Children's Writer, Book Reviewer, Teacher, Artist
Out on 29th September, Reece Carter's children's debut 'The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name' is a uniquely spooky, eccentric, page-turning mystery that envelops in its atmosphere and captivates with its humorous first-person narration. If Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman's spiky and boundless imaginations were combined with the narrative voice of, say, a Patrick Ness, then this is what you'd get. An addictive, strange and spellbinding read!
With a body made of wax, seaweed for hair and polished abalone shells for eyes, Corpse is bound to haunt the Witches' sea shack forever. She has no memory of who she was before she arrived on the rock-that-doesn't-exist. That is, until a ghost visits with a message: a treasure exists to reunite Corpse with her family and her name...
Firstly, Corpse is a wholly unusual and brilliant protagonist. Essentially a ghost possessing a wax body, she has no memories of her life, doesn't know her name and exists on a rock at sea that shouldn't really exist. Should this work? Well, it does, and terrifically. Reece Carter has created a compelling voice in Corpse, full of angst and yearning, humour and sadness. Between the lines, there is so much depth to this character who, underneath the wax exterior, shouldn't really be there. She's a quirky creation for sure. And the story, set over one night, with twists and turns in the seaside village of Elston-Fright, is full of spooks, magic, mysteries and monsters, propelled by Corpse's pacy and distinctive narration. Prepare for wildly imaginative set-pieces and a supernatural world that unravels and reveals more of its strange wonders as the story progresses. There are ghosts, witches, monsters, zombie-skeletons and a very cool spider companion (can spiders be so cute?) with humans very much at the fringe. If this is the beginning of a series (like Thomas Taylor's Eerie-on-Sea series), then it feels like it is just on the cusp of revealing more about Elston-Fright, its occupants and supernatural existence, particularly with the mysterious Lighthouse Keepers.
As I have a proof copy, I have also only been teased with some of the fabulous illustrations by Eleonora Asparuhova. In the final version, I'm certain these illustrations will combine and frame magnificently with Carter's text to create a truly immersive experience.
Frenetic, surreal, gripping and with a brilliantly unusual narrator, 'The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name' is one to seek out this autumn. And Reece Carter is an intriguing new voice in children's fiction to watch too.
Thank you to Usborne Books for my proof copy to review.