Fantasy Friday Book Review and Discussion Questions:
Ghostopolis Review
Book: Ghostopolis
Author and Illustrator: Doug TenNapel
Pages: 267
Published: 2010
Rating: 5 stars
Age Suggestion: 12+
Trigger Warnings: Some intense and scary images
Summary: A young boy is thrust into the afterlife – inhabited by ghosts and skeletons, and not by the living. Will he be able to return? And what effect will he have on Ghostopolis – which is ruled by hate?
Ghostopolis Review:
This is the third book by Doug TenNapel I have reviewed. He has a distinct art style that I like. The plots are simple and yet complex. The basic plot is simple – a living child is accidentally sent into the afterlife, and needs to find a way back. Within this simple frame we find lessons on forgiveness, the power of love, God, suffering, and sacrifice – not to mention gender and racial equality being thrown in. Quite a punch in a relatively short space!
Ghostopolis is a fun read and a compelling story. Garth is a young boy who is, as mentioned, accidentally sent into the afterlife. Frank Gallows of the Supernatural Immigration Task Force (who is responsible) recruits his ex-girlfriend, Claire Voyant, to help him get Garth home. I am going to need to include some light spoilers in the discussion questions, but I do not want to reveal too much of the overall plot here. I think it will suffice to say that getting Garth home is not easy, and there are lots of twists and turns as the story progresses. The afterlife is, in many ways, a metaphor for our world, and there are many lessons in it.
I highly, highly recommend this book,.
Ghostopolis Discussion questions:
I have added notes for items that are potentially not clear
- How would you feel if you knew you were sick and were probably going to die? How does Garth handle it?
- Why had Frank’s gone from being one of the best ghost catchers to one of the worst? (note – he fell in love with a ghost)
- Why does Garth’s grandfather start to grow?
- Have you ever had a silly argument that really hurt a friendship? What did you do about it?
- Who is Joe? What are the spikes (nails) in his belt? (note – Joe is clearly a God/Jesus figure, and the spikes a reference to Jesus’ crucifixion).
- Why did the soldiers of the Bone King, and then the Bone King, sacrifice themselves to save the others?
- What does Vaugner say gives him power? What is really more powerful – hate or love? Why?
Ghostopolis Favorite Quote:
From Claire’s uncle (who happens to be a werewolf)…
“Love is in the acts, not in the feels”
If you loved our Ghostopolis review-
Check out some of our other graphic novel reviews:
–Alls Faire in Middle School
–Awkward
–Space Boy Vol. 1 and Space Boy Vol. 2
–Cardboard
–Gear
–Dog Man: For whom the Ball Rolls
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