Review by Booklist Review
Margot loves to write songs to play on her ukelele, but when she finds an abandoned keyboard--with the ominous sign indicating it's "not possessed in any way"--it seems like just the ticket to more followers for her songs. And more followers, she's sure, will finally get her some attention from her distant dad, who's obsessed with internet fame. But, as the title suggests, this is no ordinary piano: within is the ghost of Vision, a one-hit-wonder popstar from the '80s in a totally radical outfit, who tries to help Margot write her latest song. Gardner (Fake Blood, 2018) fills her colorful panels with plenty of expressive characters as Margot struggles with feeling abandoned by her father and jealous of her internet-famous friends, all while avoiding the malicious poltergeist Vision is trying to protect her from. Vision's unfamiliarity with internet culture makes for some fun comedy, and her earnest lessons about what motivates truly good art are valuable. The poltergeist is cartoonishly eerie, so this is a strong pick for kids who want a ghost story but not a super scary one.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A fast-talking ghost mentor, an endearing tween, and a possibly cursed musical instrument combine in this emphatically rock-'n'-roll graphic novel that riffs on themes of identity, legacy, and learning to own one's sound. When pale-skinned young Margot discovers a busted keyboard marked "Free Piano (Not Haunted)," she hauls it home--only to discover that it is indeed haunted by a ghost named Vision, a 1980s pop star. Despite Vision being an uninvited guest in her home, Margot forges an unlikely friendship with the spirit, who helps Margot navigate feelings of abandonment from her fame-chasing father, low-key resentment toward her overworked mother, and her own growing desire for creative validation. Psychedelic visuals bursting with retro vibes and poppy hues by Gardner (The Prince and the Pawper) juxtapose Vision's pop music aesthetic with the subdued, screen-lit radiance of present-day adolescence. Dynamic paneling engages readers and supporting characters such as Margot's crystal-loving aunt add warmth and charm to a ghost story that somewhat heavily ruminates on feelings of alienation, artistic ambition, parental disconnect, and the seductive pull of fame. Ages 10--up. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--Margot comes across a keyboard left on the street and decides to take it home, despite the sign that reads "Free Piano, Not Haunted." Margot's hipster dad promises to teach her how to play but instead moves away to pursue his music career and chase 10,000 social media followers. With her mom's job keeping her away for long hours, Margot feels neglected during this critical time in her life. Meanwhile, the keyboard seems to play itself, increasingly terrifying her. From the keyboard emerges the ghost of Vision, a superstar from the 1980s, to teach Margot to play piano, but more importantly, to embrace the power of self-love and acceptance. In this coming-of-age graphic novel, Gardner presents authentic issues that many readers face daily, particularly the yearning for acceptance within social circles. This story explores the pressure to succeed on social media in a fresh, engaging way, and the implications of parental neglect and abandonment are also explored. The vibrant cartoon illustrations will keep readers interested throughout the fast-paced plot. Colors enhance the tones of each spread, and the characters are developed with intentional details in the illustrations and actions within the text. Margot is white with blond hair, Vision is white with red hair. VERDICT A great addition to middle grade collections, this graphic novel balances supernatural humor with real-world emotional resonance.--Angie Jameson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A free keyboard and its supernatural inhabitant have a profound effect on a lonely girl's life. The weird synth keyboard Margot found on the street with a sign reading "FREE PIANO / NOT HAUNTED" seems like just the thing she needs to make people like her; her ukulele just isn't doing the trick. Though she's certain that finding success as a musician is the key to reconnecting with her absent, disengaged father, Margot is nearly deterred by the emergence of the ghost of the piano's original owner from its keyboard: 1980s one-hit-wonder pop star Vision. Vision's cool vibes are eventually too much to resist, though, and she becomes a welcome source of support as Margot reckons with her mom's long working hours, feeling like her dad's "dumb invisible daughter," and the success of @sonsofsmash, her best friends' social media channel about smashing things, which is gaining the followers she's desperate for. But Vision isn't the only ghost in the machine, and Margot may be in danger. The art features amusing details, vivid gradients, and bright colors (like Vision's candy apple red hair and blue eyeshadow), as well as expressively drawn characters. Margot, who has light skin and blond hair, grapples with feelings of abandonment and betrayal when her existence is clearly a lower priority to her father than his own fame in a way that's accessible and grounding, balancing emotional depth with the creepy mystery. A lively ghost story that hits all the right notes.(Graphic paranormal. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
