On the back of the book, The Girl Who Wasn't There is described as "a ghostly friendship mystery from a much-loved author". I was intrigued by this description but, having finished it, it's actually a good description, albeit a rather big spoiler !
Young teen Maisie has just moved house and school, with her dad taking up a new job as a school caretaker. While her big sister Clem stomps about in a bad mood because she hates the house and the fact that she's been uprooted, Maisie is relieved to have escaped her old school where her old best friends all turned against her after some mysterious incident. In a very short time, Maisie is delighted to find a new friend who she can share giggles and adventures with. Kat isn't like the other girls, and they soon find a common mission, trying to elucidate the mysterious ghost story focusing on the school art room.
I'm sure the title and the blurb on the back of the book have given the game away by now - Maisie soon discovers that her new best friend, Kat, is actually the ghost whose story they are trying to discover. It's a lovely tale of friendship but also of moving on and putting the past behind you - Kat needs to understand the past to be at peace and Maisie needs to realise that she can turn the page on all the bad things from her old school but they're not the only ghosts that need to be laid to rest.
It has some great life lessons - Maisie has to deal with the fallout from her old school but also get on with life after her mum's death - but it is above all an exciting and intriguing story that will appeal to tweens and young teens.
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £6.99
- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic (7 Aug 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1407138901
- ISBN-13: 978-1407138909
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2 cm
Disclosure : I received the book in order to write an honest review.
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This book sounds really interesting. I always shy away when I hear the term "ghost" but this sounds like it isn't really supernatural, just a way to cover moving on. Will order one for my daughter now.
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