Don’t be fooled by the title of this entertainingly spooky early chapter book—the protagonist is actually a 10-year-old nonbinary child named Sly, and the titular “girl” is the mysterious ghost trapped in a mirror of Sly’s grandmother’s old mansion.
Sly’s mom and dad have recently divorced, and Sly is visiting their fortune-telling Grandma while their mom gets their new home ready. Their visit coincides with Samhain, however, when spirits can cross over into the living world. When Sly and their grandmother hear a voice calling to them from within the house, they discover the girl in the mirror, caught between our world and the place where spirits go to rest. When Sly and Grandma each accidentally speak the words that trap them both in the mirror, too, Sly must figure out the ghost girl’s riddles in order to free them.
Sly’s nonbinary identity is not a core part of the plot, but neither is it ignored; we learn, for example, that Sly’s mom fully supported their transition and helped Sly get a new haircut that felt more like them. Sly’s Grandma also sees a vision of Sly in her crystal ball, “stuck between two places.” It’s a reference to the mirror, but Sly comments wryly, “That’s me. Always between things,” to which Grandma replies, “Being an in-between person is a gift.”
Nevertheless, Sly doesn’t want to be stuck between their divorced mom and dad, and in one scene, expresses to their parents that they don’t want to have to choose who to live with. Their parents explain that their dad is trying to find a way to live closer, so Sly can see them both, and they reinforce that they will always be a family unit. It’s a nice section, particularly in a book that is not “about” divorce per se.
The plot is fairly straightforward, as appropriate for the target age and reading level, but the story is engagingly told, with light touches of humor and fun riddles, plus a dash of spookiness. A recommended chapter book for Halloween or any time one wants a little ghostly mystery.
Sly, their family, and the ghost girl are all White.
