Ghosted

Gr 3-5–After Larry’s best friend Grimm dies, he returns as a ghost. Initially Larry and Grimm get along almost like old times, but they can’t figure out why Grimm can’t move on from the living world. After trying to work through the list of silly things they wanted to do together but didn’t have the chance, Larry realizes that Grimm’s unfinished business has to do with Boogie, the big kid at school everyone picks on. When Grimm was alive, he made up lies about Boogie and everyone believed them. Larry and Grimm hatch a plan to make Boogie the most popular kid in school, but that’s not what Boogie wants. Grimm is able to move on once Larry helps to right Grimm’s wrongs. Together, Larry, Grimm, and Boogie learn what it means to be a good friend. This novel deals with some heavy topics as Larry works to cope with the death of his best friend, but the seriousness is balanced with humor. Interspersed among the text, black line cartoon illustrations support the overall friendly and positive tone, depicting Larry as white and Grimm as Black.