October 30, 2020
GR 10 UP-Get ready for a gnarly ghost story. Trevor, Brian, and Kent are the trio behind Ghost Bros, a long-running documentary series about finding the ghosts that go bump in the night. When ratings start lagging and their network prepares to cancel the show, Trevor and his friends are uncertain what the future holds. But there's one haunted place that Trevor has been saving, waiting for the best time to investigate for ratings...and now's the time. Edgeway Penitentiary is notorious for the unjust murders of its inmates. These three friends believe ghosts are real as much as the next casual believer; imagine their surprise when the ghosts at the penitentiary kill them almost as soon as they walk through the front door! Now that they're dead, Trevor and his buddies are trapped in the penitentiary. And that's not all: The deceased and menacing warden leads his ghoulish inmates on a crusade of eating other ghosts to maintain human forms, and the nurse has her own diabolical scheme for escaping the penitentiary. Then, when another TV show arrives to check out the haunted asylum, Trevor and his friends find themselves swept up in an adventure of good and evil, and friendship and betrayal. This tale is an absolute delight. The artwork and writing are reminiscent of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming, with deliberately minimalist yet expressive artwork and a hilarious script. The content is suitable for older teens, since the titular dudes' casual, often laid-back humor might be inappropriate for the younger set. VERDICT Engaging and outrageous, this one is not to be missed.-Matisse Mozer, Los Angeles P.L.
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
August 15, 2020
Three dudes are on a mission to prove ghosts are real. Trev, Kent, and Brian are the stars of a failing, low-budget, ghost-hunting cable TV show, aptly named Ghost Bros. After being informed of their cancellation, Trev (the ambitious mastermind of the trio) decides it's time to visit the ultimate ghost grounds: Edgeway Penitentiary in Montana. Kent, an actor hoping to land a bigger gig, and Brian, the tech guy hoping for more, reluctantly follow Trev's shady plan, which includes their producer Janelle's locking them in the facility for the weekend despite her hesitations. Anticipating the chance to explore the legendary prison and its accompanying psych ward, the guys antagonize the ghosts to get their attention, resulting in their swift demise. Now they are ghosts learning how to harness their abilities while dealing with rival factions among the residents. On the anniversary of their deaths, TV rivals--the Parawarriors--arrive to solve the mystery of what happened. Now the Ghost Bros must protect the living while proving to the world that ghosts are real. The colloquial, often humorous, frat-dude lingo makes for a quick read. The hard, blocky linework and cool color palette create an edgy reading experience fitting with the gory, creepy narrative. Trev, Kent, and Brian are White; Janelle is Black. Paranormal fun for readers who have imagined going behind the scenes of ghost-hunting shows. (Graphic fantasy. 14-18)
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