Miss McAllister's Ghost

by Elizabeth Fensham

'You can't imagine how strange it is to realise that there is no one left living who knew you,' said Miss McAllister. 'It makes you wonder if you really are alive.'
'We know you,' I replied.

When Cassandra and her brothers climb the garden wall hoping to spot the ghost in the old hollow-eyed house, they have no idea what awaits within. At first violently, then seductively, they are drawn into a world long-lost, a world preserved by a woman whose memories have kept her trapped in time and place.

But do the children really know the ghostly old lady as well as they think they do, or is there something even more bizarre living under her roof - a ghost of her own?

From the author of the CBCA winner 'Helicopter Man' comes a story of unexpected surprises. It is a story which asks us to re-examine what we think we know of ugliness and beauty.

Genres: Australia, Young Adult

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Elizabeth Fensham is an Australian writer and school teacher. She grew up in Sydney and now lives in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges. Her first novel, Helicopter Man, won the Australian Children's Book Council's Book of the Year for Younger Readers in 2006. Miss McAllister's Ghost achieved a CBCA Notable Award in 2009. Her third novel, Goodbye Jamie Boyd, which deals with the sensitive issue of a teenager's schizophrenia, was shortlisted for the Bologna Book Fair's White Raven Award in 2009.

Reviews

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to meet Elizabeth Fensham on Summer Hill Railway platform TWICE
and again at the launch of this book at the Art Gallery of a Mutual Friend.
Like many creative people she was unassuming, humble and full of interest
and we chatted away non-stop.

Like ALL my new books they lie fallow, often for ages, All clamouring TO BE READ!!!
And I clamour back "I WANT TO !!!!!"
This evening I picked up Elizabeth's book and found suddenly that I had already reached
Chapter Nine !!!!
GOOD , I declared, I'm Hooked and this will Get Finished !!!
And I can write to Elizabeth and tell her so !!!!
Until then I can immerse myself in this story which flows
like a stream, with bumpy bits that ground you in hard realities.

MORE TO COME !!

Finished in 3/4 days...couldn't put it down.
But WHY ???
This story of a Growing Friendship between an elderly woman and three children, siblings.
The varied characters and their interactions.Their Ups and Downs.
The challenges, the changes, the losses and gains.
But so lucidly put.
Was it because it was written for Young Adults!!?

If I'm enjoying a book, who it may have been written for doesn't enter my mind,
the story telling is all that matters.
I have read all Beatrix Potter's books in recent years;and Kenneth Grahame's "Wind In the Willows", several times in my life. It has had illustrations ADDED which has enhanced it, notably, for me, by E.H.Shepard, Eric Kincaid and Inga Moore; and Chapters REMOVED from it and Criminally so - namely "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", as if it might infect young readers with a type of Paganism perhaps, or just be plain 'beyond' them - but often "Dulce Domum" and/or "Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears" are dumped as well. "OUTRAGEOUS" is the only word for it, as there is no denying that people grow with a book on every Reread - often it is because a person grows in age, or maturity, or wisdom, or reads correctly the second or third time, or with increasing insight. But I guarantee books 'change' because we do. To decide that certain chapters MUST GO, because of some publisher's cherished beliefs, was certainly not Kenneth Grahame's plan or he never would have written them.
These books are Classics and only Time will tell with Elizabeth's , and not even then, since many Classics are never recognised except in Private. We ALL have our Favourites, no ?
At the moment Elizabeth's is one of mine and I fail to put "why it is so' adequately into words.
Sorry !!!!!

All I can say is that I delighted in it.
And almost as soon as finished, wiping away the tears,
sat down and wrote to Elizabeth immediately, forgetting I had recorded the idea here.
Wrote because I was so moved by the story and grateful to Elizabeth.
It is something one would like to be able to do more often :
enjoy a book and let the author know.

[Queen Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is my favourite book in the world, no questions asked!! I loved it from the very begining and the fact that this is not the kind of book I would usually pick off the shelf made it an even more memorable book than most!!!!!!!! I just wish more people could relate, or even just say they had read it. its also quite hard to come by, I want to re-read it but I cant find any place that has it :(. One can only dream.........
I would recommend this book to anyone no-matter what type of books they like to read!! if you can get a copy, please read it! its an amazing book! Give it a chance!! PLEASE!!!!

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, heartwarming book for any age.

[Clare Snow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yesterday I donated a bunch of books to the Op Shop. This was first in the box! Maybe there's someone in the world who will like it...

[Kate Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a special story exploring an unlikely friendship between old Miss McAllister who is stuck in the last and three young neighbours who stumble into her quiet, sheltered world. Absolutely loved the attention to detail in the setting, a fascinating peek into 20th century living. This one was a tear jerker near the end!

[Jean Broomhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book the characters and the history was really spot on. Parents being too busy and kids left to there means. Miss McAllister certainly taught them the good things in life like hard work and tradition.

[Chel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, I wish it was more popular :(