Graciela in the Abyss
by Meg Medina (Goodreads Author), Anna Balbusso (Illustrator), Elena Balbusso (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

Graciela is only thirteen when she falls off a cliff and dies in the ocean. One hundred years later, she wakes from her death sleep and becomes a ghost. The friendly ghost community welcomes her, and her mentor Amina teaches her about living in the ocean and trains her to be a sea-glass artisan.
Jorge is a living boy from a family of blacksmiths. He discovers that his grandfather created a mystic harpoon capable of killing ghosts and sending them to a final death. He puts his own life at risk in order to destroy the terrible weapon, but he can’t do it alone.

The world-building is really interesting! I was fascinated with all the natural laws surrounding the ghosts and how they find a second life in the ocean, but they can still be injured or killed, and if they die a second time, they just don’t exist anymore. Or they can be transformed into an Alma, which is like a higher state of being. The whole magic system is really deep!

I really liked Graciela’s character development. She’s very fearful and selfish in the beginning, and she lies again and again in order to keep Amina by her side. But through the story, she matures and she learns to be more generous and give people the freedom to follow their own path in life.

Jorge is a very sweet character, and I loved how he keeps his innocence and kindness in spite of his parent’s abusive behavior. Even though he comes from an evil family and has had a difficult time, he still allows himself to be vulnerable and open with Graciela.

The writing style is really beautiful, and there is a dream-like quality to the story. The adventure is good, and the plot moves along nicely. I’ve never read anything quite like this!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book has been screened on the Screen It First website for some mild violence and death. https://screenitfirst.com/book/graciela-in-the-abyss-2595483