I read a simple graphic novel for over a month, when I can usually finish them in a day.

I don't really know if it was the setting, the plot or the flow of the story, I was not really hooked into the story. I finally finished it today after spending a lot of time on it and it was a hard job.

Pretty powerful graphic novel about bullying, being treated unfairly by a parent, and a reminder about how creepy clowns are. I feel like the subject matter is pretty heavy for some kids, but nothing they can't handle. I felt deeply for Gracie throughout. Though, I was hoping for a better ending or some redemption or a change in character, but never really got it.

It is a refreshing story with strong undertone. The book has atmospheric eerie appeal and the tension buildup is immersive.
The art style, minimalist and expressive, mirrors the story’s restraint. Small visual cues — a glance, a shadow, an empty chair — do more emotional work than pages of dialogue ever could. There’s a kind of visual poetry at play, one that leaves room for readers to pause and feel alongside Gracie.
I really enjoyed it till the very last page.

Gracie is a little girl who likes Spider-Man and castles made from cardboard boxes. She is treated badly at school and treated unfairly at home. But she has a ghost friend who try to help.

This was a cute and sad read!

This was A LOT more miserable than I was expecting. Her mam is horrible to her; the kids at school are terrible; her teachers are the worst. I’m glad she has her ghost and her dad. Poor Gracie. I did enjoy this; it’s just really saddening and maddening.

I enjoyed this graphic novel, the artwork style was simple and appealing, while the story was engaging enough. Following Gracie, and her ghost, this story talks about perseverance through setbacks and managing unfortunately common school problems.
I also gave this book to my 12yo to read, their feedback - The ghost is portrayed in a very good way and the plot is great and funny in places, overall a great book. .

This was an intreasting book maybe not for me specifically, but it was cool and i liked the art style as it was very original and great for kids.

Book Title: Gracie’s Ghost
Author: Dawn Brown
Genre / Age Range: Paranormal mystery / Older middle grade (ages 10–13)
Read-Aloud or Independent Read: Independent read (or read-aloud with discussion)

What My Young Readers Thought
Ages: 8 and 10
Favorite part: The spooky mystery and unraveling what happened with the ghost—especially for the 10-year-old.
What made them laugh (or gasp or cry): Some of the creepy scenes and the ghostly moments brought gasps, and the 8-year-old was unsettled by the bad parenting and heavier themes.
What stuck with them after reading: The emotional core—how Gracie was struggling and how she found strength, even without great support.
Would they read a sequel or recommend it to friends? The 10-year-old would recommend it to kids who like ghost stories and mysteries. The 8-year-old needed support while reading it.

What I Thought as a Parent
Quality of writing and storytelling: Strong and compelling, with an eerie tone and emotional depth.
Themes or topics worth discussing: Neglect, emotional resilience, friendship, and the idea of being seen or heard.
Content notes (if any): Depictions of poor parenting, emotional neglect, grief, and a haunting—definitely better suited for older or more emotionally mature readers.
Educational or emotional value: Meaningful, especially in how it shows a child navigating trauma and forming connections.
What I appreciated most: That it doesn’t shy away from harder realities, but also models perseverance and emotional growth.

Quick Impressions
Fun and engagement: High for the older reader; mixed for the younger
Writing quality: Strong and atmospheric
Relatability and themes: Relatable for kids who have ever felt unseen or misunderstood, but emotionally intense
Age appropriateness: Best for ages 10+ due to themes and tone
Re-readability: Possibly for the 10-year-old; the 8-year-old found it a one-time experience

Would We Recommend It?
Overall impression: Yes, with a note that it’s best for upper middle grade readers who are ready for darker or more emotionally charged themes.
Who we think would enjoy it: Kids who like ghost stories with heart, readers drawn to emotional journeys, and fans of Coraline or The Graveyard Book.
Best time or setting to read it: Cozy mystery season, a rainy weekend, or with a trusted adult to process together
Perfect for fans of: Mary Downing Hahn, Lindsay Currie

While this book is marketed to an upper elementary market, I do not think it would do well in a elementary school. It has some curse words, but in particular the scene where Gracie sprouts breast buds and her classmates chant "tits" at her makes it better for an older market.

Gracie's Ghost is a heartwarming graphic novel about Gracie and her guardian ghost. Gracie doesn't seem to fit in at school or home. Gracie tries her best, but it seems the world keeps knocking her down. Gracie keeps getting up, dusting herself off, and tries again.
A must-have to add to your graphic novel collection.

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I was received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF @ 15%

Compromised of lots of short comic strips that follow an outcast kid and her ghost friend, this collection seems like it's aiming for some kind of Calvin & Hobbs all ages appeal, but it really missed the mark for me.

Between the portrayal of bullying, the stereotypically awful mother, and idealised father, this was just unpleasant to read that particular prodded my C-PTSD triggers and provided nothing that made me wish to continue.

Your mileage may vary.

A beautiful, touching story about friendship, healing, and a little bit of magic!
I picked up Gracie’s Ghost on a whim, and by the end I was quietly cheering for that mischievous little spirit right alongside Gracie. The artwork—simple, almost sketch-like—somehow packs an emotional punch: a single shadow or a small smile can speak volumes. Gracie herself feels like someone you might have sat next to in class: earnest, a bit awkward, and brave in her own quiet way.

What struck me most was how Brown weaves themes of loss and hope without ever veering into melodrama. Gracie’s grief over her grandfather’s passing stings, but it never overwhelms; instead, it gives her reasons to lean on new (and unexpected) friendships. The ghost isn’t your typical scare-you-half-to-death specter, but a comforting companion who nudges Gracie — and us — toward forgiveness and courage.

If I have one nitpick, it’s that I wanted just a touch more backstory for the ghost himself—who was he before he became…well, a ghost? But honestly, I found myself smiling at every turn and even tearing up on the last page.

A quietly powerful graphic novel that feels like a warm hug for anyone learning to let go. Highly recommend it for middle-grade readers and anyone who remembers what it’s like to miss someone.

“Gracie’s Ghost” is a graphic novel about a girl named Gracie who is constantly bullied by other kids and mistreated by her mother. The story is made up of short episodes from her miserable life.

The art is okay but nothing special.

Oh, and Gracie is also followed by a ghost, but that weirdly doesn’t actually add much to the story.

Overall, this was a pretty sad read. I wouldn’t recommend it.

“Gracie’s Ghost” is a graphic novel about a girl named Gracie who is constantly bullied by other kids and mistreated by her mother. The story is made up of short episodes from her miserable life.

The art is okay but nothing special.

Oh, and Gracie is also followed by a ghost, but that weirdly doesn’t actually add much to the story.

Overall, this was a pretty sad read. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun graphic novel. This was so cute. Kids will love this book.

I'd give this a 3.5/5 and a 5.5/10

I did throroughly enjoy going through this. It did, however, take me a little while to actually do so because I felt that the pacing was a little bit off but I did enjoy the final part of it quite a bit especially once it got into the flow of the story and characters,

Now, there were some parts through the story that were kind of hard to understand and read, more for impact and less for lack of clarity. I think a series talking about Gracie's Ghost and exploring it a lot more with more subtext and moments that while in reality and on paper may have been more on the nose, I feel like the comic would benefit a bit more with something more subtle. It was almost hard to root for the characters because besides Gracie, and even then, only to a certain extent, so much context, so much story felt unfinished, almost untold.

Still, the core of the story, the telling of a genuine experience growing up, makes for one with a lot of heart and a lot of potential and while I didn't enjoy it as much as I personally wish I did, I still enjoyed it enough to read it all the way through. The art style is - in a way - candid, simple and clear and adds to the storytelling so I definitely enjoyed that part. It's good, I hope to see more from Dawn Brown in the future as well!

This was disappointing in a lot of ways but worse than, it was actually uninteresting. A lot of points were made but there was no follow through

My Year 6 love graphic novels and so I'm always keen to find new ones for them to enjoy. Gracie's Ghost looked like it would be perfect.

I enjoyed it but I'm not sure who the intended audience is. I think there are elements that are too mature for my children. There were some uncomfortable elements, such as horrible parenting, but some dark humour parts that made me laugh.

An enjoyable but odd read, just one that my class aren't mature enough for yet.

Graphic novel for middle grade kids. School bullies, a spoiled brother and a mother who doesn't even try to understand her. Plus creepy clowns.

The premise of this book drew me in immediately. I love the idea of ghosts becoming mentors or protectors of little kids trying to figure out their way around the world. I thought that the art style was cute and just off-putting enough to compliment the less savory scenes in the book.

Unfortunately, my praises for the story itself aren't as strong. This poor child is abused at school to the point that surely an adult should've intervened at some point. She goes home and is emotionally abused by her mother who is honestly a terrible parent. The favoritism shown to the younger brother actually really triggered my elder-sibling-trauma lol.

That would all be okay if the story built up to something that gave the reader hope that Gracie would end up okay in the end. The ghost being a passive character by design felt like a waste of a supernatural element. I know the intention of her dying because she didn't take action in her own life to then becoming the catalyst for Gracie taking action is a good narrative throughline, but the change was so subtle that I don't feel the pat on the back at the end was necessary. Yes, I'm proud of Gracie and proud of the ghost for finally standing up for themselves, but Gracie was severely bullied and ridiculed and abused by almost everyone in her life and one small heartwarming moment wasn't enough to make enduring all of that worth it.

Basically, I think that while the bones of this story are good and I appreciate the honesty and realism with which it was told, I think the narrative could've been improved to make it less depressing--especially if the target audience is intended to be youth who could be going through similar things.

I appreciate the chance to read and give my honest review of this book and will keep my eye out for anything the author writes in the future.