The Ghostkeeper

April 15, 2024
The ghost population of the Victorian town of Rockford is in crisis: Death’s Door is locked, and even ghosts who have found peace can’t cross over to their final resting place. Mild-mannered Dorian—
a “ghost specialist” whose exorcisms resemble meditation sessions between the specter and its host—discovers that the key is attached to ghost child Lucy. Dorian sets out to reopen Death’s Door and save the suffering spirits, but the work takes a toll on him and on his fledgling romance with his flatmate Brody. While the ghosts demand a cure for their rot, an infection that’s begun sprouting from their transparent blue bodies, human Rockford citizens tire of the unruly specters and turn to plague mask-wearing exorcists, who use a chemical to reduce ghosts to a sticky bog. Gentle, contemporary depictions of managing one’s own mental health and setting boundaries are woven throughout a warmly erudite graphic novel debut that’s rich with engaging lore. Taylor’s lush illustrations portray a visually diverse community that populates an imaginative world teeming with cozy bookshops, ghost cats, and glowing banshees, among other paranormal delights. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laurel Symonds, KT Literary.

Starred review from May 15, 2024
In this debut, an unconventional therapist for ghosts with his own emotional baggage helps wayward spirits find closure and peacefully navigate their way to the afterlife. The residents of Rookwood, who regard ghosts as a nuisance, summon Dorian Leith (who travels with his grandmother's ghost in tow) to help them with their haunted houses. Possessing ghost-sight, which allows him to see the spirits, he uses therapeutic methods to guide his clients through their issues and heal their rot, a ghostly ailment that manifests from feelings of fear or regret, so they may pass through Death's Door. By contrast, exorcists use painful, toxic gas to expel ghosts and scoff at Dorian's methods. But when the frightened ghost of the local gravekeeper's daughter steals the key to Death's Door, the ghosts discover they're trapped in limbo. They turn to Dorian for assistance as their fear fuels rot and chaos erupts in the town. Taylor deftly navigates heavy themes, while offering the hopeful reminder that, "alive or dead, healing takes patience." A twist puts a fresh spin on the chosen one narrative, emphasizing the importance of rest and boundaries rather than unending sacrifice and offering a love letter to altruists. The dynamic artwork includes humorous touches and shows an atmospheric Victorian world inhabited by racially diverse people and blue-tinted ghosts; Dorian is a youthful, light-skinned man with blue eyes and a shock of white hair. Powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife. (content warning, recipe) (Graphic paranormal. 12-18)

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Starred review from June 1, 2024
Grades 7-12 *Starred Review* A near-death experience in childhood left Dorian with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, including the ghost of his beloved (though occasionally demanding) grandmother, with whom he strikes out to begin his own business. The practice of exorcism by hexocrine, a kind of fumigation, is too cruel to accept, Dorian believes, and so he offers gentle ghost removal through therapy as an alternative. As Dorian explains to the ghosts, they must travel down a river and pass through a portal known as Death's Door; all seems to be going well until the very upset ghost of a little girl steals the key to Death's Door, and the backlog of suffering ghosts and upset townspeople quickly gets out of control. As Dorian feverishly tries to save ghosts from exorcisms, his inability to set boundaries for himself comes back to haunt him. Thankfully, his warm, caring flatmate turned sweetheart Brody is looking out for him, and others in his life step up to accept their share of the load. Variations in blocking, a delicate yet lively color palette, and expressive emotions bring diversely drawn characters to life, and both a real cat and a ghost cat provide emotional support and moments of lighthearted comedy. This heartwarming, emotionally intelligent tale inspired by Oscar Wilde and his Canterville Ghost novella contains many seamlessly executed examples of healthy communication and relationship dynamics without sacrificing the compelling story line. An absolute must-read.

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June 1, 2024

Gr 6 Up-This graphic novel has much to delight over: a Victorian-type setting, an adorable queer romance, ghosts, and plague doctor exorcists! After a childhood accident leaves Dorian Leith with a "ghost eye" and the ability to communicate with ghosts, he dedicates his life to easing the problems of the shades he encounters by teaching them coping skills and helping them cross to the other side. When a young ghost steals the key to Death's Door, none of the ghosts are able to move on, and there's just not enough room in the town for the living and the deceased. It's up to Dorian to find the key and help the spirits move on before a ghostly plague consumes them and drives them mad-or the exorcists destroy them. Unfortunately, the constant need for attention-particularly from Dorian's ghostly grandmother-drains Dorian and leaves him with almost no energy to devote to his fledgling relationship with a lovable bookseller, or to care properly for himself. Similar to TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door, the gentle story probes how grief can haunt us and how we must learn to let go. Readers will delight in the lovable characters and the beautiful illustrations, with ghosts appearing in spectral blue and green hues and the world of the living rendered in warm colors, cozy interiors, and green meadows. VERDICT This ghostly fantasy has everything that fans of cozy, spooky books want in a story.-Rosemary Kiladitis

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