Free Piano is about Margot, a young aspiring singer/songwriter who finds a secondhand piano – synthesizer on the curb in Cascade Cove. The instrument has a sign that says, “Not Haunted” on it. Curious, Margot brings the piano home, and finds that yes, it is haunted. Vision is the ghost haunting the fated instrument. Vision is a former teen pop idol from 1979. With Vision's help, Margot learns not to let her self-image be defined by the number of followers on social media. This is a fun, coming of age graphic novel with a timely message for tweens and middle schoolers.

A lovely middle grade graphic novel about a girl who loves making music but gets caught up in the social media of it all. Also there's definitely not a haunted synth. I loved the friendships in this and I think there are kids who will see their struggle represented in Margot's struggle with her dad leaving.

A++ for cover design. It's perfectly designed and makes you want to read it. Gave me Stranger Things vibes, and, of course, I want to know if the piano is haunted or not.

Once I dove in, I founds the premise very interesting. Whitney's art is always unique and the humor was constant throughout. Her "smash" friends were fun. The 80's vibes were nostalgic. And the messages about getting caught up in online likes versus trying to connect with those in front of you is a very important one. I can see middle grade readers really liking this.

This a big hearted graphic novel for upper elementary or middle school students. Great for students going through family separation/distance at home, Margot is sweet and relatable with the added bonus of a ghost for kids who love all things spooky.

This was my first read by Whitney Gardner. This graphic novel follows a young aspiring songwriter who forms a bond with the pop star that haunts her secondhand piano. This coming-of-age novel demonstrate the price of fame. This would be a great book to have in a classroom or home library.

It was fun, but many of the characters were one-note: dad is selfish, mom is tired, guy friends like to smash things. The ghost was the best character.

A publisher rep at TXLA in April talked up this graphic novel to me, so I was very exited to get an ARC through Netgalley.

It's a great middle grade read. I love the message of not doing things just for social media fame/likes. It's definitely something that more tweens need to hear.

Whitney Gardner has a fantastic voice in graphic novels, and this latest one just proves it. A ghost story wrapped in a story about a girl wanting to be famous, all really surrounding a story about being yourself FOR yourself. The heart is there and the art matches it so well!

I loved this! A satisfying story about a girl learning the difference between doing what she wants vs. what others want, and giving herself the respect others won't. I'm not a fan of smashing/destructive videos, but it's use here as a kind of the power of friendship was great.

All Margot wants in life is to feel seen and write her musical masterpiece. As her friends gain popularity with their Sons of Smash account on Clip/Clap and her parents struggle with their separation, Margot is certain that the best way to be noticed is to gain her own followers through social media. They'll never disappoint her, right? The only problem is, she only has 12, and their loyalty is iffy at best. After finding a free piano (totally not haunted), Margot decides to switch her music up a bit. So she ditches her ukelele and begins her journey to learning the piano. The only problem--the piano has a mind (or two) of its own.

Free Piano (Not Haunted) is sure to be a hit with middle grade readers. Addressing common adolescent pressure points like fitting in, loneliness, and tough parental relationships, this novel not only reflects the experience of many youth, but it does so with humor. Adult readers will also appreciate the nostalgic aspects of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for an advance e-galley of Free Piano (Not Haunted)!

Free Piano (Not Haunted) is a short, cute, breezy read. While I found it difficult to connect to the book—part of me wishes it were a bit longer—I think it does a good job of having a ghostly element without being scary. I'm a big fan of Gardner and her art style, and that's what initially drew me to the book (also its great title!). I'm likely to recommend it to kids who are looking for paranormal graphic novels, or ones who are interested in music.

This was a very quick and simple read. But that might have been to its detriment for me. I thought the concept was intriguing: a girl who wants to learn the piano because she wants to be noticed and famous finds a keyboard haunted by a popstar. However, we never dove into the messaging enough. I know what they were going for, but I didn't care as much as I should have. It was cute, but not something that I'll think about later.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This has a GREAT message without being didactic. I appreciated the realistic angst that wasn't over the top, the lovely friendship trio, the mystery, and the resolution. The book begins with this dedication — For the kids who believe success is about being seen—don't forget, the real magic happens when you finally see yourself. So good.

From the title alone, how could one not immediately jump at the opportunity? I have loved Gardner's other graphic novels, and this will join them on my figurative trophy shelf.

Margot is lonely. She won't admit it, but she's lonely. She's struggling to make it big with her music, just like her father, when she stumbles upon a free piano (not haunted) sitting on the side of the street. Eager to connect with her father over a shared instrument, Through various situations where Margot desperately tries to inflate her followers, we see her struggle with many emotions and work to overcome them.

A humorous story, with many heartfelt moments of people overcoming hardships.

Free Piano (Not Haunted) is one of those graphic novels that I leave feeling that it very much was not for me, but at least still appreciating the themes and messages that make up the core of the story. Though the novel begins with a pop star, the true focus of Whitney Gardner’s story is a young girl with a desire to be recognized. But the truth is that fame in place of recognition we’re seeking from those who are truly important to us will never be a replacement.

Navigating her parents’ separation, the necessity of her mother’s long work hours, and her father’s unhealthy obsession with making it big at the expense of his daughter is already difficult enough. But it can be even more difficult when weighing the desire for internet followers against the simple need to be appreciated for the things one likes. In this, Gardner does an exceptional job of portraying young Margot’s journey alongside the help she gets from a ghost guarding a rather haunted piano—because of course that postscript was a lie.

This is definitely the kind of graphic novel I’d love to recommend to my students. There are so many young readers out there who may very well love this story on its own, but with all those kids nowadays growing starry eyed at the idea of becoming internet famous, it truly has the opportunity to spread an incredibly important message to young eyes who need to see it.

I enjoyed the heck out of this one! A really solid middle-grade graphic novel; it involves ghosts but isn't too scary. There's also a lot of great messages about friendship, art, and a good reminder that having followers & fans isn't the end-all-be-all of creating. I think this could be a big hit with the upper end of middle-grade readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this ARC.

I really liked this one. I loved the characters and liked seeing Margot find herself with the help of her friends and Vision. I liked the ghost and thought it was a good level of spook. It wasn't super spooky, but it has some creepy moments. I loved the art style.

This was lovely. A unique, quirky breath of fresh air.. Gardner strikes just the right tonal balance, dealing with a tween’s real emotions and frustrations with feeling invisible and lonely, but with a lighthearted and humorous touch. The 80s pop nostalgia is a fun perk for Gen X and elder millennials, making for a good shared (grown-up/parent + tween) read.

Musical Margot brings home a synthesizer she finds on the curb — labeled “Free Piano (Not Haunted).” Hoping her father will teach her how to play it, she’s disappointed when he announces plans to move to Los Angeles to chase his music dreams. With a mom working late shifts, Margot is left to navigate middle school, an oddly compelling (and possibly haunted) instrument, two chaos-loving friends, and a ghost who makes an unexpected appearance.

I loved this book and handed it straight to my daughter after finishing it. The artwork is bright, expressive, and easy to follow, and the story is heartfelt and timely. Margot’s struggle with online validation, social media pressure, and cyberbullying feels especially relevant, and the narrative handles these themes with honesty and care. Her isolation is palpable — and her search for connection, even through a ghost, is both funny and deeply relatable.

Vision, the ghost sidekick, is a fantastic character, and the balance of humor, heart, and just a touch of the supernatural makes this a standout middle grade graphic novel. Whitney Gardner consistently delivers, and I have no doubt this one will stay checked out as soon as it hits the shelves.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Way fun!! Great social media message as well. Perfect for middle grade readers. A sweet and spooky graphic novel that will be a hit with readers.