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The Ghostkeeper

Author Johanna Taylor
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Paperback
$17.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
6"W x 9"H x 0.74"D   | 23 oz | 20 per carton
On sale Jul 23, 2024 | 272 Pages | 9780593526668
Age 12 and up
Reading Level: Lexile HL470L
FOC Jun 24, 2024 | Catalog May 2024
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Perfect for fans of everything from Lockwood & Co. to The Haunting of Hill House, this gothic graphic novel follows a young medium with the gift—or curse, as some might say—to communicate with the dead. This ghost story “powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife” raved Kirkus in a starred review!

Dorian Leith can see ghosts. Not only that, he listens to their problems and tries to help them move on to the afterlife. It’s a gift that’s made him an outcast to everyone in town. That is except for his dearly departed grandmother, who he’s partnered with to turn this paranormal ability into an honest living, and the local bookshop owner, who seems to be the only non-deceased person willing to give him a chance. But it’s all worth it to Dorian, who feels like he’s been given a bigger purpose. A chance to save those who cannot save themselves.

Then one day, the key to Death’s Door is stolen, trapping all the ghosts in the land of the living. Since he’s only one who can see them, the spirits rely on Dorian to retrieve the key before it is too late. If they can’t move on, they’ll soon be consumed by a ghostly rot that has begun to plague them.

As it continues to fester and spread, and the ghosts become desperate for relief, Dorian must do whatever it takes to find a way to bring peace to the restless dead—even if that peace comes at the cost of his own….
Johanna Taylor is a freelance illustrator and comic artist from Salt Lake City. She has a BFA in Animation, and focused her studies in concept art, storyboarding, and sequential storytelling. She enjoys traveling, reading Victorian classic novels over tea, playing tabletop roleplaying games and feeding crows. She can be found online where she extolls the virtues of graphic novels in today's educational and cultural zeitgeist, or curled up with a good video game and her very spooky cat, Raven. The Ghostkeeper is Johanna's debut graphic novel.

You can follow her on social media @Johannamation and see more of her work at Johannamation.com. View titles by Johanna Taylor
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An Indies Introduce Pick (Summer/Fall 2024)!

★"Taylor deftly navigates heavy themes. . .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. Powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife." —Kirkus, starred review

★ “A delicate yet lively color palette and expressive emotions bring diversely drawn characters to life. . .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 storyline. An absolute must-read.” —Booklist, starred review

“This graphic novel has much to delight over: a Victorian-type setting, an adorable queer romance, ghosts, and plague doctor exorcists! 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. . .This ghostly fantasy has everything that fans of cozy, spooky books want in a story.” —School Library Journal

"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." —Publishers Weekly

“A must-read for fans of graphic novels and ghost stories alike. The Ghostkeeper is an evocative tale that weaves together the eerie presence of spirits with the poignant struggles of the living, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply moving. With breathtaking artwork and a story that lingers long after the last page, this is a hauntingly beautiful testament to the power of memory and the enduring bond between the past and present.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials

"In the grand tradition of many classic ghost stories, this heartfelt tale is about being haunted by grief, the heavy pull of the past, and most importantly, finding the way to move forward." —Ethan M. Aldridge, bestselling creator of Estranged

About

Perfect for fans of everything from Lockwood & Co. to The Haunting of Hill House, this gothic graphic novel follows a young medium with the gift—or curse, as some might say—to communicate with the dead. This ghost story “powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife” raved Kirkus in a starred review!

Dorian Leith can see ghosts. Not only that, he listens to their problems and tries to help them move on to the afterlife. It’s a gift that’s made him an outcast to everyone in town. That is except for his dearly departed grandmother, who he’s partnered with to turn this paranormal ability into an honest living, and the local bookshop owner, who seems to be the only non-deceased person willing to give him a chance. But it’s all worth it to Dorian, who feels like he’s been given a bigger purpose. A chance to save those who cannot save themselves.

Then one day, the key to Death’s Door is stolen, trapping all the ghosts in the land of the living. Since he’s only one who can see them, the spirits rely on Dorian to retrieve the key before it is too late. If they can’t move on, they’ll soon be consumed by a ghostly rot that has begun to plague them.

As it continues to fester and spread, and the ghosts become desperate for relief, Dorian must do whatever it takes to find a way to bring peace to the restless dead—even if that peace comes at the cost of his own….

Creators

Johanna Taylor is a freelance illustrator and comic artist from Salt Lake City. She has a BFA in Animation, and focused her studies in concept art, storyboarding, and sequential storytelling. She enjoys traveling, reading Victorian classic novels over tea, playing tabletop roleplaying games and feeding crows. She can be found online where she extolls the virtues of graphic novels in today's educational and cultural zeitgeist, or curled up with a good video game and her very spooky cat, Raven. The Ghostkeeper is Johanna's debut graphic novel.

You can follow her on social media @Johannamation and see more of her work at Johannamation.com. View titles by Johanna Taylor

Photos

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Praise

An Indies Introduce Pick (Summer/Fall 2024)!

★"Taylor deftly navigates heavy themes. . .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. Powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife." —Kirkus, starred review

★ “A delicate yet lively color palette and expressive emotions bring diversely drawn characters to life. . .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 storyline. An absolute must-read.” —Booklist, starred review

“This graphic novel has much to delight over: a Victorian-type setting, an adorable queer romance, ghosts, and plague doctor exorcists! 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. . .This ghostly fantasy has everything that fans of cozy, spooky books want in a story.” —School Library Journal

"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." —Publishers Weekly

“A must-read for fans of graphic novels and ghost stories alike. The Ghostkeeper is an evocative tale that weaves together the eerie presence of spirits with the poignant struggles of the living, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and deeply moving. With breathtaking artwork and a story that lingers long after the last page, this is a hauntingly beautiful testament to the power of memory and the enduring bond between the past and present.” —Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys and The Sunbearer Trials

"In the grand tradition of many classic ghost stories, this heartfelt tale is about being haunted by grief, the heavy pull of the past, and most importantly, finding the way to move forward." —Ethan M. Aldridge, bestselling creator of Estranged

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