SOLVED. Genre is fiction short story, and I read it around 2007-2009. Full description in comments: About a girl who lives with her abusive uncle and her duck and pond spirit friends murder him to save her. [s]

[Bellavenus]

I remember all the details of the story, but I’ve never been able to find it.
It’s about a girl who lives with her abusive uncle next to a pond/lake. She’s friends with a drake, and the lake is personified as having a living soul who is also her friend. One day the girl is so hungry that she steals some biscuits and honey from her uncle, and he chases her down to the lake where the drake and the pond beat and drown him, then they all lived happily ever after.

[Rainbowheart]

How old is the girl?

Is this story for kids, teens, or adults?

You mentioned it was a short story. Did you read it in a collection or anthology?

[Bellavenus]

She was young around 5-10 years old maybe? The story didn’t specify, just that she was a young child. I think it may have been part of a collection, but I don’t remember which.

Rainbowheart wrote: "How old is the girl?

Is this story for kids, teens, or adults?

You mentioned it was a short story. Did you read it in a collection or anthology?"

[Becca]

I'm pretty sure this is 'Bridgey' from Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales by Brian Jacques. Here's the Google Books preview: https://www.google.co.uk/books/editio...

[Bellavenus]

@Becca
Yes! Yes, that’s exactly it! I thought I dreamt that story, because it seemed like nobody has heard of it, and I’ve been looking for it for years! Thank you so so much.

[Kris]

Great! Glad you found your book, Bellavenus. Thanks for the update.