Starts out mild but gets pretty freaking scary ( )

Independent Reading Level - 3rd - 5th grade
Awards- 2020 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Young Readers' Literature

I loved this book. The characters are great, and I adored their relationship. I really like the folklore elements, and just the general vibes of the book. However, I did find the villain to be underwhelming. Overall, I would recommend to any fan of ghost stories or interesting folklore. ( )

A chilling ghost story with a warm heart, The Girl and the Ghost intertwines a mysterious tale of Malaysian witchery with a story of family and friendship.

💫Read the full review on my blog: https://newkidonthebookreviews.wordpress.com/2022/09/09/review-the-girl-and-the-...

The moment the book starts you get swept up in the story, eager to read about Suraya’s problems growing up and how Pink, with all his “darkness” and “coldness”, plays an essential role in her life. Suraya confides in Pink and he uses his powers to protect her from harm, filling the space left empty by Suraya’s distant mother and lack of friends at school. As you read the story, you become very attached to both Suraya and Pink and want to find out more about their adventures together.

I like how you get to experience the inner lives of both the girl and the ghost in this book. It was especially fascinating to read the story from Pink’s perspective, and the author was great at depicting how a “dark being” who insists he doesn’t have a heart (and yet, seems to have one anyway!) would think and act.
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I recommend this book for readers who would enjoy an eerie and thrilling tale about a girl with a ghostly friend confronting difficulties and dangers in a magical Malaysian setting. ( )

Nicely creepy and steeped in Malaysian folklore, which is a whole other level of creep. Loved that the characters reflected Malaysian mix of cultures -- Suraya is Muslim, Jing Wei is Chinese, and Pink is from an even older tradition. Loved Suraya's generous heart, and her refusal to harm others, even when bullied. Loved the compassionate ending and the healing path that is revealed. ( )