Sheets

Gr 6 Up—Struggling to cope after the death of her mother, Marjorie has to look after her father, who has depression, and her little brother; attend high school; and run the family laundromat business, where they all live and work. At school, other classmates bully her, and a pushy man is eager to take over the laundromat. And as if this isn't enough, young Wendell, a ghost who is unhappy being dead and surrounded by other spirits, haunts Marjorie and her business. The characters are distinct, and the villain is delightfully vile and self-absorbed. The ghosts, who must wear sheets to be visible, are every bit as sympathetic as the humans. The artwork is charming, and the backgrounds are lovingly detailed, with amusing and often punny elements. The contrast between Marjorie's warm, candy-colored world and Wendell's stark, monochrome Land of Ghosts adds life (and death) and dimension to the story. Panels vary in size, which enriches the narrative.