Rating: ****4 stars

Joe Layburn, illustrated by John Williams,
Ghostscape
Frances Lincoln, 2008.

Ages 8-10

A chance encounter between a Somali girl and the ghost of a schoolboy is the starting point for this thought-provoking story. In the toilets of her East London primary school, Aisha meets a boy called Richard who grew up during the Second World War.

The plot switches seamlessly from the1940s to the present day, as Aisha travels back in time to witness the destruction of the Blitz while Richard travels into the future to become her invisible best friend. Richard helps Aisha overcome her fear of the school bully and resolve her cultural identity crisis. But when she discovers that her school was bombed during the war she must find Richard and warn him of the danger before it’s too late.

This highly original ghost story depicts a touching friendship that spans two different conflicts, cultures and countries. Aisha’s first person narrative is immediately accessible to young readers, and Layburn’s use of contemporary vocabulary brings a refreshing dose of realism to the dialogue. The themes of bullying and multiculturalism are handled superbly in a very short space of time.

This is a great book to keep in the classroom. It’s concise enough to read over two lessons and will appeal to both boys and girls. Ghostscape is based on true events, and the vivid descriptions of wartime London combined with excellent illustrations by John Williams provide a perfect introduction to Second World War projects.

Susan Goodsall
March 2009, No. 175

Guide to the rating system:
***** 5 stars, unmissable
**** 4 stars, very good
*** 3 stars, good
** 2 stars, fair
* 1 star, poor