Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spellbinding story of ghosts, strong girls, and friendship.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
Suraya is a toddler when a ghost, a "gift" from the girl's witch grandmother, binds himself to her. He protects her as she grows, but his protection takes a dark turn when he begins to make bad things happen to her bullies. She makes him promise he will not hurt anyone again, but he is an evil spirit and he cannot stop himself. When he becomes jealous of Suraya's new friend Jing Wei, he makes little things happen to hurt Jing, like opening a hole in her pocket so she loses the money she was saving for something special. Suraya ends her friendship with Pink, but as revenge, he visits strange visions and horrible nightmares upon her until she can't take it anymore. She confesses her issues with Pink to her mother, who hires a pawang, someone who can break the bond between Suraya and Pink for good. But Suraya senses something sinister in this pawang, and she reunites with Pink to find out what the pawang is really after. They discover a threat much bigger than their conflict, and soon must face the sacrifices required to keep each other, and the world, safe.
Is It Any Good?
This unforgettable tale about the rocky friendship between a dark spirit and a brave, kind girl pulls readers through a spine-chilling, funny, and redemptive adventure. Alkaf, a beautiful writer, opens with a delightfully interesting character: a ghost with a dark nature who has no heart, yet feels something stir in the space where his heart would be when he meets spunky little Suraya. Thus begins the remarkable story about the transformative power of love. The author weaves in Malaysian culture so skillfully that readers unfamiliar with Malaysia easily enter and embrace that world.
Any kid who's ever felt excluded or a little bit weird will cheer for Suraya and laugh along with Jing, the triumphant and quirky girl heroes. Though this book aims to scare, it's tame enough for most tweens (very sensitive kids may want to skip this one, though). The cathartic conclusion is a real tear-jerker, so kids whose emotions run just below the surface should keep tissues handy. This is a must-read that hits all the marks for a spooky, tween-friendly, page-turning, emotionally real read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the two main friendships in The Girl and the Ghost. How does Suraya's relationship with Pink differ from her friendship with Jing Wei? Are they similar in any ways? Is Pink capable of loving Suraya? Why or why not?
Malaysian culture and foods are weaved in throughout this book. What new things did you learn? Were you confused by anything? If so, how did you work through your confusion?
What is the difference between scary and violent? Is one more disturbing to you than another? What were some memorable scary or violent scenes in this book? Why do they stand out to you?
Book Details
- Author: Hanna Alkaf
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date: October 25, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 288
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 4, 2022
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