Raised by Ghosts, Briana Loewinsohn
In English, hardcover 224 pages, 18.03 x 2.03 x 22.86 cm, Fantagraphics February 2025, Ages 14-18.
Set in the author's own adolescence, "Raised By Ghosts" begins in 1991 with the semi-autobiographical character Briana in elementary school. Classes are a bummer, but lunches are even worse; or spent alone, or being mocked. Traditionally a good student, Briana is not doing well academically, but she keeps it a secret. Their parents (divorced) are a mess and, most of the time, absent. She spends a lot of time alone. In high school, he makes friends, and these relationships are his only source of happiness, as they help each other navigate adolescence. But life at home with each parent remains tense. When her relationships at school begin to falter, she has no one to turn to, which forces Briana to struggle with her self-esteem, her desire to belong, and her desire for authenticity in her relationships. Raised By Ghosts is a powerful and heartwarming graphic novel for young adult readers. The story is told by alternating between Briana's first-person lecture notes and her diary entries. In his discreet yet masterful approach to comic book storytelling, Loewinsohn avoids dramatic confrontation and overt sentimentality, preferring instead to underline the idea that acceptance and love can sometimes be communicated through quiet everyday moments and close family ties.
