Set in 1940s Singapore during the Japanese Occupation, the story told through the eyes of a child is more than a ghost story, but a poignant tale about family ties and relationships that bind us in times of adversity.
Got my hands on this new one - The Ghost Who Pinched Me by Mabel Gan - from the library! It's a coincidence I'm posting this on Halloween though!
From the title and back cover blurb – a ghost (and a pinching one!), cemetery, dead sister - one would expect a creepy read. A few scenes did give me the chills, but the novel is much more than a ghost story. It’s a poignant read about the family ties that bind us, and relationships and bonds that endure in times of adversity.
Set in 1940s Singapore, the story tells of a privileged ten-year-old girl, Bee Ling, who has always been jealous of her elder sister, Ying. After Ying is killed in an air raid at school, Bee Ling encounters her sister’s spirit as she and her family suffer the hardships of war.
My nine-year-old is not a fan of ghost stories, but I reckon the book would suit her as its war and ghostly scenes are subtle and not in-your-face scary. It is a heartfelt read through its candid yet tender touch on sibling love and the Japanese occupation as viewed through a child's eyes.
Reading it as a parent and sister myself, it moved me on quite a few aspects, particularly Bee Ling's parents' loss of a child and the preciousness of sisterhood.
Going to hug my kids and sister now 💕.
Author: Mabel Gan
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish
Disclaimer: We borrowed the book from the library, and my opinions and reviews here are strictly my and my family’s own.
©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.
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