Ghost Roast tells the story of Chelsea Grant, a high-schooler in New Orleans who finally got in the cool crowd at school this year. Only, they don’t know her dad is the local ghost-buster in town with the super-embarrassing commercials. After a pretty wild party on the last day of school, Chelsea’s grounded and forced to work with her dad for the entire summer. One day, Chelsea and her dad get called to a former plantation with a monstrous history and a slew of ghosts. While her dad stays busy with his ghost-busting equipment, Chelsea discovers she can see and communicate with the ghosts – something not even her dad can do. What unravels afterward is a story full of Southern history, paranormal mystery, and sweet romance.
| Title: Ghost Roast | Authors: Shawnee Gibbs and Shawnelle Gibbs Artist: Emily Cannon |
| Page Count: 224 | Publisher: Versify |
| Release Date: January 2, 2024 | Genre: YA Contemporary Paranormal |
Synopsis
Ghost Roast delivers a paranormal adventure full of first crushes, lost histories, and the impossible task of fitting in when your dad is a professional ghosthunter. A stand-alone YA graphic novel from authors Shawneé and Shawnelle Gibbs and artist Emily Cannon!
For as long as she can remember, Chelsea Grant has tried everything she can think of to distance herself from the disastrous damage her father does to her social life. It’s not easy to shake her reputation as Ghost Girl when Dad keeps advertising his business as a “paranormal removal expert” in big, bold, loud letters all over New Orleans!
This year, Chelsea’s all grown up, attending one of the most prestigious high schools in the city, and she’s finally made friends with the popular crowd. Things are looking up—until a night on the town backfires spectacularly, landing her in hot water at home. Her punishment? Working for her dad at Paranormal Removal Services. All. Summer.
Worst of all, her new job reveals an unexpected secret she has to keep: While Dad hunts ghosts with his own DIY tech, Chelsea can actually see them. And when she meets Oliver, a friendly spirit, at the fancy mansion her dad is getting a handsome fee to exorcize, she realizes she has to save his after-life, even if it risks everything her father’s worked for.
Review:
Ghost Roast has completely captured my heart. Every single part of the story was perfectly done – from the Civil War and civil rights history to the ghost-hunting coveralls to sweet paranormal romance. Most of all, I appreciated the confidence Chelsea gains in herself throughout the book.
I loved Chelsea as a main character – she felt like an actual teenager with real conflicts and emotions. Her friendships are complicated, and there is no magic wand waved that makes them less so. At the end of the book, Chelsea remains complex, as do her friendships. However, she shows so much growth throughout the book, and even her friends and family notice the subtle changes in her character.
If you love sweet familial relationships in your young adult books, there’s a lot for you to love here. Ghost Roast explores Chelsea’s relationships with her mother and father in touching ways, and her interactions with each of them are distinct. I appreciated that these relationships felt genuine, with parental expectations, teenage embarrassment, and love all baked into the story.
Art:
The art in this graphic novel is truly special. I loved the Southern touches, with the Jambalaya dinner, New Orleans setting, and sprawling plantation-era gardens. I do think the art could have captured a bit more of the New Orleans grit and charm, but that’s coming from a particularly picky person born and raised in the Deep South.
Another thing I loved was the diversity captured on page. Seemingly simple moments stood out to me, like Chelsea and her mother eating breakfast together in their bonnets. I thought this small and casual moment was a lovely touch.
Final Thoughts:
Ghost Roast is an excellent book for YA and Adult readers alike. If you’re from the South or you’re familiar with the area, all the better. It’s totally not necessary, though. The diversity and history are so well done, and I can’t wait to see more from these writers and creators in the future. I hope we see more YA graphic novels like this in the coming years.
Rating: 5/5 stars
#COYER
Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy. All the above thoughts are my own.
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