Sweet artwork with a bit of sadness sprinkled into the plot. I liked the second one better even if it was heavier.
Summary:
Marjorie is a shy teen and the only thing holding her family and their laundry business together after the death of her mom. And with the relentless Mr. Saubertuck looking for anyway to sabotage their store and buy the property, life has been anything but easy. Death isn't peaches and cream either as it turns out. Wendell is a ghost who just doesn't feel like he fits in. After hopping a train to Marj's town and befriending her, he just has to help out his new friend. And his altruism extends to Eliza, a young photographer in Marj's class whose sole focus in life is to capture a ghost on camera.
Verdict: 6.5/10
A ghost story completely different than No One Goes Alone. The story deals with dead children, absent parents, peer pressure, and bullies. But the pastel colors and cartoonish aspects take it from depressing to refreshing.
However, I hated all of the adults in Sheets. Seriously, I don't believe anyone would bully a vulnerable little girl out of her family's business right after her mother's death. Or that half of the town would give her such a hard time over their laundry. Those points were a bit heavy-handed and far-fetched.
I think that's why I related to the second installment more. The attitudes of kids and their mean "jokes" and peer pressure felt much more real and relatable. It also made Delicates harder to read as these led to suicidal thoughts for Eliza. But I thought Thummler balanced her characters well and showed the many dynamics that often go overlooked or glossed over in middle school.
While the human world is full of pain, I loved the ghost world that Thummler created. The use of sheets brought back a childlike view of death. And having them in black-and-white gave it an added simplicity.
All in all it was a unique and new take on ghosts. The pacing and characters washed out some of the connection for me, but overall, it was a decent little adventure.
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