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Ghosts
Last updated Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Date of Publication: 2016
ISBN: 0545540615
Grade Level: 4th (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Oct. 2025
Synopsis:
Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved one's approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake - and her own.
| Note to readers: |
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Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel Ghosts can be discussed by focusing on its themes of mortality, loss, and sibling relationships, its portrayal of cystic fibrosis and the anxiety it causes, its depiction of a town where ghosts are normal, and its cultural elements like Dia de los Muertos and a specific Northern California setting. You can explore Catrina's initial fear of her sister Maya's illness and how she comes to accept it, as well as consider the author's decision to make the ghosts visible.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Have you ever heard of Cystic Fibrosis? It is a genetic disease that is known to affect the lungs, making it harder for a person to breathe and perform physical activities.
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Do you believe ghosts exist? Would you be frightened or excited to encounter a ghost?
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Do you have any siblings? What is your relationship like with them? Are you close, distant, do you do things for them or do they do things for you? Are you protective of your siblings, or are they protective of you?
Vocabulary
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Ghosts - supernatural beings that appear in the story
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Friendly - Describes the ghosts' non-threatening and agreeable intentions towards the characters
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Chase - The action of the ghosts pursuing Catrina and Maya
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Sibling - a brother or sister; in the book it is referring to the relationship between Catrina and Maya
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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When you were younger how did you view ghosts? Did they scare you or did you imagine them as friendly?
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What does the presence of ghosts represent to Catrina and Maya
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What are some of the challenges of having a sibling with Cystic Fibrosis as described in the book?
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How does the author use the setting of Bahía de la Luna to add to the story's atmosphere?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Take an 8.5x11 piece of paper and fold it into six squares. Create several characters and make speech bubbles. Make the short story about overcoming a challenge. (The idea is to make something like a newspaper comic strip.)
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Make a flip book. Fold a piece of paper and make 6-8 even squares. Draw a picture related to the book or to your own life where the character is performing some type of action. On the next square draw the same characters but this time alter some type of the action. (The goal is to create a flipbook where the characters look like they are in motion by flipping the pages quickly.)
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| Special activities: |
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Complete the provided word search
Please bring the kids back by 11:10 for the magic show that starts at 11:15!
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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