The graphic novel, Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol tells the story of a teenage girl near Anya meeting her unique ‘friend’. Anya is very self conscious, and she does not fit into the stereotypical popular group of kids. Elizabeth is the most popular girl at the school, with good looks, and a popular boyfriend. Anya is very jealous of Elizabeth and her relationship. Anya’s life as a typical non popular adolescent takes a change when she falls down a well. Anya sees a pile of bones and a ghost named Emily. Emily ends up following Anya out of the well and joining Anya in her everyday high school life. Based on her looks and what she says and does, the ghost transitions from being innocent to intimidating and powerful.
At the start of the book the ghost seems to be an innocent nice girl who wants to help and be friends with Anya. Anya is initially scared of the ghost, but the ghost expresses kindness towards anya. She says, “There is no need to be rude. I’m just being hospitable” (23, bottom panel). Brosgol wants the reader to think the ghost is innocent when she says this because she shows the ghost looking at the ground with a sad face. While Anya is asleep in the well, there is a guy near the well who throws trash
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The ghost begins to scare Anya’s little brother when he is sleeping. Anya tries to make the ghost stop, and the ghost replies by saying “for now…” (180, bottom panel). This shows the ghosts intimidation because she is scaring Anya’s family, and she does not plan on stopping. Anya eventually tries to put a stop to the ghosts power over her life by trying to bring her back to the well. On page 209, the ghost appears in the form of a ghost and bones, instead of the girl form she previously had. The author is implying that at this moment, the ghost is as scary as ever. By the end of the book, the ghost is clearly an evil and intimidating