This is an odd little tale. The child, Lydie, was still born, and yet, her mother believes that she has come back from heaven, though no one can see her, and proceeds to raise her.
Does she exist? The statue of the Virgin Mary, who is telling the story, says she doesn’t know. She only knows that the mother believes the child does, and that the neighbors help her along, as does her father.
There are clues that she might exist. The children can see her, and draw pictures of her. It is very odd. When her grandfather goes to put a new coin under the invisible girl’s pillow, he finds a tooth. And just before he dies, he not only hears her, but responds to her, as though he has heard her before.
Perhaps a mother’s love has made her real.
Beautiful, old fashioned type of illustrations, as this is supposed to be taking place in the 1930s, in a village somewhere in France.
The illustrator has great use of body language, and draws all sorts of shapes and sizes. Even though it is an odd little book, I enjoyed it enough to finish it. Lafebre knows how do draw people, as though he has been observing small towns and their inhabitants.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.