Review by Booklist Review
The third picture book from Forsythe confirms the author-illustrator's trademark style, marked by whimsical storytelling, absurd humor, and surprising page-turns. Readers are once again transported to an idyllic woodland setting, where Aggie, a rather boyish little girl, is "excited to live on her own // until she found out her house was haunted." The ghost, a white, amorphous wisp with an eyeball at its heart, follows Aggie around, crowding her until she finally makes a long list of house rules, and when that doesn't help, she goes on a walk in search of solitude. The ghost, pathologically unable to follow rules, follows Aggie, and the rising tension culminates ("without warning") in a climactic game of tic-tac-toe; if the ghost loses, it has to leave the house. Forsythe's wry text is tight and deadpan, set against a richly rendered setting of softly blended peaches and blues, a bit more stripped down than in previous titles, holding a tone that is at once inviting and immersive--but with a gentle edge. When the ongoing conflict between the two roommates leads to the ghost leaving at last, Aggie finds herself missing something and creates a clever ploy to find her rule-breaking friend. A subtle, sweet friendship story from a true original coming into his full picture-book powers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Pale-skinned, short-haired Aggie, who looks something like a woodland sprite in signature watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil art from Forsythe (Mina), is thrilled to move into her own forest home. But the new digs come with an unexpected resident: a one-eyed ghost who isn't scary--just supremely present. The ghost follows Aggie everywhere, pilfering her socks, devouring her cheese, and breaking with impunity every boundary the child sets. When Aggie seeks relief and solitude in a forest rainstorm, the ghost shows up there, too-- wearing her scarf ("I needed to get out of the house," it explains). Exasperated, Aggie challenges the ghost to a furious, winner-takes-all game of tic-tac-toe, only to discover that they've each met their match. When the ghost unexpectedly vanishes instead of continuing its bad-roomie antics, Aggie realizes, to her surprise, that she misses its presence--just a little. How Aggie navigates their relationship is one of the many astute moments of comedy in a book that captures the dance of unlikely bonds and a way to move from a place of acceptance. Ages 4--8. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Forsythe's unique illustrations accompany a story about Aggie, who is excited to move into a new home that is all her own, only to find that she is roommates with a ghost who is not very good at listening. Aggie is quick to make sensible rules. Can they work together to set boundaries that work for everyone, or will the ghost need to find a new place to haunt? This book has breathtaking illustrations typical of the author's work. The ghost is a boon companion and a wonderful representation of living with younger siblings who may not always like to follow the rules. Readers will relate to both characters: Aggie, who does not want her socks stolen, and the rule-disrupting ghost. This story is interspersed with humor; although it features a ghost and darker illustrations, it is not scary to younger audiences. VERDICT A heartwarming read that will be requested on repeat in libraries.--Veronika Parrone
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Review by Horn Book Review
Aggie's new house is haunted. She'd been excited to live on her own, but now "the ghost followed her everywhere." Setting rules for it ("No haunting after dark. No stealing my socks. And no more eating all the cheese") only leads to broken rules. A frustrated Aggie challenges the ghost to a game of tic-tac-toe; if it loses, it will have to move out. The game goes on so long that they forget why they were playing, but more house rules being made and broken leads to the ghost finally disappearing. Is it gone for good? And is that really what Aggie wants? Forsythe (Pokko and the Drum, rev. 1/20; Mina, rev. 1/22) introduces another smart female protagonist who reassesses her needs, learns how to problem solve, and mostly gets what she wants (introverts, the clever ending is for you). The story's repetition and brief sentences will appeal to beginning readers, the tone is droll and slightly edgy, and the balance between the text's pace and the spot, single, and double-page-spread art is nicely measured -- particularly at page-turns. As for the expressive characters, Aggie's gnome-like appearance is endearing, with the shapeshifting ghost a whimsical counterpart. Forsythe's style of aesthetically pleasing textured watercolor, gouache, and colored-pencil illustrations features a soft palette of fall colors, especially fitting for this slightly spooky tale (readers will enjoy spotting the ghost or its eye throughout). Cynthia K. RitterSeptember/October 2025 p.41 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A headstrong young girl finds herself in a haunted house standoff. Aggie's excitement about living independently quickly dissolves when she discovers that her lovely new cottage in the rainy woods comes with an unwelcome, shape-shifting, ghostly roommate. Determined to make it work, the light-skinned, short-haired Aggie establishes house rules for the ghost--"no haunting after dark," "no stealing my socks," "no more eating all the cheese"--but her spectral companion proves resistant to regulation. The conflict escalates to a high-stakes tic-tac-toe match, where the winner gets the house. Forsythe's signature watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations masterfully supply both emotional depth and charm to the characters and setting. In a particularly mesmerizing double-page spread, a supernatural vortex of swirling, eye-studded ghostly forms draw the gaze toward an opening where a small, determined Aggie and her equally resolute opponent face off. Glowing pinks juxtaposed with deep indigos heighten the dramatic atmosphere. The delightfully wry ghost's ever-changing forms and expressions create a humorous visual journey that will have readers hurrying to discover each new, surprising incarnation. Though the narrative occasionally feels assembled to showcase striking artwork over story flow--a minor issue that likely won't trouble Forsythe fans--the refreshingly imperfect resolution offers young readers a nuanced ending rarely found in picture books. A witty year-round ghost tale that delivers a wonderfully unconventional conclusion.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
