ARC Graphic Novel Review: Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Sheets by Brenna Thummler
Genre: Graphic Novel | Paranormal
Length: 224 pages
Published on 28th August 2018 by Lion Forge
Purchase: Amazon | TBD
Brenna Thummler: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
eARC recieved from publisher via NetGalley

Synopsis:
Marjorie Glatt feels like a ghost. A practical thirteen year old in charge of the family laundry business, her daily routine features unforgiving customers, unbearable P.E. classes, and the fastidious Mr. Saubertuck who is committed to destroying everything she’s worked for.Wendell is a ghost. A boy who lost his life much too young, his daily routine features ineffective death therapy, a sheet-dependent identity, and a dangerous need to seek purpose in the forbidden human world.When their worlds collide, Marjorie is confronted by unexplainable disasters as Wendell transforms Glatt’s Laundry into his midnight playground, appearing as a mere sheet during the day. While Wendell attempts to create a new afterlife for himself, he unknowingly sabotages the life that Marjorie is struggling to maintain. Sheets illustrates the determination of a young girl to fight, even when all parts of her world seem to be conspiring against her. It proves that second chances are possible whether life feels over or life is over. But above all, it is a story of the forgiveness and unlikely friendship that can only transpire inside a haunted laundromat.

I got this on a whim from NetGalley as the cover looked super cute and I could always do with more books about ghosts.

Yes the art style remains cute but oh wow, its also a bit dark and I ended up crying whilst reading it!

Sheets follows Marjorie who is only young and struggling to get by. She has to attend school, run her families laundromat, do homework, keep under the radar of bullies, and deal with a meddling man who is trying to sabatage her business.

On top of this she is still mourning her mothers death. Her father is too and he’d not handling it well at all – his method of dealing is at the bottom of a bottle.

I really liked Marjorie as a character, as can be seen in the image above she’s alone and surrounded by books and even how she stands gives a good portrayal of her chracteristics.

We also get to meet Wendell, a ghost who’s big on telling stories, exploring, and breaking rules. Upon returning back to the world of humans he ends up finding Marjorie’s house and is witness to the guy trying to sabotague her business and does his best to try and help. He is a good bean!!!!

Once the two meet properly I enjoyed the story even more as it took Marjorie a bit to believe ghosts exist and that she could actually trust him but their friendship is so pure and sweet that it really made me smile.

Its such a nice balance in and amongst a story about grief and deception.

I think the art really suited this story too as it comes across rather soft and gentle which for the age of the characters and the target audience it works nicely. I’m pretty sure I’d pick up more work or graphic nivels by Brenna Thummler because of this.

The pacing of the story is a bit slow at times which I think reflects how Marjorie feels but the first chunk focuses on her a lot so it takes a bit for us to meet Wendell properly and know about the ghost-world.

I think I would’ve liked further exploration of their world but how the two end up working together really made the story for me.

5 stars / 5 stars

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