The Raina Telgemeir Collection (A Box Set)

The Raina Telgemeier Collection (A Box Set) by Raina Telgemeier

.....yeah, I'm just going to review a box set of graphic novels. COME AT ME BRUH.

An amazon summary, "A box set of Raina Telgemeier's bestselling, award-winning graphic novels about family, friendship, and the highs and lows of growing up!

SmileThe true story of how Raina severely injured her two front teeth when she was in the sixth grade, and the dental drama that followed!
DramaCallie is the set designer for her middle school's spring musical, and is determined to create a set worthy of Broadway. Both onstage AND offstage drama ensues!
SistersRaina can't wait to be a big sister. Amara is cute, but she's also cranky and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years... can they figure out how to get along?
GhostsCatrina and her family move to a new town because her sister, Maya, is sick. When they learn there are ghosts there, Maya wants to meet one, and Cat must put aside her fears for Maya's sake -- and her own." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

Essentially, this is four books about different aspects of growing up. Since there are four stories, and I read them all right in a row, I'm just going to talk about my favorite, Ghosts.

Ghosts deals with Catrina and her little sister Maya who is sick. Catrina is super bummed to be moving away, but they are doing it for Maya's health. Catrina misses all of her friends and Maya was also asking after Catrina's friends as if they were her friends too. Catrina also kind of is down on her luck but laughs off a boy she runs into who claims the town has ghosts. He eventually tells her that ghosts use the breath of the living to manifest, and Catrina becomes overprotective of Maya who needs every breath she can get.

....that's enough summary.

All of these stories highlight different aspects of growing up, important aspects. So why is this story important? Because it deals with death.

Grief is such a complicated topic. I think this book kind of deals with the before; the acknowledgement that this person will not recover and you will witness them die. It also deals a bit with the after; of finding a way to make peace or come to terms with it. It doesn't have all the answers by any means, but it's leaps and bounds the steps in the right direction to begin the conversation.

....but yeah. Since these are graphic novels, and I'm only talking about one, I'm just going to end it right here before I dive too deeply into spoiler land.

Happy reading!