Ready to discover another great book for this 2020? Take a look…
The Hungry Ghost by H. S. Norup
Genre: Fantasy, Children Book
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Rating: 5/5
Amazon, Hive
About The Book
Freja arrives in Singapore during the month of the hungry ghost, when old spirits are said to roam the streets. She’s struggling to settle into her dad’s new, ‘happy’ family, and dreams only of escaping home and leaving this hot, unfamiliar city.
Then one night, a mysterious girl in a white dress appears in the garden. Freja follows this figure to lush, secretive corners of the city, seeking to understand the girl’s identity. Her search will lead her to an old family mystery – one that must be unravelled before the month is over, to allow both girls to be freed from the secrets of the past.
My Thoughts
What a beautiful and interesting story to read! Since the beginning you are dragged to the story and the characters; with a mixture of cultures and traditions, you’ll be immersed in Freja’s life without even noticing!
This is not a scary story, but bittersweet and emotive, you’ll learn the power of love, loss and family; sometimes remembering is more difficult than forgetting.
Freja, the main character has moved to Singapore to live with her father and the new family while her mother is recovering at home. We don’t really know Freja’s mother illness, only that she cannot take care of her right now. We will feel Freja’s sadness throughout all the story, the pain she endures to leave her mother and travel so far away is something that saddens her. In addition, the conflicted feelings towards her mother-in-law makes everything more complicated. Don’t expect a witched mother-in-law, she is good and tries to welcome Freja to the family, but Freja has her own problems and needs to solve them before she faces the new reality.
I loved the traditions that are shared in this story, it’s interesting how every culture celebrates the same days but with different ways and perspectives! It’s always good to learn something new, don’t you think?
I don’t really want to talk much about the plot of the book, it’s about ghosts, yes, a girl ghost who asks Freja for help, is it a good or a bad ghost? You’ll have to read the story to discover the truth.
I would like to think that this will not be the only story with Freja as the main character, I liked her bravery and intelligence, but her innocence and inquisitive mind are what attracted me most, she trusts everyone without doubts but at the same time doesn’t stop to ask questions to know more.
This is a book for younger children, but I loved the story and the characters on them, so don’t be afraid and take a chance on it, no matter your age I am sure you’ll enjoy the hunting! Ready?
About The Author
H. S. Norup is the author of The Hungry Ghost and The Missing Barbegazi—a Sunday Times Book of the Year in 2018. Originally from Denmark, she has lived in six different countries and now resides in Switzerland with her husband and two teenage sons. She has a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration and sixteen years’ experience in corporate marketing strategy and communications. When she’s not writing or reading, she spends her time outdoors either skiing, hiking, walking, golfing or taking photos.
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