ALEXANDER, William Ghoulish Song Much-In-Little, 2013 166pp $16.99 pbk ISBN 9781472108760 SCIS 1644337
Kaile’s life as a music loving daughter of a baker is convincingly told in a medieval type world of Zombay, peopled by goblins, witchmakers ghouls and humans with some mechanical body parts. Daily activities revolve around superstition and the power of the Captain of the Guard. The River and the Bridge are important. Kaile’s grandfather had been a famous musician who played by the Bridge to keep the town safe. A goblin gives her a flute made from bone but it only plays one mournful song, which causes Kaile’s shadow to become separated from her. Shade then becomes a character in the story and her speech is written in italics. Ghoulish and tense in places, this is suitable for 9 to 12 year olds.
reviewed by Julie Long
