TAXI GHOST

During winter break, a girl in Montreal gains the ability to see ghosts and becomes swept up in their cause.

When Adèle, who’s depicted with curly black hair and pale, rosy skin, inherits the family gift of being a medium, she learns it’s linked to getting her first period. Her Gran and older sister, Helen, are there to support and guide her through the period stuff, but when it comes to navigating ghosts, Adèle is kind of on her own; Helen never gained the family power, and Gran does all she can to ignore it. When an elderly, mustachioed ghost named Jules asks for her help, Adèle hesitantly agrees. He wants her to convince his grandson to not sell his house to shady developers. Jules is part of a group of ghosts who are fighting against gentrification, a cause Gran is also passionate about. With the help of a young ghost who frequents the library, Adèle finds a way to use her voice and her new powers to help her community. The expressive, energetic art is appealing and easy to follow. The ghosts are portrayed in monochromatic pastels of different hues, making them stand out in contrast to the rest of the black-lined, vibrantly colored elements. Although the story feels a tad overstuffed and the ending wraps up too quickly, this story has plenty of charm and a captivating cast of characters.

An appealing and creative coming-of-age tale.