Graveyard  Shakes, a tween story of ghosts and consequences

Graveyard Shakes is a fun graphic novel that deftly glides through a story with some very dark points, without being too scary or morose. It’s loaded with ghosts, most of them ill tempered and some of them cruel, yet the feeling of the graphic novel is positive, uplifting and fanciful.

Victoria and Katia are sisters. They’re country girls who used to be home schooled by their mom, but were awarded scholarships to a private boarding school. Katia is younger and embraces her freak flag. Victoria wants to try new things, fit into her new surroundings and realizes the educational opportunity that they have in front of them.

Set in the background to this school is a caring, but very misguided father who is keeping his son alive by feeding him the souls of other children. Thankfully, Modie, the very sick and zombie-like son, only has to feed every 13 years. However, Modie, as well as Little Ghost, the kind ghost in the cemetery, both know that taking a soul to feed him is not a good thing to do.

The other ghosts in the cemetery make fun of Little Ghost for not being mean. Little Ghost is happy being himself, zipping around the school and park in his overalls. He’s also friends with Modie and the scenes between the two are genuinely touching as they talk about ghosts, the living and things that they wish they could do. Modie is trapped underground, due to his physical condition and Modie can go anywhere, but can’t make real friends.

At school one day Victoria and Katia get into a fight. Victoria runs off through the forest and falls into an open grave, which is how Modie’s father traps his victims. Thankfully, Little Ghost intercedes, but the two have to go through the main ghost area, get past Modie’s dad and escape the catacomb. Meanwhile, the free spirited Katia has met the mischievous ghosts with whom she’s playing with in an abandoned church.

Again, against that scenario, the fact that Graveyard Shakes is an overwhelmingly optimistic graphic is quite amazing. It does that in addition to parlaying the frustrations and difficulty of teen angst, peer pressure and trying to be your own person, as well as, being a good sibling.  The book ties together all of the loose ends so well you almost wish that there was one dangling so that there could be a sequel at the ready.

Graveyard Shakes certainly has a spectral vibe about it, but you’ll enjoy reading it anytime-not just Halloween. Even though the graphic novel has a happy ending, parts of the story and multiple ghostly images might be too much for young elementary school kids. Upper elementary school through middle school will love Graveyard Shakes and won’t be able to put it down once the sisters discover the underworld. Graveyard Shakes is by Laura Terry and available from Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic.