Ghost in Cabin 13: A Graphic Novel

Originally from Toledo, Ohio, J. C. Phillipps took art lessons at the Toledo Museum of Art. She went on to get degrees in art and theater from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and Emerson College in Boston. More recently, J. C. has been working as an artist, author, and illustrator in West Hartford, Connecticut. She has written and illustrated four published picture books as well as the graphic novel series Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker.

"Making new friends at sleepaway camp takes on a spooky twist. Leah, a tender 12 and a half years old, dreads spending a week at Camp Cottontail. Her cabin mates, girls mostly ages 14 and 15, don’t relate to her taste in books and mock her beloved doll, Beverly. When some Ouija board hijinks in the infamously haunted Cabin 13 seem to awaken a ghost, Leah must choose between forging new, healthy connections and indulging a deceptively friendly specter who is secretly sabotaging and isolating her. Phillipps depicts her characters with the same noodly limbs and necks, although faces and personalities are distinct. The palette shifts to a monochrome blue for nighttime scenes, which makes each return to color feel like a respite from creepy happenings. Both the paranormal and human elements are engaging, from camp counselor Connie’s apathy in the face of increasingly off-the-wall drama to the genuine bonds that develop among the campers. Regardless of which hook draws readers, they’ll be absorbed; the final act combines both in a moment of earned maturity and catharsis. Leah and her family are pale-skinned; the Camp Cottontail community is diverse. A coming-of-age journey worth sharing around a campfire."—Kirkus“Growing up and figuring out who your people are is challenging enough, but imagine if you also have to fight off your favorite doll! The ghost of Cabin 13 will leave you spooked and delighted!"—Sophie Escabasse, bestselling author of Witches of Brooklyn