Break and Breathing Time

Retirement thus far (just hit the two year mark) has not yet presented me with boredom, downtime, or even all-about-me time. It's funny how when you clear space in your life, something(s) manages to fill those spaces pretty quickly. For me, it's been LIFE that's taking my time, and it's made me unable to fulfill many of my bookish commitments as I promised them. And that's not how I roll. 

Since I can't seem to control what LIFE has thrown at me, I've decided to take action on what I can control, even if it pains me to do so. I've been amplifying books and authors for fifteen years, and it is still a passion. But to manage my time and my stress, I'm taking a break from scheduled blogging on blog tours, accepting books for review, and proofreading jobs. (And also, I'm taking a break from social media and pretty much anything else that requires a deadline. Because retired, yo.)

I'll be finishing up my commitments and will post books I want to read just because when I feel like it. Meanwhile, take a scroll through my posts for my thoughts about books I've read or ones that have come across my radar. Reviews are linked on my Book List tab, and all my posts back to the beginning, July, 2011, are linked in the Blog Archives section in the sidebar. If you find a book you love, feel free to click any of my affiliate links to help fund my retirement. (You pay nothing extra to get fabulous books, and I get a small payment from the Amazon gods. Win-win.)

If you're feeling really supportive, poke around at the bottom of the blog's home page, and you can subscribe to get email notifications when I post something new to the blog (usually no more than three or four times a month) and/or follow me on social media. (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, & Bloglovin').

Stay tuned! I'll be back eventually.

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Ghoul ~ Graphic Novel Book Review

 

GHOUL

by Kasey Iris

Graphic Novel / Middle Grade + / Supernatural / Coming of Age / Grief

Publisher: Top Shelf Productions

Publication Date: May 5, 2026

Page Count: 292 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Be careful what you wish for! This graphic novel about a lonely Filipino American teen and her ghoulish companion puts a spooky twist on the imaginary friend.

When they were little, Lyn and Meg promised to be friends forever…but now Meg is dead, and Lyn is 15 and miserable. Moving into a new condo with her family doesn’t help, especially given the gossipy neighbors. But just when Lyn needs a friend the most, a monstrous cartoon ghoul climbs out of the pages of a comic book and into her life! The bizarre duo will soon discover just how many secrets lie within the walls of Forest Court Apartments.

BUY THE BOOK

Kindle  **  Paperback

HALL WAYS REVIEW: It had been a while since I read a graphic novel, and I must say that jumping back in with Kasey Iris’s Ghoul was a delight. Iris is both author and illustrator and excels on both fronts. 

The color scheme in GHOUL (mauve/rose) was a great choice for conveying the often-melancholy storyline of a teenager Lyn’s grief in losing her best friend to suicide. Her parents recognize a change is needed and move the family overseas, to the US, in hopes that Lyn can get a fresh start. 

In their new apartment building, Lyn not only finds a new friend (Imaginary? Real?) and a bit of intrigue in the rumors surrounding a neighbor who may—or may not—have killed his wife and son. (Interesting side note from this reader who’s considerably older than the target audience: apparently, we don’t say “killed” or “dead;” we say “unalived” or “unalive.”)

Being out of practice with graphic novels, I had a little difficulty following the flow of the text bubbles, especially with the Tagalog translations sprinkled throughout. But kudos to the author for corralling all those terms in a glossary of terms at the end. Fortunately, the expressive and evocative illustrations assure that readers are never lost or confused. And the spooky, spiritual, mysterious plot is sure to keep them fully engaged and turning pages. 

There are surprises and plot twists that both charm and satisfy, and the bonus materials at the end are a real plus.  Included at the end are a fab playlist, a mini-graphic novel that the author created nearly ten years ago, and some character sketches the artist created for GHOUL.

GHOUL is a truly entertaining and thoughtful book that belongs in school libraries and counselors’ offices. It leaves readers hopeful and happy. I look forward to what’s next from this talented author/illustrator.

Thank you to the publisher, Top Shelf Productions, for providing me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review--the only kind I give.

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