Ghost Roast (book) by Shawneé Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, Emily Cannon (Illustrator)
Bibliographic Information
Title: Ghost Roast
Author: Shawneé Gibbs (Author), Shawnelle Gibbs (Author), Emily Cannon (Illustrator), Aishwarya Tandon (Interior Colors)
Publisher: Versify. imprint of HarperCollins
Copyright Date: January 2, 2024
ISBN: 978-0358141808
Page Count: 224
Genre
Graphic Novel - Paranormal
Reading Level/Interest Level
age 13 - 18 (Kirkus Reviews)
Awards
2025 Great Graphic Novels for Teens nomination by ALA
2024 Best Young Adult Books nomination by Harvey Awards
Plot Summary
Chelsea is a normal high schooler just trying to fit in with a dad who has an embarrassing job - he’s a ghost hunter. She has popular friends who contribute to some poor choices, and she ends up in trouble with the law, so her punishment is working for her dad for the summer. While at one of the houses her dad has been called to, Chelsea sees an actual ghost, who happens to be very cute. Chelsea’s dad normally blasts any paranormal occurrences into pieces, but he can’t see them or talk to them. Chelsea begins talking to the ghost and decides to try and help him.
Author Background
Shawneé & Shawnelle Gibbs are twin sisters and award-winning writers for comics, graphic novels, television, film, and animation. They have written for Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers Animation, Dreamworks Animation, Mattel Studios, and Marvel Comics. They are originally from Oakland and currently live in Los Angeles.
Shawneé co-authored the Glyph Award nominated series The Invention of E.J. Whitaker among other achievements. She builds community in the form of workshops and safe creative spaces for artists. Her “mission is to build bridges through the art of storytelling, one story at a time.”
Shawnelle Gibbs is a write and producer. She’s produced on Emmy and Peabody Award winning series for NBC Universal. She also co-authored the YA comic book series Fashion Forward and The Invention of E.J. Whitaker. Her “ultimate goal is to create and produce a legacy of television projects that reflect the magical realism of the African American experience.”
(The Gibbs Sisters, n.d.).
Emily Cannon graduated with a BFA in Ilustration in 2015 from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her first graphic novel is Ghost Roast. Other work can be found at the NoSleep Podcast and in Svømmer publishing. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
(Cannon, n.d.)
Critical Evaluation
I didn’t know I was going to love this book, but I did. I loved the vibrant graphics in the story, but I loved the plot even more. The book went in an unexpected direction for me, and I loved every minute of it. The characters touch on important topics for all young adults in peer relationships, and the story touches on important historical racial issues. The story is a cozy coming-of-age story that captures the nature of teen life as they struggle to find an identity separate from their family.
When I fell in love with a ghost as a tween.
Creative Use for a Library Program
Ghost hunting at the library or local downtown area. Teen librarian can partner with a paranormal reporting group for a ghost hunt at the library or a local recreational and park group/historical group to coordinate a ghost tour of the local downtown area. The library can also add a ghost hunting kit to their Library of Things to coordinate with the activity.
Speed-Round Talk
Chelsea is stuck working for her dad’s ghost-hunting business for the summer instead of hanging out with her new friends. Her dad has ghost-hunting equipment, but she finds out quickly that she can actually see ghosts and is conflicted about blasting the ghost away (what her dad does) and trying to help the ghost in its afterlife. Can she help the ghosts she finds without the expense of killing her dad’s livelihood?
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation
I can’t imagine why this book would be challenged, but some people may be against anything paranormal. It’s important to remember that the book is simply imaginative fiction. There is some peer pressure leading to a bit of underage drinking, however there are consequences to the actions (the teens are arrested), and it’s not the point of the story.
Reason for Inclusion
This book captures all the normal issues teens deal with while touching on an important part of history - slavery - and how that history has shaped events today. It’s cozy with a small romantic twist, and fun to read at the same time.
References
Cannon, E. (n.d.). Emily Illustrates. https://www.emilyillustrates.com
Gibbs, S., Gibbs, S., & Cannon, E. (2024, January 2). Ghost Roast. Versify.
Johnston, J. (2015< March 24). Ghost hunting at the library. Programming Librarian. https://programminglibrarian.org/programs/ghost-hunting-library
Kirkus Reviews. (October 7, 2023). A fresh and charming modern Southern ghost story starring a plucky hero who isn’t afraid to stand up for the truth. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/shawnelle-gibbs/ghost-roast/
The Gibbs Sisters. (n.d.) The Gibbs Sisters. https://gibbssisters.com/bios
*Book Cover Image is property of the publisher, Versify; taken from Amazon.