitting in, racism, empathy, and family. This is an absolute must read for fans of ghost hunting and history.