taxi ghost
Writer/Artist: Sophie Escabas
Colorist: Kiwi Bird
Author: Rob Steen
Editor: Whitney Leppard
Publisher: Random House Graphics
Publication date: September 3, 2024
Adele has two big concerns this winter break. It’s about watching your favorite manga series and dealing with acne. But on a snowy morning when her sister Helen agrees to accompany her on her commute to the library, Adele hears and sees several ghosts. To his surprise, Helen is overjoyed when he reveals what happened. Adele has a gift for her family!
Helen and her mother cannot communicate with spirits, but their grandmother could, as did her mother and grandmother before her. However, Gran feels so burdened that the power inside him dyes the house electric blue. Ghosts hate that color, so they never come. Helen wants Adele to decide for herself about her gift, but first Adele must endure a period party. Of course, because the power within her manifests itself with her first period. (That might explain the acne.)
Adele and Helen’s mother is currently attending school overseas, and Gran is strongly anti-ghost, so Adele has no one to directly ask her about her powers. She goes to the library in search of information, where she befriends a teenage ghost named Ambroise. He can interact with physical objects enough to write code, do a little “light hacking” and even use social media (he has 50,000 followers). Adele is surprised to learn that ghosts can interact with the material world in this way, but the more ghosts she encounters, the less surprised she becomes at what they are capable of.
When Adele is approached by Jules, an elderly ghost who worries that her grandson will destroy the neighborhood if he sells his home to a corrupt developer, she does everything in her power to help. But Gran’s field of expertise is fighting injustice in her community, not Adele’s. It’s a difficult question, not because she doesn’t want to help, but because she doesn’t know what to do.
The stakes then become even greater when she learns that a group of powerful ancient ghosts have taken matters into their own hands, and Gran’s community group is accused of the damage.
Author and artist Sophie Escavas is a great paranormal storyteller for all ages because her books lean into the spooky without being completely scary. Much like the Witches of Brooklyn series, Taxi Ghost (Witches Scream!) is incredibly charming. This makes the spooky parts less scary, but still maintains the tension. And like any good science fiction/fantasy story, this book has a clear point of view and provides a solid commentary on gentrification and homelessness.
Taxi Ghost presents a fun and unique look at how ghosts work, what they desire, and how mediums interact with them on any given day. Escavas once again demonstrates her talent for creating unique and entertaining ghost stories, and her dialogue gets even better with each book. Taxi Ghost is a quick read book that can be easily completed in one session, but separate chapters are provided for readers who need a break. Candid panel layouts, tight dialogue, and focused character expressions keep things engaging, especially when everyone’s complexities are revealed.
Kiwi Bird’s color work is also amazing. Each ghost boasts an individual semi-opaque hue, beautifully capturing the transparency of the background and snowy landscape. Just like real-life winter, everything feels a little dark and faded, which greatly enhances the overall atmosphere of the story. But there’s still a sense of fun in things like brightly colored socks and patterned sweaters.
I quite enjoyed Taxi Ghost and think it’s a great read for people looking for something seasonal without being scary. If you like this book and think you (or someone you like) are likely to read it again, buy it. However, I think it’s appropriate to take a page from Adele’s page. Get it from your library and support their work. Work with your community and save some money from your wallet!
Final Verdict: Rent
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