Middle grade fantasy novel, 2020, HarperCollins
Read 9/18/2022, e-audio, first read
A Malaysian folk tale comes to life in this emotionally layered, chilling middle grade debut, perfect for fans of The Book of Boy and The Jumbies.
Suraya is delighted when her witch grandmother gifts her a pelesit. She names her ghostly companion Pink, and the two quickly become inseparable.
But Suraya doesn’t know that pelesits have a dark side—and when Pink’s shadows threaten to consume them both, they must find enough light to survive . . . before they are both lost to the darkness. (source)
Hanna Alkaf’s debut middle grade novel has been on my to-read list since it came out in 2020. I’m glad I picked it up at last! The Girl and the Ghost is a deliciously spooky story set in Malaysia and based on Malaysian folktales.Â
The narrative alternates between Pink (the pelesit) and Suraya (the girl). They’re both engaging characters with very different perspectives on the world.
As the story unfolds, we understand the ways that the history of Suraya’s grandmother and mother have spread like ripples to affect Suraya and Pink as well. I’ve seen the edges of some discussions about the way recent movies for kids engage with generational trauma and those themes seem very pertinent here as well.
Personally, I felt that Hanna weaves a nice balance between remaining in the child’s perspective and allowing enough hints for readers to understand that we’re not seeing the whole picture. And the facts of Pink’s life, death, and afterlife are slowly revealed in a way that was very effective. Hanna doesn’t absolve him for the hurt that he’s caused, but she also shows the reasons behind it.Â
I would absolutely recommend this book for fans of spooky mysteries that are strong in character and voice.
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By Singing Light 
3 replies on “The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf”
I still have to get to this! I read Alkaf’s first book and thought it was terrific, and in the interim between that and now she’s written at least two more books. How do authors get so much done!! I can’t even get a chore done lately!!!
I have also been meaning to read this one since it came out! I appreciate your thoughts on it.
For future booktalking: while trying to solve a cataloging question, I recently learned that “Alkaf” is a patronymic, not a surname, and Hanna Alkaf doesn’t advise using only that name to refer to her — see https://hannaalkaf.com/a-note-on-names/
Oh, good to know! Thank you.