This is an adorable and surprisingly creepy middle grade graphic novel about a boy who attracts the attention of a ghoul living in the nearby cemetery. It is hilariously funny and the main character feels very relatable. I look forward to reading this with my middle grade graphic novel book club group in 2022. I think they'll really enjoy it and have a lot to say.

The Ghoul next door is about Marshall and his unlikely friendship with a Ghoul named Lavinia. This was such a sweet and fast paced graphic that is really well suited for a Halloween season. The themes of doing what is right, courage, friendship, and standing up for yourself. The art style is fun and creepy, I will say, there is a little gore but nothing inappropriate for the age range. If you like middle grade graphics with a fun creepy edge, this book is what I would recommend.

I don't know that I've ever read another book that focused on ghouls. They get very little attention in the world of monsters which is a shame. There's some cool lore at play here. There's a careful balance between creepy and and sympathetic. A solid read for horror inclined middle graders as it is atmospheric and character driven.

[netgalley disclaimer]

Coming off reading Bunn's incredible Empty Man and Harrow County series, this new younger addition seems a bit less exciting. There are some riffs on the relationship between the skinless boy and Emmy mirrored in Lavinia and Grey's relationship.

Bunn does a good job of writing the creepy and unsettling really well --the elements are interesting. I think the issue here is that the toning down for the younger audience didn't mesh in a way his contemporaries work does. There are some popular bait hooks for kids like the Salem Witch Trials and "weird kids" who hang out in or are overly comfortable with cemeteries, but these ultimately are not detailed enough in the story. In particular, Grey's immediate trust of a flesh eating ghoul AND the tenuous connection to the witch trials feel weakly explored. There was potential, especially with the unusual gifts, for this to be a new exploration of ghouls in children's books. Unfortunately, it missed the mark a bit.

The Ghoul Next Door, with text by Cullen Bunn and illustrations by Cat Farris, is a middle grade graphic novel. Eleven-year-old Grey lives in the legend-haunted New England town of Ander’s Landing, and he can’t help but feel like a pair of eyes is watching his every move. He discovers odd, gruesome bits and pieces from the graveyard that are left for him as gifts like art carved from bones or jewelry made from (hopefully not human) remains. Soon Grey is caught up in something bigger than he could ever have imagined.He finds himself drawn into a strange mystery involving a race of reclusive subterranean creatures—ghouls, the eaters of the dead! Turns out, his secret admirer is a ghoul named Lavinia. An unlikely friendship forms between them. The only problem is, their friendship breaks traditions—and the punishment is a fate worse than death.

The Ghoul Next Door is an entertaining graphic novel. The art style was nice, and I liked the lines but was not a big fan of the water color style for the coloring. The details were nicely done, and I thought the faces and highlights on hair and eyes for depth and dimension were very well done. I personally prefer a bolder, more solid style over the watercolor, but that is a matter of personal preference and not anything to do with the skill of the artwork involved, which I could still appreciate. I thought the story was well written, school and family moments were well done and I thought they felt realistic and true to character. There was a nice dose of creep, adventure, and mystery through the entire book. I liked it, and I think there are many middle grade and older readers that will really enjoy it. I had a little trouble getting invested in the story- but I think that was more because of the state of the world and some technical difficulties rather than anything lacking in the story.

An 11-year-old boy named Grey takes a shortcut through a cemetery on his way to school, drops his school project down an empty grave, and discovers the unlikeliest new friend: a young ghoul named Lavinia. Lavinia leaves little gifts for Grey that are a little unsettling to the living - finger bones, teeth necklaces, that sort of thing - and Grey seeks Lavinia out, leading to the two forging a friendship that's as sweet as it is dangerous. Ghouls are forbidden from associating with the living, and Grey's friend, Marshall, is determined to tell all because he just knows Grey's making a bad decision. Eventually, Grey is caught up in a struggle between ghouls and ghosts, with his friend Marshall's - and Grey's own - life in the balance! 

A funny, creepy story for readers who love all things Neil Gaiman, Doug TenNapel's Ghostopolis, and - naturally! - Goosebumps. It's a story of friendship with a touch of intrigue and just enough creepiness to make paranormal fans shudder with glee. Cullen Bunn writes a lot of big-people comics that I love (including Harrow County, which makes a fun little cameo in The Ghoul Next Door), and Cat Farris's artwork is spooktastic, with color, great shadow work, and a ghoul that is as heartwarming as she is startling.

'The Ghoul Next Door' by Cullen Bunn with art by Cat Farris is a creepy graphic novel for young readers about making new strange friends.

Grey likes the graveyard in his town. It makes a nice shortcut to school and he even made a model of it for a school project. Now, someone is creeping around his house and leaving him strange gifts. It's Livonia, a ghoul who lives in the graveyard and wants to be his friend. But, there are those who don't think they should be friends and they will have to take a strange journey to save their friendship and Grey's life.

I liked this spooky story of ghouls, a scary witch, and a whole bunch of rats. The art is great and I love the moral of not being afraid of someone because of how they look or the weird food they might eat.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

What if your class project on a local cemetery became a little too real, delving you into a world of ghouls?? That’s exactly what happened in this graphic novel. ⁣⁣
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My thoughts:⁣⁣⁣
—I was really needing some Fall/Halloween vibes in the midst of this summer heat and this graphic novel was the perfect choice. ⁣⁣
—I LOVE GRAPHIC NOVELS. ⁣⁣
—While I was sucked into this book in the beginning, the middle had many predictable plot twists - and a lot to follow! ⁣⁣
—I loved the tale of friendship and sacrifices. ⁣⁣
—I loved going into another world in the graphics. They were awesome. ⁣⁣
—The ending was too short for my liking, after having to follow along with many turns of events.

I loved everything about this graphic novel. The polt, The charectors, the story. It was so amazing and I want to get it in a physical copy. If you love ghouls, grave yard, ghost and anything scary this would be for you.

This is a great, creepy, ghost story for children. There are also plenty of thrills, chills, and ghouls to even scare adults as you read this fun story. I loved reading this terrific ghoulish graphic novel. There are so many great lessons that kids can learn by reading this terrific tome. They can learn about friendships, you never leave a friend behind, never judge a book by its cover, and many more lessons. The artwork in this graphic novel really compliments the story very well. The version of the book I read the artwork was entirely in black and white. The various tones of black and white really adds to the creepy nature of the story. I hope the final book is entirely in black and white.

This is a great, creepy, ghost story for children. There are also plenty of thrills, chills, and ghouls to even scare adults as you read this fun story.

I loved reading this terrific ghoulish graphic novel. A young boy named, Grey meets a ghoul who lives near his home. When they first meet they scare each other but over time they develop a very endearing friendship. They show that even ghouls have a heart and can be heroes.

There are so many great lessons that kids can learn by reading this terrific tome. They can learn about friendships, you never leave a friend behind, never judge a book by it's cover, and many more lessons.

I also enjoyed being able to see a glimpse inside the world of Ghouls and Ghosts. You get to see what the afterlife is like for ghouls and ghosts.

The artwork in this graphic novel really compliments the story very well. The version of the book I read the artwork was entirely in black and white. The various tones of black and white really adds to the creepy nature of the story. I hope the final book is entirely in black and white.

I think children who enjoy ghost stories will love this book. That being said, kids who get scared or worried reading scary books might not enjoy this graphic novel.

Adults who enjoy fun ghost stories should give this book a try. I read this graphic novel at night with all the lights off except for the light from my ipad and I became immersed in the story and the world of ghouls.

So enjoy this ghoulish tale and be sure to keep the lights off.

Stay awesome and keep reading!

This was a fun, quick, spooky read! This will be one of those books that I end up purchasing and my kids fight over who is going to read it first.

Grey is on his way to school with a great model of the local cemetery when he comes across a penny. The penny is heads down and he picks it up anyway.... Everyone knows a penny heads down is bad luck, why on earth he decided to pick it up is just bewildering! As luck would have it, he does have a spot of bad luck after picking it up.

Absolutely wonderful!! I enjoyed this graphic novel immensely. Without spoiling too much, the main character loses his homework project in the grave yard, and finds it returned to him on his desk the next day, even better than when he had lost it. What is lurking in the graveyard?

Fun read! I can see that my students would enjoy reading this -- very imaginative storyline and I love the pictures. I enjoyed reading this and will suggest it to students who enjoy spookier tales.

An adorable and every-so-slightly spooky graphic novel for kids about a boy and the ghoul who befriends him. Grey lives in a town with a past haunted by the Salem Witch Trials, but he's not afraid of the graveyard he sometimes takes as a shortcut to school. But then something terrifying happens: a creature steals his history diorama and starts leaving gifts in his room at night. After saving his life one night, Grey realizes the creature isn't so terrifying after all. She's actually a ghoul named Lavinia and all she wants is a friend. Too bad the other ghouls living in the graveyard don't trust humans. And if Grey and Lavinia don't stop hanging out in the world of the living, Grey just might wind up joining the dead.

I love, love, loved this middle grade graphic novel. It took a little bit to really get going, but as soon as Grey properly met Lavinia, I was hooked. Such a cute story about friendship.

I received this book for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

this is a great middle grade graphic novel I love how the story progresses it's spooky but not too scary.

I have chills after reading this book: the good kind and the spooky kind. This story is full of darker, scary moments while balancing it with an emotional story of understand and friendship. On one side, we have the adventurous Grey who handles meeting superstitious elements with more questions than fear (although he certainly has some healthy fear too). On the other side (or under side), we have the ghoul, Lavinia who wants to try to remember what it was like to be human again. Both of them take risks around the expectations and rules of their societies to interact and have fun together. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some scarier moments, but in the end, it is the acceptance of the darkness and fear in each other than makes this story so heartwarming and sweet.

In a MASSIVE departure from his usual graphics work (Deadpool, Harrow County), Cullen Bunn has come out with an absolutely adorable, perfectly creepy, heartfelt story about friendship between opposites. Grey, an average middle schooler, develops a friendship with Lavinia a ghoul who lives in the local cemetery. Hijinks and suspense ensue when Grey's mortal BFF gets caught between the world of the living and the land of the dead and Grey and Lavinia must risk their lives and souls to bring him back above ground.

What a wonderful story with beautiful illustrations. The Ghoul next door follows the unlikely friendship of a boy named Grey and a ghoul named Lavinia. I highly recommend checking out this graphic novel.

A shortcut through the graveyard turns into something unexpected. Ghoul gifts, underground worlds, and the smell of rotting flesh have never been so enjoyable! I LOVED this story and art!

As a teacher, I always have one or two students a year that like a little darker storyline. This delivers while also demonstrating how people can get over their preconceived ideas and prejudices to create unforgettable relationships.

CAWPILE Rating: 10