Find your kindred spirits: Read our review of The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings

This is the story of one of those days – a day so bad you can barely get out of bed, when it’s a struggle to leave the house, and when you do, you wish you hadn’t. But even the worst of days can surprise you.

SG is a sad ghost. His thoughts are consumed by the stress of his end of term essay, having a social life, and the future. When he’s invited to a party, however, his primary concerns are:

1. a) will he go?
2. b) will he fit in?

Upon arrival, the party is more crowded than expected. Mustering up the courage to speak to his peers, SG isn’t received the way he’d hoped and is now discouraged. But then he spies Socks, another sad ghost, across the room. They chat and realise they’re kindred spirits, so they decide to leave the party together.

What happens next changes everything. They start The Sad Ghost Club – a secret society for the anxious and alone, a club for people who think they don’t belong.

Ideal for readers aged 12+, The Sad Ghost Club discusses the importance of adolescent mental health. Through dialogue and illustrations, the relevant pressures of balancing academic deadlines, a social life, and trying to plan for what comes after high school are vividly portrayed. It promotes the power of speaking up – whether that’s to family, a friend, or a professional. SG and Socks both experience anxiety about making the right decisions, and concerns about the future. This rings true for people of all ages in many facets of life.

Stunningly illustrated, this book is the first volume in a new graphic novel series by Lize Meddings, who has also created a platform for people to feel accepted and heard – even when they feel invisible. Through grey-scale illustrations, SG and Socks’ ghost appearance stands out from the distinct faces of their peers. The anonymity of the ghosts allowed me to step into the shoes of the characters when I aligned with their thoughts and feelings – something readers will also feel compelled to do.

Despite its title, this book is the opposite of sad. It’s hopeful, poignant and tackles mental health in a fresh and significant way, leaving readers with a newfound sense of optimism. And remember, “just because [something] feels huge now, doesn’t mean it will forever.”