BOOKS

Fantasmas

tr. from English to Spanish by Juan Pablo Lombana. illus. by Raina Telgemeier. 256p. Scholastic. Dec. 2016. Tr $10.99. ISBN 9781338133684.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4–8—A Spanish translation of Telgemeier's Ghosts. Catrina, or Cat for short, comes from a multicultural family—she has a white father and a Mexican mother. Cat reluctantly moves with her family to Northern California for the health of her younger sister, Maya, who has cystic fibrosis. In their new town of Bahía de la Luna, the sisters meet Carlos, a neighbor kid who tries to convince them that ghosts exist. Cat is skeptical, but Maya is a believer. When Carlos takes the girls to an old mission, Cat accepts the possibility that the spirits of one's ancestors can, in fact, communicate with the living. Everything culminates at the Day of the Dead festivities, during which Cat learns beyond a doubt that Carlos was right about the ghosts all along. Lombana has done an outstanding work in translating the original English text into Spanish. Spanish speakers will find this an accessible and faithful adaptation of the original and should appreciate the colorful art. The dark side of California's mission's history is overlooked. Pair with Duncan Tonatiuh's Funny Bones for a wider perspective of Day of the Dead.
VERDICT A thoughtfully designed, well-translated version of the popular graphic novel.

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?