Cast No Shadow – Graphic Novel

cast2 Cast No Shadow by Nick Tapalansky & Anissa Espinosa

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Received: Raincoast Books
First Published: October 10th, 2017
Publisher: First Second Books
Recommended Age: 10+
Pacing: Normal
Genres & Themes: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Paranormal, Ghosts, Teen Romance, Friendship

BLURB:

Greg has lived in Lancaster his whole life. The town’s always had its quirks, and being born without a shadow means he’s counted among them. When Greg discovers an old mansion in the woods just outside of town, he didn’t expect to meet a smart, beautiful, funny, and…very dead teenaged girl named Eleanor.

A quirky teenage boy without a shadow falls in love with a pretty ghost that haunts the town’s abandoned house.

I don’t know, maybe I should have stuck with my initial impression (‘‘meh’’) and not look further.

But that is not who I am. I see, I wonder, I need. For those who’ve read a considerable number of paranormal stories, this idea of a boy falling for a ghost will look like a cliché.

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Because it is one. If we omit that Greg has no shadow, there is nothing unique about this story. Haunted houses are pretty banal in the supernatural world.

However, I did like the characters to some extent. The story (almost) not at all, but Greg and his entourage were somewhat entertaining. And I do find important the focus on Greg struggling with his father’s girlfriend moving in.

Even that, though, does not justify a higher rating in my opinion because the story itself is silly, strange, predictable and not developed enough.

Would not recommend. Not the worst graphic novel I’ve read this year for sure, but a disappointment still.

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