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School of Ages #2.5
Sara Ghost
From Sara Ghost:
I lock the bathroom door, strip to get in the shower. My arms are specked with white lines from little cuts. But I don't cut in the house. I want to, now, really badly. I imagine cutting really deeply, like with a steak knife, leaving a puddle on the green tiles. Bleed out the fear, the worry, to make me ready for whatever horrible thing Jack Misra is going to do to me. Did I really just say "Eew" like a five-year-old who doesn't like what's on her plate? Why didn't I have guts to say, 'Dad, this guy is a pervert and he's going to rape me?' My dad's … disgusting and my mom's a beast and I'm growing into a mix of both of them. My mom's big butt and fat lips … and dusty skin, my dad's round fat face and muddy eyes with pinched eye sockets and even a little of his mustache if you look closely. I imagine taking a big butcher knife and cutting around the edges and just peeling my ugly face away and flushing it down the toilet. Even Jack Misra wouldn't want me after that. Go on, Jack. You wanted to @#$%@# a pig, but will you @#$%@# a faceless bleeding monster?
Sara Ghost is a novelette (a long short story) in the School of the Ages series about young magicians in New York City. To learn more about the characters in this story, you can read Book I: The Ghost in the Crystal; Book II: Level Three's Dream; short story collection Tales of Christmas Magic; and, August 2012, Book III: The War Against Love. The Ghost in the Crystal is available in India exclusively from Vitasta Publications.
I lock the bathroom door, strip to get in the shower. My arms are specked with white lines from little cuts. But I don't cut in the house. I want to, now, really badly. I imagine cutting really deeply, like with a steak knife, leaving a puddle on the green tiles. Bleed out the fear, the worry, to make me ready for whatever horrible thing Jack Misra is going to do to me. Did I really just say "Eew" like a five-year-old who doesn't like what's on her plate? Why didn't I have guts to say, 'Dad, this guy is a pervert and he's going to rape me?' My dad's … disgusting and my mom's a beast and I'm growing into a mix of both of them. My mom's big butt and fat lips … and dusty skin, my dad's round fat face and muddy eyes with pinched eye sockets and even a little of his mustache if you look closely. I imagine taking a big butcher knife and cutting around the edges and just peeling my ugly face away and flushing it down the toilet. Even Jack Misra wouldn't want me after that. Go on, Jack. You wanted to @#$%@# a pig, but will you @#$%@# a faceless bleeding monster?
Sara Ghost is a novelette (a long short story) in the School of the Ages series about young magicians in New York City. To learn more about the characters in this story, you can read Book I: The Ghost in the Crystal; Book II: Level Three's Dream; short story collection Tales of Christmas Magic; and, August 2012, Book III: The War Against Love. The Ghost in the Crystal is available in India exclusively from Vitasta Publications.
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2012
7 people want to read
About the author
Matt Posner
21 books51 followersI am a former novelist, no longer active in publishing. I continue to write when I can, but trying to sell writing is a tough gig -- maybe too tough for me.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 20, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult (Trigger warning disturbing themes, warning due to self-inflicted injuries by cutting)
Recommended for: fans of School of the Ages, magic, those learning to love themselves
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook from the author. He specifically told me I was under no obligation, but I am happy to provide in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: I lock the bathroom door, strip to get in the shower. My arms are specked with white lines from little cuts. But I don't cut in the house. I want to, now, really badly. I imagine cutting really deeply, like with a steak knife, leaving a puddle on the green tiles. Bleed out the fear, the worry, to make me ready for whatever horrible thing Jack Misra is going to do to me. Did I really just say "Eew" like a five-year-old who doesn't like what's on her plate? Why didn't I have guts to say, 'Dad, this guy is a pervert and he's going to rape me?' My dad's … disgusting and my mom's a beast and I'm growing into a mix of both of them. My mom's big butt and fat lips … and dusty skin, my dad's round fat face and muddy eyes with pinched eye sockets and even a little of his mustache if you look closely. I imagine taking a big butcher knife and cutting around the edges and just peeling my ugly face away and flushing it down the toilet. Even Jack Misra wouldn't want me after that. Go on, Jack. You wanted to @#$%@# a pig, but will you @#$%@# a faceless bleeding monster?
Sara Ghost is a novelette (a long short story) in the School of the Ages series about young magicians in New York City. To learn more about the characters in this story, you can read Book I: The Ghost in the Crystal; Book II: Level Three's Dream; short story collection Tales of Christmas Magic; and, Book III: The War Against Love.
My Thoughts: The events of this book take place between Level Three's Dream and The War Against Love. I have read all the books in this series so far (with the exception of the short-story collection, about which I did not know and which situation I plan to remedy) and have loved them.
This is a very different story from the main novels – it features a non-magician, and the main characters are only peripherally involved., It also deals with the very serious issue of cutting, hopelessness and self-hatred that is unfortunately becoming more common among young people. Those with triggers over this issue should beware. However, like all School of the Ages stories, I really enjoyed it – it’s very well-written and interesting. Posner has included a couple interviews in which he discusses why he decided to write this story, and a bonus excerpt of an old story that I really hope he will finish. Recommended.
Reading Level: Young Adult (Trigger warning disturbing themes, warning due to self-inflicted injuries by cutting)
Recommended for: fans of School of the Ages, magic, those learning to love themselves
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook from the author. He specifically told me I was under no obligation, but I am happy to provide in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: I lock the bathroom door, strip to get in the shower. My arms are specked with white lines from little cuts. But I don't cut in the house. I want to, now, really badly. I imagine cutting really deeply, like with a steak knife, leaving a puddle on the green tiles. Bleed out the fear, the worry, to make me ready for whatever horrible thing Jack Misra is going to do to me. Did I really just say "Eew" like a five-year-old who doesn't like what's on her plate? Why didn't I have guts to say, 'Dad, this guy is a pervert and he's going to rape me?' My dad's … disgusting and my mom's a beast and I'm growing into a mix of both of them. My mom's big butt and fat lips … and dusty skin, my dad's round fat face and muddy eyes with pinched eye sockets and even a little of his mustache if you look closely. I imagine taking a big butcher knife and cutting around the edges and just peeling my ugly face away and flushing it down the toilet. Even Jack Misra wouldn't want me after that. Go on, Jack. You wanted to @#$%@# a pig, but will you @#$%@# a faceless bleeding monster?
Sara Ghost is a novelette (a long short story) in the School of the Ages series about young magicians in New York City. To learn more about the characters in this story, you can read Book I: The Ghost in the Crystal; Book II: Level Three's Dream; short story collection Tales of Christmas Magic; and, Book III: The War Against Love.
My Thoughts: The events of this book take place between Level Three's Dream and The War Against Love. I have read all the books in this series so far (with the exception of the short-story collection, about which I did not know and which situation I plan to remedy) and have loved them.
This is a very different story from the main novels – it features a non-magician, and the main characters are only peripherally involved., It also deals with the very serious issue of cutting, hopelessness and self-hatred that is unfortunately becoming more common among young people. Those with triggers over this issue should beware. However, like all School of the Ages stories, I really enjoyed it – it’s very well-written and interesting. Posner has included a couple interviews in which he discusses why he decided to write this story, and a bonus excerpt of an old story that I really hope he will finish. Recommended.
August 27, 2013
This is quite a book! It’s a novelette but the themes are definitely large enough for a novel. Lots to think about as you read Sara’s story, from magic to Indian culture to the reasons behind self-destructive behaviors of teens and ways to help them stop those behaviors. The present tense this story is written in brings a sense of immediacy to the events and establishes a close connection between the readers and the main character, Sara.
The story opens with distinct, strong but vulnerable voice of its main character. Sara uses Ghost as her last name in place of Ghosh, her real name. Why ghost? Because, like many teenagers, she feels that no one sees her, not even her own parents. I really felt Sara’s pain as I read about her dysfunctional family, her perception of herself as ugly and worthless, and her ever-pervasive feeling that she has “nowhere to run away to.” This book may have a fantasy setting, but these problems are quite real.
Like Matt Posner, the author of the book, I was not aware of the whole phenomenon of cutting until well into my teaching career. I couldn’t understand why any young girl would take a razor blade to her own arm and mutilate it. The book provides a brutal response, “pain makes me know I’m real.” Wow.
The readers can’t help but hope there are better ways for Sara to realize that she’s real and worthy of somebody’s help and attention. We long for that somebody to show up in the story. And he does. It’s one of Sara’s professors and, in her own words, “the smartest man I ever saw.” He refers to cutting as “ritual scarification.” His explanation that these scars are “indications of having achieved certain milestones in the progress of one’s life” sounds optimistic and inspiring to me.
I can now hope that Sara will learn to value herself and the scars on her arms will be a reminder of why she should. Highly recommended.
The story opens with distinct, strong but vulnerable voice of its main character. Sara uses Ghost as her last name in place of Ghosh, her real name. Why ghost? Because, like many teenagers, she feels that no one sees her, not even her own parents. I really felt Sara’s pain as I read about her dysfunctional family, her perception of herself as ugly and worthless, and her ever-pervasive feeling that she has “nowhere to run away to.” This book may have a fantasy setting, but these problems are quite real.
Like Matt Posner, the author of the book, I was not aware of the whole phenomenon of cutting until well into my teaching career. I couldn’t understand why any young girl would take a razor blade to her own arm and mutilate it. The book provides a brutal response, “pain makes me know I’m real.” Wow.
The readers can’t help but hope there are better ways for Sara to realize that she’s real and worthy of somebody’s help and attention. We long for that somebody to show up in the story. And he does. It’s one of Sara’s professors and, in her own words, “the smartest man I ever saw.” He refers to cutting as “ritual scarification.” His explanation that these scars are “indications of having achieved certain milestones in the progress of one’s life” sounds optimistic and inspiring to me.
I can now hope that Sara will learn to value herself and the scars on her arms will be a reminder of why she should. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews