This study guide specifically refers to Ghosts: A Novel by Raina Telgemeier : Graphix, imprint of Scholastic, Inc. 2016.

Ghosts: A Novel is a graphic novel about a family moving to a northern California town in hopes of improving the quality of life for Maya, a young girl with cystic fibrosis. Cat, Maya’s older sister, is reluctant to move because she does not want to leave her school and friends. However, she knows the move is important to her sister’s health. The salty air may help Mays's breathing.

When the family arrives in Bahía de la Luna, it is cold and windy with lots of fog. Cat and Maya explore the area and go to the ocean. Maya is excited to be breathing in the ocean air. They see a boardwalk and try to get into an old arcade. Once they sneak inside, they meet Carlos, who tells them about a ghost tour and all the ghosts that live in the town. Cat rejects the idea of ghosts and takes Maya home.

At home, the girls learn that they have been invited to dinner to meet their new neighbors. When they arrive, Cat realizes that Carlos is her neighbor. Carlos continues to talk about the ghosts in the town and his parents also talk about the día de los muertos celebration. Maya is interested in the ghosts, but Cat does not want to think about it. She gets scared when they make their way home and she is surrounded by the fog and can feel the wind whipping around her.

Carlos offers to take Cat and Maya to meet the ghosts. Maya and Carlos run ahead to the mission with Cat falling behind. She sees her first ghosts and thinks about telling Maya until she meets up with Maya and Carlos and finds that they are surrounded by ghosts. The ghosts steal air from the living so that they can move around. Once the ghosts take too much air from Maya, her health fails quickly. Cat rushes her home to get her to the hospital and Carlos calls 911.

With Maya in the hospital, Cat refuses to speak to Carlos. By the time the school year starts, Cat remains reluctant to spend time with Carlos, but Carlos continues to apologize. Cat makes a new friend in Seo Young.

Maya comes home from the hospital and now has a breathing tube. Cat is concerned about Maya’s health and wants to keep her away from the ghosts. Once Halloween arrives, Maya is disappointed that she is not well enough to go trick-or-treating. Maya encourages Cat to go to the día de los muertos party with Seo Young. Cat does not want to go, but relents.

At the día de los muertos party, Cat is overwhelmed by all of the ghosts and the festivities. She meets Carlos' Uncle José who died as a child. José teaches Cat about his life as a ghost and Cat takes him to meet Maya. After José leaves, Cat and Maya realizes that their deceased grandmother has left them a table full of food. They celebrate and eat with their mother.