Free Piano (Not ­Haunted)

Gr 5 Up–Margot comes across a keyboard left on the street and decides to take it home, despite the sign that reads “Free Piano, Not Haunted.” Margot’s hipster dad promises to teach her how to play but instead moves away to pursue his music career and chase 10,000 social media followers. With her mom’s job keeping her away for long hours, Margot feels neglected during this critical time in her life. Meanwhile, the keyboard seems to play itself, increasingly terrifying her. From the keyboard emerges the ghost of Vision, a superstar from the 1980s, to teach Margot to play piano, but more importantly, to embrace the power of self-love and acceptance. In this coming-of-age graphic novel, Gardner presents authentic issues that many readers face daily, particularly the yearning for acceptance within social circles. This story explores the pressure to succeed on social media in a fresh, engaging way, and the implications of parental neglect and abandonment are also explored. The vibrant cartoon illustrations will keep readers interested throughout the fast-paced plot. Colors enhance the tones of each spread, and the characters are developed with intentional details in the illustrations and actions within the text. Margot is white with blond hair, Vision is white with red hair.