Lost Soul, Be at Peace is part memoir and part ghost story. Maggie Thrash walks us through some of her experiences during her late teens and how they have come to shape her as a person and understand her family.

This is a wonderful graphic novel - I did not anticipate the ending at all and it made me quite emotional. Sometimes it's easy to forget that those who love us most (or should love us most) also had their own childhood experiences that shaped them.

Anyone who has had experience with existential therapy will be able to relate to this book. It is also wonderfully illustrated, the drawings have a beautiful flow and lots of depth and dimension.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced galley of Lost Soul, Be At Peace by Maggie Thrash through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Thrash’s first graphic memoir Honor Girl was published 3 years ago and details Thrash’s experience at an all-girls camp and her realization that she identifies as a lesbian. Her second graphic memoir Lost Soul, Be At Peace takes place after that summer camp. It is not necessary to have read the first memoir in order to make sense of this one.

Lost Soul, Be At Peace depicts Thrash’s experiences with her parents as well as her descent into depression. What does not help at all during this time is that her beloved cat Tommi disappears within the house. It’s important to note that Maggie’s descent into depression is subtle. The warning signs/symptoms are there, but it’s never very overtly talked about. If you are expecting this just to be a more in-your-face type of memoir about depression, you will be disappointed.

During one nightmare, Maggie, attempting to find her cat, goes through a portal and encounters a boy around her age named Tommy. Much to her surprise, after Maggie awakes the next day, she still runs into the boy inside of the house. She believes him to be a ghost, and for much of the rest of the book, he helps her to make sense of some of the things that she’s experiencing.

While some may be initially confused with the presence of a ghost in a memoir story, it’ll make sense if you keep reading it.

My main fault with this was that it was too short. I wanted more.

Final rating: 4/5