Sheets

Marjorie Glatt, a thirteen-year-old girl, runs her family's laundromat while grieving the loss of her mother. Between managing the business, caring for her brother, dealing with her withdrawn father, and navigating middle school, she struggles to find normalcy in her new reality. The laundromat becomes more complicated when Wendell, a ghost who wears a sheet, starts haunting the premises and causing chaos. Their paths intersect as both characters grapple with loss, loneliness, and the challenge of moving forward despite difficult circumstances. A threat to the laundromat's future forces Marjorie and Wendell to confront their individual struggles. The unlikely connection between a living girl and a ghost shapes both of their journeys. This graphic novel uses the metaphor of laundry and clean sheets to explore themes of grief, healing, and finding connection in unexpected places. Through its blend of realism and supernatural elements, the story examines how young people process loss and find their way forward.

Readers describe this graphic novel as a quiet, melancholic story that deals with grief and loneliness. The watercolor-style artwork in cool blues and greys creates a dreamlike atmosphere that matches the ghost story elements. Readers appreciated: - The portrayal of processing loss and depression - The detailed laundromat setting - The color palette and art style - Its accessibility for middle-grade readers - The subtle handling of heavy themes Common criticisms: - Plot moves too slowly - Character development feels limited - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Ghost story elements don't fully mesh with real-world plot Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) "The art carries the emotional weight perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful but needed more story development" - Amazon reviewer "Captured the weight of grief without being overwhelming" - School Library Journal reader review

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🌟 Author Brenna Thummler worked as both a ghost tour guide and at a laundromat while creating this book, experiences that directly influenced the story's setting and themes 🌟 The distinctive color palette of soft blues and pinks was specifically chosen to reflect both the ghostly elements and the laundromat setting 🌟 Sheets was Thummler's debut graphic novel as both writer and artist, though she previously illustrated Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel 🌟 The book explores grief through both protagonists - Marjorie dealing with her mother's death and Wendell processing his own death as a ghost 🌟 The sequel, Delicates, was published in 2021, continuing Marjorie's story while introducing new characters and deeper themes about mental health