Review Detail

In this illustrated chapter book, Ghostie is nervous to start at a new school. All of the other kids are humans, and although Ghostie is eager to make friends, it's not so easy to fit in with the unfamiliar foods and customs. He tries to blend in, but some advice from his parents and a newfound friend helps Ghostie see that the best way to connect with new people is to just be himself.

While Ghostie is, in fact, a ghost, everything he experiences is so relatable. Moving to a new town can be overwhelming, particularly when everyone there seems to be entirely different. There's a bully on his very first day, who picks on Ghostie simply for being what he is rather than getting a chance to know him. And Ghostie accidentally scares his classmates with spiders and scares on a birthday, unaware that birthday scares are only a ghostly birthday tradition. These are tricky things to overcome, and it takes some understanding from both sides to truly welcome a newcomer into any group.

On a lighter note, the Ghostie family is quite charming, with their fascination over human customs and comparisons to what is normal back in their spooky hometown.

Readers looking for a heartfelt school story can look forward to the spooky jokes and color illustrations on every page.