The Hungry Ghost
Reluctantly leaving her ill mother in Denmark, Freja is sent to live with her father and his new family in Singapore. She arrives during the month of the hungry ghost, the month where ancient spirits are said to roam the earth and people must leave offerings to their ancestors so that they will not be haunted. Struggling to fit in, with guilt at having left her mother and living somewhere so different, Freja finds freedom exploring Bukit Brown, a place she later discovers is a disused Chinese graveyard. She also discovers that a mysterious girl she keeps seeing is a ‘hungry ghost’ and soon Freja is caught up in a search for the girl’s identity which is tied up in secrets from the past.
‘The Hungry Ghost’ is a highly evocative read, rich in description and giving a strong sense of both place and culture, seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story. Bukit Brown is so vividly described that on searching for photos of the cemetery, you feel as if you are looking a pictures of a place which you have visited. Other places are also full of life and colour with the author obviously drawing on personal experience. A very useful glossary of terms is included at the end of the story, deepening understanding without detracting from the narrative.
The characters are very well developed. Freja’s mix of emotions are sensitively explored as she struggles with her feelings towards her father’s new family and guilt at having left her mother. In searching for the truth about the ghostly girl, she learns much about herself, her family and uncomfortable truths about the colonial past.
‘The Hungry Ghost’ would make an excellent guided reading book for children needing a challenge. It goes without saying that care would be needed when considering issues of loss and mental health, but the richness of culture, the mystery element and the evocative writing offer plenty of opportunities for discussion, research and writing as well as a wonderfully rich vocabulary to explore.
A thought-provoking, moving story, ‘The Hungry Ghost’ offers an excellent read.
The Hungry Ghost H S Norup
Pushkin Children’s ISBN: 978-1782692690