"An original exploration of what it means to be seen and accepted." — Kirkus
Following the events of the bestselling graphic novel, Sheets, Delicates brings Brenna Thummler’s beloved characters, artwork, and charm back to life.
Marjorie Glatt’s life hasn’t been the same ever since she discovered a group of ghosts hiding in her family’s laundromat. Wendell, who died young and now must wander Earth as a ghost with nothing more than a sheet for a body, soon became one of Marjorie’s only friends. But when Marjorie finally gets accepted by the popular kids at school, she begins to worry that if anyone learns about her secret ghost friends, she’ll be labeled as a freak who sees dead people. With Marjorie’s insistence on keeping Wendell’s ghost identity a secret from her new friends, Wendell begins to feel even more invisible than he already is.
Eliza Duncan feels invisible too. She’s an avid photographer, and her zealous interest in finding and photographing ghosts gets her labeled as “different” by all the other kids in school. Constantly feeling on the outside, Eliza begins to feel like a ghost herself. Marjorie must soon come to terms with the price she pays to be accepted by the popular kids. Is it worth losing her friend, Wendell? Is she partially to blame for the bullying Eliza endures?
Delicates tells a powerful story about what it means to fit in, and those left on the outside. It shows what it’s like to feel invisible, and the importance of feeling seen. Above all, it is a story of asking for help when all seems dark, and bringing help and light to those who need it most.
Brenna Thummler has always known her life is haunted. Much like Marjorie Glatt, she grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, where piano practice and ghost stories were part of her daily routine. It wasn’t until she attended Ringling College of Art and Design, however, that she realized her passion for storytelling (as well as her hatred of laundry). Now back in her hometown, she spends her days drawing, writing, and suspicious of her sheets.
"The author tackles in an accessible, nuanced way delicate topics like bullying, death, suicide, and feeling lost."
— Kirkus
"A strong second foray into Marjorie and Wendell’s slightly spooky world, this tale will be best appreciated by readers who can maturely manage difficult content about depression and suicidal thoughts."
— School Library Journal
"This title encapsulates the rockiness of navigating the friendships and troubled emotional states of middle school, with a dash of friendly paranormal elements to lighten the mood."
— Booklist
"Delicates is a sophisticated, beautiful graphic novel that gets to the heart of being a teenager."
— Foreword Reviews [Starred Review]
"An enchanting story about how sometimes your life can fall to pieces and finding it inside yourself to put them back together again."
— JesseTheReader
"Delicates is a subtle, beautifully drawn story that will make your heart ache with empathy and hope."
— Kat Leyh, creator of Snapdragon
"Thummler understands what many adults forget--that young teenagers are, above all else, people.”
— Keezy Young, creator of Taproot
"If Sheets was about feeling invisible and ghostly, Delicates is about needing to be seen and heard."
— Ariel Bissett, book reviewer
