A Friend for Lucy

Gr 1-3–A tender ghost story of family and friendship. A young ghost, Ana, white in both life and death, is worried about her sister Lucy. Her sister, who is much older than the child ghost, lives a solitary life in her older years. She doesn’t do the things she used to enjoy, and Ana is concerned for her. Ana tries to connect with living creatures to connect to, but no one can sense her presence until she meets a young girl at the park. When Leah, a small girl with black hair and brown skin, is able to see and hear Ana, the two girls become friends and Leah already knows Ana’s sister but calls her “Mrs. Lucy.” With the pluck of a young person not bothered in the slightest about befriending a ghost, Leah knocks on Mrs. Lucy’s door, and they share a playful visit that culminates in looking at a photo album of Lucy and Ana when they were young. Charcoal illustrations digitally colored in blush-hued sepia tones capture a timeless quality of the story while Ana is ghostly white with light outline and features full of love; the hand-lettered text is a charming touch. This is a sweet intergenerational tale of friendship as well as one that will provide comfort to those of any age who have experienced the loss of a loved one