I don't read many graphic novels, but it's always been on my to-do list to seek out more of them. "Sheets" was heartbreaking, raw and real.

Marjorie is a 13-year-old whose mother has died, and her father is consumed by grief. She's left running her family's laundromat and caring for her younger brother while struggling with the typical young teenager stuff: Friend drama, bullies, boys and more.

Wendell is a ghost living in the Land of Ghosts, where he doesn't really fit in with his peers. He's a rule breaker, so he takes a train to the land of the living and discovers the laundromat, which is essentially a spa for ghosts who are made up almost entirely of sheets.

I wished the novel had gone a little more in-depth to some of Marjorie's relationships and Wendell's backstory, but then we got more of that in the two sequels. I think this is a must-read series for teens and adults alike, and the graphics are absolutely gorgeous.

weird and cute in its own way, this story makes you FEEL, which is one of the most important things for narratives like this. so so recommended!

If you're like me and you pick this up solely because of the cover, and you don't look at the synopsis, you might go into this thinking it'll be a cute story about... Sheets? Turns out, while there are many sheets involved, it's not at all the light-hearted cutesy story that I thought it would be. This deals with heavy themes of death, grief, belonging, and loneliness. It's told from two main POVs, Marjorie a living girl and Wendell, a young ghost boy. My heart hurt for Marjorie and all that she was dealing with—from the grief of losing her mother, an absent father who's lost to grief and depression, and running a family business that's being sabotaged by a nasty man. She's such a resilient character who was easy to empathise with. Wendell was also a character whose story made my heart feel heavy. He doesn't feel like he belongs in the land of ghosts and goes to the human world and lands in Marjorie's family laundromat by chance. The Land of Ghosts and the story behind the community of young ghosts who exist there with Wendell made my heart hurt even more! But I loved the way they still had fun and stuck by each other, even when they didn't always get along. I also appreciated how the author delineated between the living world in colour and the land of ghosts in monochrome. I also think that the heavy themes were handled well and touched on sensitively, if not a bit lightly. I did want a bit more depth to the story, especially Marj's interactions with the other characters in the story like her swim coach and the popular jock who rocks up out of nowhere in the end (although he has some presence from the beginning). I hope that this will be explored further in subsequent books in the series!

Also, thankfully, both our MCs' stories end on a more positive note which signifies that everything is going to be alright. Overall, if you can handle a sadder read, it's worthwhile picking it up for a wonderfully illustrated story about death, grief and belonging. I'm glad I finally read it :)

Sheet’s a lovely but quite sad graphic novel following a young Marjorie who after her mother’s death is left to handle the family laundry business, taking care of the family and dealing with school. At the same time she’s dealing with her own grief. She encounters a ghost named Wendell who has his own things troubling him, but through friendship they navigate their way through grief and difficulties.

There was a lot of grief in this book, affecting the family members in different ways, showing especially how it affected every aspect of Marjorie’s life and her interactions with others. As I read it, I wished the adults around her would step in and help in a better way, but it’s true that a lot of adults don’t know themselves how to deal grief and hesitate how be around someone who’s grieving. Following the ghosts in the ghost town was intriguing but a little bit confusing at first, but later on as the two main character’s met, it made sense and the two perspectives came together nicely. The art style was also well fitting for the story. Overall a lovely read about grief and ghosts!

This book has beautiful illustrations and is a lovely read - it's easy to see why this has been loved by so many.

Marjorie was a great character and was easily understandable from the great character expressions which helped portray the friendship with her and Wendell throughout.

Overall a lovely read and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a heart warming read.

Such a great story that touched on some difficult subjects that I think lots of teens can relate too. This one had me all up in the feels!

This is a good first book of a series. There are so many character details and character development. Even though this is a graphic novel, it is very detailed.

A great graphic novel about a young girl and a ghost boy whose lives become intertwined. Really beautiful storytelling and artwork, I was immersed from start to finish.

Sheets tells such a poignant story and message in such a simple way. Grief was dealt with incredibly well. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

One of the best graphic novel series that I have ever read. It was fun, light-hearted and at the same time got really deep. It is a thoughtfully written masterpiece that touches your heart.

Loved this unique story. I’m not sure if I’ll read the sequels or not, but I’d be curious to see more depth to this saga.

Such a cute read. I love the ghosts and the colors used through the story. Beautiful work and imagery used to tell this story!

Esta novela middle grade es muy emotiva y tierna, trata temas bien complejos y todo hecho de una manera muy respetuosa.

Un ambiente melancólico y triste nos presenta la historia de Wendell y Marjorie. Ambos unos preadolescentes que la vida les ha jugado una mala pasada. Pero que deben aprender a superar sus miedos pero no hacerlo solos, y parte de este aprendizaje es pedir ayuda y confiar.

Lo recomiendo mucho, la historia es sencilla, las ilustraciones son bonitas y deja un hermoso mensaje de la importancia de la amistad, la familia, la confianza, el amor, el respeto.

Esta primera parte está en español, en inglés están las dos primeras publicadas, pronto saldrá la tercera parte.

¿Te gustan las movelas gráficas?

Super cute book!

Was fun for my oldest to read! We definitely enjoyed this author and story!

Definitely enjoyed this cute, funny book!

Rating 3.5
A story for middle grade readers struggling with the weight of the world being on their shoulders and an intense sense of loneliness. There were deeply layered themes and messages that were heavy with meaning but still easily digestible for middle grade readers (and for grown-up readers as well). I did struggle following the plot with the separate world of ghosts, I do feel that could have been established a bit more clearly that it was a separate setting but I did eventually catch up and throughly enjoy!

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

Sheets by Brenna Thummler is a beautifully illustrated and heartwarming graphic novel that explores themes of loss, friendship, and the power of determination. The novel follows the story of Marjorie Glatt, a practical thirteen-year-old who is in charge of her family's laundry business, and Wendell, a ghost who lost his life much too young.

The novel is expertly crafted, with stunning artwork and a fast-paced story that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. The author does an excellent job of exploring the challenges and struggles that young people face, as well as the power of forgiveness and unlikely friendships.

One of the strengths of Sheets is its exploration of the power of determination and second chances. The novel is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of never giving up, even when all seems lost. The author does an excellent job of portraying the challenges and obstacles that Marjorie and Wendell face, as well as the hope and possibility that comes with forging new friendships and finding new purpose.

Overall, Sheets is a beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel that will appeal to readers of all ages. The novel is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of the graphic novel format.

I highly recommend this entire series. It's just such a thought provoking, bittersweet and evocative story. I could relate to a lot of the main character's experience, it's definitely hard going through adolescence, and even more so when you have experienced such a profound loss. Her friendship she creates with the cute little ghost boy is so precious, and so sweet, I love the art as well and found this to be such a great story for discussion, also.

Strong storyline for a graphic novel.
The main characters seems to go through a lot. I thought this was going to be a funny story and was surprised it was not. Wouldn't recommend for anyone under the age of 13.

Sheets is the story of a young girl who is trying to hold her family's lives together after the loss of her mother. It is also the story of a ghost who is trying to find friends and a place to belong. I love the way the two characters grow a friendship, the merging of both worlds, and the approach to the difficult topics presented. The art is enjoyable, the story has a good pace, and I definitely recommend this graphic novel!

"Sheets" by Brenna Thummler is a gem of a comic that really tugs at the heartstrings. It's about Marjorie Glatt, who's running a family laundry business and dealing with all sorts of challenges, including the pesky Mr. Saubertuck. But things take a turn when Wendell, a young ghost, enters the scene. Wendell, essentially just a sheet, brings a unique twist to Marjorie's world. Their adventures in a haunted laundromat? Quirky and heartwarming.

I love how this comic blends the everyday with the supernatural. The beginning might feel a bit gloomy, but it's worth hanging in there. Thummler weaves a tale that's intriguing and touching, capturing the essence of friendship and resilience. The story, a bit odd at times, is where its magic lies. It’s a narrative about hope, second chances, and unexpected friendships. "Sheets" is not just a story; it's an experience that sticks with you.