Ghosts: A Graphic Novel

Mexican culture is an integral aspect of Ghosts as its protagonist, Cat, and her sister, Maya, discover their own rich heritage (Discovering One’s Heritage). The story takes place in a town with a Spanish name, Bahía de la Luna, or Bay of the Moon. The town’s name helps illuminate the events that take place there as well as its history of Mexican immigrants. Many of the town’s inhabitants are also of Mexican heritage and place great importance on maintaining their cultural traditions. Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a special celebration that takes place November 1 and 2, but in the novel, it also includes Halloween.

Despite its name, this celebration honors life, tradition, and family. It upholds the ideas of the value of life, its temporary nature, and the eternal bonds of family that tie generations together. The celebration also encourages embracing rather than fearing death, and this helps Cat learns to change her perspective. Day of the Dead has Indigenous Mexican roots; it came to be celebrated on the dates of All Saints Day and All Souls Day as Catholic traditions syncretized with Indigenous practices following the Spanish conquest. During Día de los Muertos, the spirits of the dead come back and visit the living who remember them. People create ofrendas—literally offerings—small altars for their deceased loved ones to welcome them back. These may include photos of the deceased as well as food and wine to share with them. Costumes and decorations are also an integral part of the celebration; skulls are an Aztec symbol and painting oneself as the dead is believed to make the departed feel welcome. La Catrina, presented as a character in the novel, is the skull of an upper-class woman—invented by Mexican painter José Guadalupe Posada to satirize the wealthy—and has become an emblem of the ritual. Some people also visit the graves of the dead during this time, as Cat, Maya, and Carlos do when they visit the mission.

Because Maya has a degenerative disease, the reality of her death is a constant presence in the family’s life. Rediscovering the family’s heritage and its enduring connection with deceased family members helps both Maya and Cat overcome their fear of her passing. The author visited Day of the Dead celebrations to help her develop the images for the novel.