Have you ever felt like you were invisible; sad and didn’t fit in? You are not alone. The main character in this interesting and insightful first graphic novel in the series, The Sad Ghost Club, has a sheet over their head. Their gender is undisclosed, and they are a faceless person who is depressed, negative and friendless.
They get a message inviting them to a party. Everyone will be there. The defeatist voice in their head breaks them down. A hundred excuses flow as to why they shouldn’t or couldn’t go.
The one positive thought wins and they turn up. Loud music, dancing, conversation, but the ghost is alone. No one comes to talk to them.
They decide to leave and their head is filled with justifiable reasons why they should, as they did make the effort to come.
They see someone who looks exactly as they feel. Sad, alone and uncomfortable in a room full of people. They walk up to the other ghost and say hello. Although it is clear that ghost is alone, pretexts of friends bailing out pour from their mouth.But ghost one knows how ghost two feels. Words get stuck in the back of their throat. Sounds exit their mouth that make no sense, for they have forgotten how to speak to others because others don’t speak to them. They have been silent too long.
They start to share words; exchange names. Socks and SG walk together. They find they have things in common even though they are very different. Their sadness and loneliness seem to be a common bond. Talking about it helps. One advises the other. Could there be others that feel the same as Socks and SG do?
There is one way of finding out. Ask!
Lize Meddings lives in Bristol and is the founder of thesadghostclub.com. Mental health surfaces in many different forms. Today it is a subject that is frequently mentioned as it is recognized as a common health problem, especially, but not only, in young people.
I applaud Lize’s move to make Mental health more visible in her own, individual way. There is a list of Resources at the end which are accessible on-line. If you or anyone you know is experiencing mental health problems, you are not alone. Help is available!
Title: The Sad Ghost Club
Author/Illustrator: Lize Meddings
Publisher: Hachette, $22.99
Publication Date: 27 January 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781444957358
For ages: 10+
Type: Graphic Novel