Illustrated by Neetols
5 stars
A heartfelt story that explores themes of grief, self-confidence, vulnerability, and friendship.
A Spirit Flower gives you the chance to summon a ghost… for those who can afford it. Damian has saved up for a flower to summon the ghost of his mother. It should have been simple, but things get complicated when Damian accidentally summons Saskia, a mysterious lost girl who died after being found in the woods alone. Now Damian is stuck with the ever-annoying Saskia until the flower wilts. But she just might be the push that he needs.
I grabbed this on a whim from the library and was pleasantly surprised by how engaging it was. I was instantly pulled in by the magical realism and the concept of a Spirit Flower. The story and characters kept me engaged.
The book works in so many different issues from complicated family relationships to fitting in at a new school, social pressure to speaking up when something is wrong, crushes to past trauma. It has a great balance with humor and sweet moments throughout so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
I adored Saskia as a character. While she annoyed Damian to no end, she was so sassy and fun.
The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. Saskia’s over-the-top-ness really stole the show.
A fantastic story, beautiful artwork, and unforgettable characters. This was such a powerful and heartfelt read.