Ghostlines

(Hardback)

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A sea-soaked story of friendship, community and discovering what it means to carry home in your heart, from Carnegie Medal-winning author Katya Balen. On the Island of Ayrie, everybody knows everyone. They know each others stories as they know every road, every hill and the coming of the tide. In the summer, there are bonfires to celebrate the migration of the puffins. Everything is familiar, nothing much changes, and for Tilda, nothing ever should it is beautiful, it is perfect and it is home. When newcomer Albie arrives at the island, Tilda wants to show Ayrie off Albie wants her to leave him alone. She learns quickly that itll take more than a tour and some seal viewings to win him around. Then, she remembers stories of the old island just an hours boat ride away from the shore. The old island is a death trap. The journey there is treacherous. Trips across to it are strictly forbidden. And theres a rumour its haunted by the ghosts of those left there to die. But with all else having failed, the old island is the only way for Tilda to make Albie see what she sees in Ayrie. Besides, its a different kind of ghost that worries Tilda. The ghost thats been following her, now, since her brother left the island

Reviews

One of the most beautiful books I've ever read * Kiran Millwood Hargrave on OCTOBER, OCTOBER *
It's EXQUISITE. Read it. Wild yourself. Open your heart to it. Written with the pen of a poet and the soul of Mother Earth. Glorious. It's like nothing else I've ever read * Liz Hyder on OCTOBER, OCTOBER *
Original, compulsive, uplifting: this is another triumph for Balen * The Times Children's Book of the Week on THE LIGHT IN EVERYTHING *

Author Bio

Katya Balen is an award-winning author of books for children. Katya's debut novel, The Space Were In, was published in 2019 and was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award. Her second, October, October, won the Yoto Carnegie Medal. Her third novel, The Light in Everything, was published in 2022. When shes not writing books, Katya likes to scroll through dog-rescue websites, bake, and attempt to keep all her house plants alive. She lives in London with her partner and their dogs Raffi and Mouse. @katyabalen