When Richard and his mum move into his grandma's old home, he thinks that there's a ghost hiding in the wardrobe. Richard deals with the situation in the only way he knows how, by checking the doors are locked, checking the rope is wound round the handles and checking the chair is propped against the door. And he does this over and over again. But when Richard's mum's friend, Tony, thinks he's being helpful and opens the door, the ghost escapes and now Richard is desperate to get rid of it for good. But how is he going to do this?
The Boy Who Cried Ghost is a simply wonderful, heart-warming story about a boy with OCD and how he goes through his daily life. We see first hand how this affects his daily life and it's written sensitively in a way that shines a light on a mental-health condition that is often hidden from others. Reading Ian's author's note at the end lets readers know how personal this book is for him and the authenticity of Richard's character shines off the pages. The book really allows readers to understand what OCD and how it manifests itself both internally as well as externally. I have to say that I also loved Quinn and his sense of humour, which brought a lightness to the plot, as did Tony with his dad jokes that really made me chuckle.
The ghostly element of the novel creates tension and adventure, and also enables Richard to develop friendships. As things progress, the eeriness of the ghost grows and is thrilling to read - perfect for this time of year!
The Boy Who Cried Ghost is a a book full of love, friendship, heart and determination. It takes bravery to write a book from personal experience but I'm truly grateful for Ian's inner strength and his writing for this is a book that will help so many children to see themselves and to understand that they are not alone.
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