The Witchstone Ghosts

Twelve-year-old Autumn Albert just wishes she could be like everyone else. But Autumn can see, and talk to, ghosts. Living in London, she sees lots of them, and sometimes it all gets a bit too much to cope with. When Autumn’s father dies in very strange circumstances, her whole life changes. Due to instructions left in her father’s will, she and her mother have to leave their home and go to live on the strange island of Imber. The locals are odd, and the island is steeped in ancient traditions. Given her gift for seeing the dead, Autumn expected to meet her father's ghost, but he does not appear - in fact, there do not seem to be any ghosts on Imber. After meeting the enigmatic Lamorna Hawthorn, Autumn believes she has finally found a true friend, but she is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure. Can Autumn solve the mystery of Imber, and her father's death, before tragedy strikes the island again?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Witchstone Ghosts, a beautifully written debut novel. The author gives us a wonderful cast of characters and an intriguing storyline which races along carrying the reader into the stormy world of Imber! Autumn is delightful, at school she was classed as "the spare part, the weirdo", and she has no friends apart from Jack, the ghost of a chimney sweep boy who lives in the chimney of their London flat. Autumn is brave and resourceful, but is easily led by Lamorna Hawthorn and her promise of the friendship Autumn has never known. Jack is wonderful, I loved the idea of a ghost boy who likes to watch the football on a neighbour's tv! He is funny, and loyal to Autumn, and worries when she becomes enthralled by Lamorna and Autumn becomes torn between her old friend and her new one. We also meet next-door neighbour Fred Emlyn, who suffers from dementia, but who is to play a huge role in Autumn's adventure.

As the story unfolds, we are taken into the world of Imber, with its ruined church, piles of witch-stones, sea shanties and wild oceans. The author gives us wonderfully atmospheric descriptions of the stormy seas which surround the island, and builds up the tension beautifully as Autumn uncovers more and more about the secret history of Imber and the part the Hawthorn family plays in keeping the island safe from flooding.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying novel, with themes of friendship and family at its heart. The author also gives us a touching insight into looking after someone living with dementia. Autumn is determined to discover what has happened to her father, and puts her own life in danger in order to bring the terrible events on Imber to an end. She shows forgiveness of a sort towards Lamorna, and the story concludes on a hopeful note for Autumn and her family.

This is a brilliant debut by Emily Randall-Jones, and I can see it becoming a firm favourite with readers aged nine and over. Would I like to read more about the splendid Autumn Albert? In Autumn’s own words - "Abso-tootly!"

352 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+