The Swallow

I don't want to limit myself to only writing about books I loved as a kid in the 70s (tempting as it is) so here is a recommendations for a creepy novel written in in 2014 (although set in the 60s!).

The Swallow

The Swallow - a Canadian novel by Charis Cotter -is a gloomy story about two lonely girls, Polly and Rose. Polly loves ghost stories and thinks Rose is a ghost. Rose can actually see ghosts and sometimes wonders if she is one. Not too scary, but definitely creepy and well written. And I have to admit, I teared up at the end. I was disappointed that there were no illustrations. Anyone know why some children's books are illustrated and others not? Is it the writer's preference? Lack of funds? I find it very annoying when there are no pictures but then again it's worse if there are pictures and I hate them. I was never fond of the Harry Potter illustrations. Oh well, I guess that is what the imagination is for.





So what's creepy about it?

• Being able to see ghosts.Not something you want to put on your resume.
• Ghost at the breakfast table. Go get your own bagel, ghosty and stop eyeing mine!
• Not knowing whether you're dead or alive cause no one ever talks to you. Hmmm -sounds familiar. I need to stop working remotely.
• Angry little girl ghost who screams at Polly that she's dead. Uh - have you tried looking in the mirror, ghost girl? Talk about the pot calling the kettle....
• Rose looks exactly like the girl haunting her. Imagine being haunted by an angry ghost that looks like you. Yikes!

On the creepy scale I have to give this a Roland the Rolypoly. Congratulations Roland!