Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

Clowes, D. (1997). Ghost World. Seattle, WA: Fantagraphics Books. ISBN 1560972998

 

Plot Summary 

Ghost World is the story of two teenage friends Enid Coleslaw and Rebecca Doppelmeyer who have recently graduated high school and are floating around their nameless town searching for things to do both that day and in the not-so-distant future.  They are sarcastic, bitter, and deride nearly everything and everyone they come across.  The two are best friends, but a tentative love triangle with their friend Josh, in addition to questioning their own sexuality and nature of their relationship may cause a rift in the only consistent aspect of their lives: their friendship.

Critical Evaluation 

The nameless city of Ghost World is as much a character as Enid or Rebecca.  The girls mock the 1950s style diner and the patrons.  Their friend Josh and his job at the convenience store is not much better.  Ultimately, to location serves as a fuel to the two's derision, but it also shows that there is nothing there for Enid or Rebecca.  By the end of the graphic novel, the two make different decisions, one maintaining her disdain for the town and leaving, the other deciding to reject her earlier attitudes and acclimate.  The city is as much an impetus for these decisions as anything else.

Reader's Annotation 

Enid and Rebecca have just graduated high school, and must now, with nowhere to go, figure out how to navigate their own personal Ghost World.

Author Information 

Daniel Clowes was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1961 and attented the Pratt Institute in New York gaining his Master of Fine Arts.  He worked as an illustrator for Cracked magazine and published his own magazine, Eightball from 1989 to 2004.  In this magazine he first serialized many of his own works that would later be collected into graphic novels.

Currently, Clowes lives in Oakland with his wife, son, and beagle where he continues to regularly produce award-winning graphic novels.

Genre 

Fiction, graphic novel, adult title crossover

Curriculum Ties 

Reading and Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas 

Talk as Josh, as he is caught up in the middle of the triangle between Enid and Rebecca giving a different viewpoint of these characters.

Reading Level/Interest Age 

As an adult title crossover, this book would be of interest to older teens, 17-18, as it is slower paced, a bit more acerbic, and slightly absurd.

Challenge Issues 

Sexual situations and language involving teens in a graphic format are addressed.

If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly.  Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone.  As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.

Reason Selected

Ghost World was one of the first, non-superhero graphic novels that I read.  It's slower pacing, teenage protagonists, and weary worldview were as shocking years ago as they are today.
 

The Village Voice stated that “Clowes spells out the realities of teen angst as powerfully and authentically as Salinger did in Catcher in the Rye for an earlier generation" (Ghost World).

References

Bio. (2012). Daniel Clowes. Retrieved March 30, 2013, from http://www.danielclowes.com/bio.html

Ghost World (comic). (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 21, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_World_(comic)