About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the weight of family responsibility or feeling held back by circumstances beyond their control. Set in the 1930s Blue Ridge Mountains, it tells the story of April, a young girl nicknamed Ghost Girl because of her pale appearance and the heavy grief she carries after her brother's death. While it explores themes of deep poverty and maternal depression, it is ultimately a story about the transformative power of education and the courage it takes to pursue a different future than the one your family expects. Ideal for ages 8 to 12, this historical novel provides a safe space to discuss how families process loss differently. It normalizes feelings of frustration and longing in children who love their parents but feel stifled by their parents' emotional struggles. It is a poignant, realistic look at resilience that will leave readers feeling hopeful about their own ability to grow through hardship.
