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laura_here's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
royaz92's review against another edition
4.0
Why does Sonya Hartnett write so well, HOW does she write so well? I love everything she writes; they are not conventionally children literature, and they are not exactly adult either. Almost like fairy tales. This one certainly WAS a fairy tale.
dixiek's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
arielrichardson's review against another edition
4.0
The Ghost's Child reminded me very much of a fable, much like Kate DiCamillo's The Magician's Elephant. And the writing reminded me of Polly Horvath's writing. I wanted to reread sentences over and over just because they were so elegantly and surprisingly and beautifully constructed.
The Ghost's Child is narrated by an older woman who is reflecting on her life, especially on the question of how one recovers from the loss of a loved one. The protagonist has a strong and quirky personality- Harnett develops the character beautifully- which makes her life much more interesting, because her choices and thoughts are not conventional ones.
Like Surrender, I didn't necessarily feel like this was a children's book. But there is no ax in The Ghost's Child, so readers need not be afraid...
The Ghost's Child is narrated by an older woman who is reflecting on her life, especially on the question of how one recovers from the loss of a loved one. The protagonist has a strong and quirky personality- Harnett develops the character beautifully- which makes her life much more interesting, because her choices and thoughts are not conventional ones.
Like Surrender, I didn't necessarily feel like this was a children's book. But there is no ax in The Ghost's Child, so readers need not be afraid...
lian_tanner's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written fable, a quick read about growing up and growing old, finding and losing love, finding the self. It was classified as YA in my local library, which clearly has as much trouble categorising Hartnett's books as everyone else does. My main quibble with it was Feather's choice to go and live on an island that represented eternal peace. Everything we had seen of him before that suggested wildness and freedom - I thought we'd find him floating on an air current somewhere with the birds. The island didn't ring true.
bonbon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
somewheregirl7's review against another edition
4.0
Matilda, an old woman, enters her sitting room to find a mysterious young boy waiting there for her. His smoky colored eyes are familiar and though he has surprised her with his arrival, the two share tea and conversation for an afternoon.
Maddy's life unfolds in a lyrical recollection told to the young boy, swinging from scenes in the present in her sitting room back to the distant past when she was girl and first fell in love.
This is a gorgeous story that reads like a dreamy fairy-tale, a fevered fancy half glimpsed. It settles into your mind and heart and lingers there, soft and compelling. Filled with beautiful description, whimsy and an underpinning of mystery, this is a quick read that is at once light and airy and deep and thought provoking. At times you have to wonder what is real and what is made up in Maddy's mind. Was she crazy or one of those people who walks on the edge of life and world, seeing the impossible? In the end it doesn't really matter because the basic story is heartfelt and bittersweet. It will stay with you long after you close the last page.
Maddy's life unfolds in a lyrical recollection told to the young boy, swinging from scenes in the present in her sitting room back to the distant past when she was girl and first fell in love.
This is a gorgeous story that reads like a dreamy fairy-tale, a fevered fancy half glimpsed. It settles into your mind and heart and lingers there, soft and compelling. Filled with beautiful description, whimsy and an underpinning of mystery, this is a quick read that is at once light and airy and deep and thought provoking. At times you have to wonder what is real and what is made up in Maddy's mind. Was she crazy or one of those people who walks on the edge of life and world, seeing the impossible? In the end it doesn't really matter because the basic story is heartfelt and bittersweet. It will stay with you long after you close the last page.
yesther's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t quite know what to think of it all. I used to love this book when I was a kid and reread it several times. She does some really good sentences. I think it’s one of those where I can read it over and always get something different.
fiinch's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
where there’s life there’s loss. take pride in knowing you’re capable of love.
i have never known heartbreak like this. i have not stopped crying in twenty minutes. how can something be so lovely and so crushing. i immediately require everybody i know (and everybody i don’t) to read this book.
not_alicen's review against another edition
4.0
Such a sweet book!
The reflections of a life well lived. Quaint, and one that makes me think of my grandparents. Makes me want to jump on a boat and run away!
I listened to the audiobook and it went by so quickly. Some parts went on a bit long, but for the most part it flowed nicely.
Would recommend to anyone who likes books with philosophical ponderings and old ladies with stories to tell. Plus points for being set in Australia - it’s always lovely reading a book in a setting you’re familiar with.
The reflections of a life well lived. Quaint, and one that makes me think of my grandparents. Makes me want to jump on a boat and run away!
I listened to the audiobook and it went by so quickly. Some parts went on a bit long, but for the most part it flowed nicely.
Would recommend to anyone who likes books with philosophical ponderings and old ladies with stories to tell. Plus points for being set in Australia - it’s always lovely reading a book in a setting you’re familiar with.