Ghost Girl

When the parents of 10-year-old Sly separate, they are dropped off at their Grandma’s house for the weekend while their Mom gets settled into a new place. Grandma, however, happens to live in a large spooky mansion, and the weekend of Sly’s visit is on Samhain, a Gaelic day in which the boundary between this world and the spirit world becomes permeable. In a locked cupboard in their tower bedroom, Sly discovers the ghost of Maeve, a distant relative who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. It turns out that Maeve was trapped in a mirror during Samhain and has been waiting for someone to free her by saying a certain spell. Grandma, overhearing the commotion, comes into the bedroom and gets trapped in the mirror too. In order to free Maeve and Grandma, Sly must solve a series of riddles that will lead them to clues about where to find the spell book. But Sly must find and say the spell before midnight, or Maeve and Grandma will become trapped forever.

With its large haunted mansion, secret room full of mirrors, a locked cabinet, and a graveyard, Ghost Girl has all the trappings of a spooky story. The first-person perspective allows the reader to experience Sly’s fright first-hand, though Carter does an admirable job of keeping the story spooky, but not scary. In what could be tense moments, Carter cuts to the chase, avoiding the slow build that can be the scariest part of scary books. The riddles Sly must decode allow the reader to play along and problem-solve while the midnight deadline sets a brisk and exciting pace. Setting the book during Samhain rather than the more familiar Halloween is a nice touch and an opportunity to learn a thing or two.

The small cast of characters feels intimate and allows for good character development. Sly is non-binary which is a welcome detail and not a major plot point; they are relatable - struggling with their parents' separation and trying to be brave in the face of the many spooky events in the story. While Grandma is predictably quirky, the positive portrayal of this older adult is a welcome addition. Grandma is eccentric and loving, and Sly’s comment on how much they like her wrinkles is a nice touch.

Black-and-white illustrations accompany the narrative. Illustrator Waterbury enhances the story by bringing the spooky mansion to life with its grand staircase, large rooms, and antique furniture.

Ghost Girl, a great introduction to spooky stories, allows readers to dip a toe in the genre. With its fun and engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and lessons about bravery and resilience, it’s sure to be a hit.