27. Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

ISBN: 1-56097-427-3

Fantagraphics Books, Seattle, 1998

80 p.

Plot Summary

Having recently graduated high school, best friends Enid and Becky wander around their town pondering how they are going to spend the rest of their lives.  With a witty cynicism, both girls criticize elements of pop culture they see around them and the people they run in to.  While Becky embraces some aspects of mainstream culture, such as the teen magazine Sassy, Enid is much more critical of them.  Much more vocal than Becky, Enid plays pranks on multiple characters, including their friend and potential romantic interest, Josh, finding humor in most of the situations.  Because of her passive personality, Becky typically plays second fiddle to Enid, letting Enid do the talking.  When Becky finds out that Enid is taking an entrance exam to go away to college, she is upset that Enid did not tell her about it.  Although they believed that they would be friends forever, the thought of Enid moving away leads them to question their future together. 

Critical Evaluation

Prior to Ghost World, I had not read a graphic novel, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to get into the story and the use of images would throw me.  However, I am glad that I stepped into this world and, especially, that I picked Ghost World to usher me inside.  Rather than causing me to lose focus, the panels added to the story, helping me to quickly understand the world of Enid and Becky.  Considering the graphic novel is only eighty pages long, this is an important element because it does not need much introduction for the characters and just jumps right into their lives.  Clowes’ artwork is beautiful, comprised solely of blue and black.  The characters are drawn with such expressive faces that it is possible to understand their feelings without knowing the context.  However, even more impressive than the art is Clowes’ ability to capture the realities of teenage life and the fading relationship between best friends.  The two main characters use some vulgar language and criticize nearly everyone in town.  Although Enid and Becky act tough, there are several times throughout the novel where their insecurities and vulnerability show through.   It is this juxtaposition of tough and vulnerable that makes the characters seem real.  Also, despite their faults, or maybe even because of, I grew to love Enid and Becky and enjoyed going on the journey of growing up with them.

Reader's Annotation

Recent high school graduates, Enid and Becky loathe many of the people and places that surround them, but their friendship anchors them there.  As they start to grow apart, they begin questioning whether their relationship is what is holding them back from ultimately growing up.

Information About the Author

Daniel Clowes was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1961.  He attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, graduating with a BFA degree in 1984.  His first published work appeared in Cracked Magazine in 1985, and 1986 saw the debut of his first comic-book series Lloyd Llewellyn, which ran for seven issues.  In 1989, he created the seminal comic-book series Eightball, where virtually all of his major comics work first appeared.  The series ran for 23 issues through 2004 and earned the artist a large following and multiple industry awards including several Eisner, Harvey, and Ignatz awards.  Collected from its pages are the graphic novels Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron, an indescribable nightmare-journey through pre-millennial America; Pussey!, a brutal examination of the comics industry; Ghost World, his breakthrough hit about the last summer of a teenage friendship; and David Boring, a dark and apocalyptic story of obsession.  

Clowes has also released two anthologies of his Eightball comics: Caricature, an acclaimed short-story collection; and Twentieth Century Eightball, a collection of humor strips including “Art School Confidential” and “Ugly Girls.”  Clowes moved to full color with the last two issues of Eightball, each of which featured a stand-alone story and a shift in both visual and storytelling techniques.  These issues include Ice Haven, an intricate tale of kidnapping and alienation in a small Midwestern town and The Death-Ray, the unlikely story of a teenage superhero in the 1970s.  (information from author’s website: http://www.danielclowes.com/bio.html)

Genre

Graphic Novel - Realistic

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

1. Focus on the relationship between Enid and Becky.

2. Discuss Becky’s reaction when she discovers that Enid is applying to college.

3. Talk about the role Josh plays in Enid and Becky’s relationship.

4. Describe a few of the characters that Enid and Becky meet throughout the novel.

Reading Level/Interest Age

16+

Challenge Issues

The graphic novel contains vulgar language and sexual situations, including a couple of nude panels.

When confronted with complaints about this novel, librarians should become familiar with the material and its content.  Turn to reviews from publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist, as well as reviews from teens that have read it.  Also, it is beneficial for librarians to present reasons backed by the ALA in support of intellectual freedom.  As stated in the Library Bill of Rights:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

Why Include Book in Selection? 

I wanted to branch out and read a graphic novel for this project.  After hearing some rave reviews of Ghost World during our genre/author presentations, I decided to try out this one.