Ghost Roast

by Shawneé Gibbs, Emily Cannon (Illustrator), Shawnelle Gibbs

Overview

A Harvey Award Nominee!

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 afterlife, even if it risks everything her father's worked for.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358141815
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/02/2024
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	467,604
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Shawneé Gibbs is the co-author of Ghost Roast and the Glyph Award–nominated adventure series The Invention of E.J. Whitaker with her twin sister Shawnelle, the other half of the Gibbs Sisters writing team. She has served as a staff writer for Warner Bros. Animation and has written for DreamWorks Animation, Mattel Studios, and Disney. Originally from Oakland, California, she currently lives and plays in Los Angeles.

Emily Cannon studied at the Rhode Island School of Design for a BFA in illustration. She currently lives in St. Pete, Florida, where she is continuing to create stories. Ghost Roast is her first graphic novel.

Shawnelle Gibbs is the co-author of Ghost Roast and the Glyph Award–nominated adventure series The Invention of E.J. Whitaker with her twin sister Shawneé, the other half of the Gibbs Sisters writing team. She has served as a staff writer for Warner Bros. Animation and has written for DreamWorks Animation, Mattel Studios, and Disney. Originally from Oakland, California, she currently lives and plays in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/23/2023

As penance for a poor decision, a 15-year-old New Orleanian must help her father run his ghost-hunting business in the Gibbs sisters’ and illustrator Cannon’s cheeky graphic novel debut. Chelsea Grant, desperate to stay relevant among the popular crowd, reluctantly agrees to attend a party at a local cemetery, during which she drinks and smokes marijuana—until the police arrive. Now grounded, Chelsea must assist her specter-chasing father in keeping his struggling paranormal business afloat, a punishment that dredges up painful middle school memories for a once-ostracized Chelsea. After securing a new client, Chelsea and her dad arrive at the property, a former sugarcane plantation. And while her father is excited to use his ghost roaster to expel the estate’s “irregular energy,” Chelsea—who, unbeknownst to him, can see and speak to ghosts—seeks an alternative solution to help the spectral inhabitants. In the vein of Octavia Butler’s Kindred and boasting the fun of Ghostbusters, the Gibbs sisters invoke New Orleans mysticism to shed light on the city’s history surrounding enslaved peoples. Cannon’s vibrant, beaming color palette keep spirits—and suspense—high amid the dark themes. Chelsea is portrayed as Black; background characters are rendered with varying skin tones. Ages 13–up. (Jan.) ■

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2024

Gr 9 Up—A quirky and fun supernatural graphic novel set in modern-day New Orleans. The story follows Chelsea Grant, who was finally accepted by the popular crowd at her new school, then got into a bit of trouble and landed herself a summer of having to work with her dad instead of hanging out with her friends. To make matters worse, her dad is the town joke because he runs a real-life ghost hunting business. What starts as punishment takes an unexpected turn when Chelsea realizes that she can actually see the ghosts her dad is hunting. Once she gets to know a few of them, she's not too sure if they should be exterminated. Even with her supernatural capabilities, Chelsea's character is relatable as she deals with normal teenage problems and current social issues. Themes of slavery and plantation history are carefully woven through the story. The authors, sisters, do a wonderful job of developing an authentic and strong protagonist who must deal with realistic problems, all while maintaining a bit of mystical flair. VERDICT An engaging narrative with gorgeous illustrations makes this a captivating graphic novel and a strong purchase for any collection.—Cat Miserendino

School Library Journal

2023-10-07
A high school student tries to solve a long-buried mystery involving the spirits haunting a New Orleans mansion.

After years of being known as the Ghost Girl from the Seventh Ward, 15-year-old Chelsea Grant is now a member of the popular crowd. Shortly before summer vacation, a rowdy night out with friends ends in a jail cell. Much to her chagrin, Chelsea must spend the summer working for her father’s ghost-removal agency as punishment. When her dad is hired to exorcise Harrington Manor, Chelsea assumes the job will be another bust. However, soon after setting foot on the former sugarcane plantation, Chelsea, who is Black, realizes she can see and speak to the manor’s ghosts—including Oliver, the gorgeous Harrington heir who went missing in 1879. As Chelsea’s friendship with Oliver deepens, she uncovers grave secrets, and Oliver lies at the heart of them. In this well-paced graphic novel by the Gibbs sisters and debut artist Cannon, the tender flush of a first romance is effectively wrapped up in historical intrigue. Chelsea’s relationship with her parents is crafted with realism, and the manor’s legacy of slavery is explored with honesty. The lively and expressive manga-style illustrations complement the narrative well. Present-day scenes feature a rich, vibrant palette, while Chelsea’s flashbacks and historical interludes use faded tones.

A fresh and charming modern Southern ghost story starring a plucky hero who isn’t afraid to stand up for the truth. (Graphic paranormal. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

In the vein of Octavia Butler’s Kindred and boasting the fun of Ghostbusters, the Gibbs sisters invoke New Orleans mysticism to shed light on the city’s history. [The] vibrant, beaming color palette keep spirits—and suspense—high.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Enthralling. Bright, vivid artwork, filled with evocative detail. A sprinkle of paranormal romance will captivate readers.” — Booklist

“Well-paced. Lively and expressive manga-style illustrations. A fresh and charming modern Southern ghost story.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Quirky and fun. An engaging narrative with gorgeous illustrations makes this a captivating graphic novel and a strong purchase.” — School Library Journal

“Visually appealing… Chelsea is a terrific protagonist, but the ghosts are the stars here, mysterious, vulnerable, and each carrying their stories.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A charming, paranormal slice-of-life.” — Youth Services Book Review (5 Stars!)

“Not only a visual delight, it's a wonderfully executed remix of the Classic Southern Gothic ghost story. A fresh take on a tried and true genre. Beautiful, romantic, exciting, and essential.” — John Jennings, #1 New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning illustrator of Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

“Mysterious, magical, and marvelous, Ghost Roast is an unputdownable adventure about the things that haunt us in high school—first love, family secrets, and making friends with dead people. Most original graphic novel I’ve read in… forever.” — Kwame Alexander, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Crossover

"Bursting with humor and charm. An observant, page-turning tale of teenage identity, historical intrigue, and paranormal romance. It is sharp, funny, and nuanced. Equal measures fun and thoughtful, a book I could recommend to just about everyone." — Jen Wang, New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning creator of The Prince and the Dressmaker

"Mysterious history, tangled family secrets, friendship anxiety, and a handsome ghost boy build a lovely story from the Gibbs sisters. Emily Cannon’s artwork is immensely appealing and will pull readers right into Chelsea and Oliver’s world." — Molly Knox Ostertag, New York Times bestselling creator of the Witch Boy trilogy

“An end-to-end must-read that captures the essence of being a teen. One of those books that seems to cast a spell on your fingers and make them keep flipping the pages.” — Zaila Avant-Garde, New York Times bestselling author of It’s Not Bragging If It’s True

“A perfect blend of suspense and captivating characters. Seriously, I couldn’t put it down! Shawneé and Shawnelle Gibbs’s masterful storytelling and Emily Cannon’s mesmerizing illustrations transport readers into a world where the weight of history shapes the present.” — Reggie Brown, New York Times bestselling illustrator of Who Are Your People?

“For the history buff, the paranormal adventure seeker, and the romantic at heart. So sweet and so fun!” — Robyn Smith, Eisner-nominated illustrator of Nubia: Real One and Wash Day Diaries

“An instant classic in its own right. Readers will appreciate the intention and care put into the colorful cast of characters and the story's setting. A visual feast of storytelling.” — Stephanie Williams, author of Nubia & the Amazons and Nubia: Queen of the Amazons

“A cozy, ghostly tale full of mystery, history, and heart." — Nilah Magruder, Dwayne McDuffie Award-winning creator of MFK and writer of the Marvel Rising (2019) series

“Ghost Roast reels you into this fantastical story about the paranormal, family, and friendships. While the supernatural story serves as an entertaining backdrop, the core plot about the father-daughter relationship is the anchor that keeps you engaged.” — Jamie Broadnax, Founder of Black Girl Nerds

From the Publisher