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The Ghost Collector
Ghosts aren’t meant to stick around forever… Shelly and her grandmother catch ghosts. In their hair. Just like all the women in their family, they can see souls who haven’t transitioned yet; it’s their job to help the ghosts along their journey. When Shelly’s mom dies suddenly, Shelly’s relationship to ghosts—and death—changes. Instead of helping spirits move on, Shelly starts hoarding them. But no matter how many ghost cats, dogs, or people she hides in her room, Shelly can’t ignore the one ghost that’s missing. Why hasn’t her mom’s ghost come home yet? Rooted in a Cree worldview and inspired by stories about the author’s great-grandmother’s life, The Ghost Collector delves into questions of grief and loss, and introduces an exciting new voice in tween fiction that will appeal to fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Louisiana’s Way Home and Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls.
200 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2019
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828 people want to read
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September 23, 2020
This middle grade book handles death in an elegant, yet realistic way. I love how the lead gal feels everything is unfair. Just like most kids (and let’s face it us adults too) feel when bad things happen. To complicate things further our lead teen is able to see ghosts and 'collect' them just like her Mother and Grandmother (who lives with them). Therefore when an important person in her life dies she looks and hopes for their ghost to come to her.
Death
“Nobody wants to admit that death is something that eventually happens to everyone.”
In our world today, or at least in North America, we do not talk enough about death. There is a desire to avoid it, pretend it doesn't happen, or bury it in the ground never to be discussed again. It's silly when you think about it as the one thing we all have in common, if nothing else, is that we die. But due to the great unknown (and fear that comes from that) we tend to gloss over death and expect everyone to keep their feelings quietly to themselves. This is never a good option when it comes to mental health.
I like that The Ghost Collector promotes discussion about death and how it feels when someone important dies. How do we 'move on' and close the gap they've left? What can give us closure or resolution to the trauma of someone dying (regardless of how they die)?
Genuine Feelings
I'm 37 today and you might think that I can't remember being a teen; but I most certainly do. As I have no children today and my teen years were a bit traumatic (although whose weren't?!) I have very vivid memories of my emotions at the time. One of the biggest things that I remember thinking as a child was that everything is unfair (for the record I still believe this to be true). Allison Mills does an excellent job of portraying this concept and shows it well in our leading gal. There is an attempt to sweep the death under the rug and so when she finally has an outburst with an adult about it her primary frustration is how unfair it is (and that she feels neglected). The emotions of our leading gal felt real to me; and even had me nearly in tears at one point (high praise as I'm not a crier).
Ghosts
The thing to perhaps be aware of here for some parents is that there is a prevalence of ghosts in The Ghost Collector. Mills presents them as obviously real and previously (very) human in nature. There isn't a lot of poltergeist or mean ghosts here; more animals, children, and a couple of significant humans. I personally love the ghost repertoire presented as it's (generally) in a positive light. The ghosts aren't there to be a nuisance or scare anyone; they have just lost their way and need help finding it.
Overall
By the end of the story we see our leading teen go through a transformation; both physically and mentally. I love the symbolism given to the cutting of her hair. This is something I did at 19 in order to try and restart my adult life on a better, less dangerous path. Mills uses the physical cutting of our gal's hair as a way to make that change apparent and tangible to the younger readers.
I also enjoyed the musical references like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, etc. This melancholy 70-80's music is the perfect sort of backdrop to the confusion, grief, and discomfort of being a teenager. Overall Mills does a good job of creating a space to talk about death, ensuring our leading teen grows and learns over the course of the novel, and does so without any romantic entanglements!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Death
“Nobody wants to admit that death is something that eventually happens to everyone.”
In our world today, or at least in North America, we do not talk enough about death. There is a desire to avoid it, pretend it doesn't happen, or bury it in the ground never to be discussed again. It's silly when you think about it as the one thing we all have in common, if nothing else, is that we die. But due to the great unknown (and fear that comes from that) we tend to gloss over death and expect everyone to keep their feelings quietly to themselves. This is never a good option when it comes to mental health.
I like that The Ghost Collector promotes discussion about death and how it feels when someone important dies. How do we 'move on' and close the gap they've left? What can give us closure or resolution to the trauma of someone dying (regardless of how they die)?
Genuine Feelings
I'm 37 today and you might think that I can't remember being a teen; but I most certainly do. As I have no children today and my teen years were a bit traumatic (although whose weren't?!) I have very vivid memories of my emotions at the time. One of the biggest things that I remember thinking as a child was that everything is unfair (for the record I still believe this to be true). Allison Mills does an excellent job of portraying this concept and shows it well in our leading gal. There is an attempt to sweep the death under the rug and so when she finally has an outburst with an adult about it her primary frustration is how unfair it is (and that she feels neglected). The emotions of our leading gal felt real to me; and even had me nearly in tears at one point (high praise as I'm not a crier).
Ghosts
The thing to perhaps be aware of here for some parents is that there is a prevalence of ghosts in The Ghost Collector. Mills presents them as obviously real and previously (very) human in nature. There isn't a lot of poltergeist or mean ghosts here; more animals, children, and a couple of significant humans. I personally love the ghost repertoire presented as it's (generally) in a positive light. The ghosts aren't there to be a nuisance or scare anyone; they have just lost their way and need help finding it.
Overall
By the end of the story we see our leading teen go through a transformation; both physically and mentally. I love the symbolism given to the cutting of her hair. This is something I did at 19 in order to try and restart my adult life on a better, less dangerous path. Mills uses the physical cutting of our gal's hair as a way to make that change apparent and tangible to the younger readers.
I also enjoyed the musical references like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, etc. This melancholy 70-80's music is the perfect sort of backdrop to the confusion, grief, and discomfort of being a teenager. Overall Mills does a good job of creating a space to talk about death, ensuring our leading teen grows and learns over the course of the novel, and does so without any romantic entanglements!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
September 23, 2019
You can read my full review on my blog, The Writerly Way, here.
Many thanks to Annick Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I don’t read as many works inspired by American Indian or First Nations cultures as I’d like, so when I saw this, I jumped on it immediately. Mid-grade has been so hit or miss for me lately, because I’ve found a lot of it just ends up being too young for me. What?! I hear you say. You, who’s nearly 30, are now too old for mid-grade?! I know. Color me shocked, too. Who would’ve guessed? With this book, though, I was pleasantly surprised, because it did have the sort of depth I look for in books.
The Ghost Collector is the heartbreaking tale of a daughter waiting for her mother’s spirit to come back, and also the lively, funny story of all the other spirits she meets along the way.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I loved the idea of it, and I was surprised just how much I ended up enjoying it. I’ve been looking for some books for my own mid-grade reader, and this one ticked all the boxes for me. I would definitely recommend it for any mid-grade readers who are dealing with grief and loss themselves.
My Thoughts:
- I appreciated how this book normalizes Cree culture, rather than presenting it as “exotic” or “other.” I don’t often think authors intend to do this, but I do notice that it happens a lot. Shelly is proud of her Cree heritage, but it isn’t the defining feature about her. She’s not reduced to being “this Cree character.” Nor is she held as a sort of comparison for all these other non-Cree characters. This is certainly no dissertation about Cree culture, but there are little aspects of the culture that were slipped in that I thought would serve as a great place to start the conversation with mid-grade readers on other cultures, particularly First Nations.
- Hidden in the arguments between Shelly’s mother and grandmother over whether she should be involved in ghosts seems to be this really poignant implication about culture being passed down through the generations. Shelly’s mother grew up with ghosts, and for whatever reason, as an adult, she turned her back on that lifestyle. But Shelly’s grandmother wants to teach Shelly about the ghosts—something that’s been directly passed down through their Cree lineage and is a unique talent most people don’t have. It’s not in-your-face obvious, but I thought it was really interesting how it spoke to this generational culture divide that often happens with any sort of minority (and any sort of immigrant, even) where it’s a hard choice between assimilating to the society they live in and wanting to retain part of their culture. This is such an important topic faced by so many people in today’s world, and yet often never discussed, and while the author doesn’t go in depth on the subject, she does a great job of making it matter in even little everyday things.
- That moment when someone has to explain to the protagonist what a tape deck is, and her mother is talking about recording songs off the radio when she was young, and wow, you’ve just realized how old you are. The protagonist of this story, I am not. Not anymore! Which actually makes this almost more interesting to me, because it’s really easy to see my own daughter as the protagonist, and it makes the events of this story all the more impactful from an entirely different (and maybe slightly unexpected) angle. It was super easy for me to straddle both sides of this: from a mother, terrified of leaving her daughter behind, and as a daughter, who would have been devastated if her mother had died at that age.
- While there are certainly a lot of heavy moments in this book, it isn’t all dark, and there were so many fun personalities to enjoy. Because what’s a book without its characters? Shelley’s grandmother was definitely a highlight for me, because she was proud and stubborn but also funny and doing her best. But a lot of the characters in this book are ghosts, and I loved them just as much.
- The ghosts themselves were for sure a highlight for me in this book, because they all had such personality! Shelly meets a lot of ghosts in her travels. As you do. Some are ready to move on, and some not so much. There was just such a variety with them, and I loved meeting a whole range of ghosts and seeing their circumstances. The best part: as per the Cree worldview, humans aren’t the only creatures that become ghosts, which means plenty of encounters with formerly fuzzy critter spirits, too.
- This book hurt my feels in all the right ways, because while it is about death and grief, it’s also about life and acceptance. Though it deals with death, it doesn’t wax philosophical about grief and losing someone. Instead, the power is in the subtle ways it portrays the grieving process. It’s in the quiet moments after death, absorbing it, dying inside while you try to carry on. It’s in the way you’re forced to return to everyday life like nothing’s changed, even though everything has. It’s the image of a little girl sitting on her mother’s bed, waiting, because she’s so dang certain that her mother’s ghost will come for her. Just oof. The way this book tackles grief is so accessible, especially for mid-grade readers, in my opinion, because it doesn’t just wallow in it, but shows the little ways grief can sneak up on a person.
- While I wouldn’t say this is a typical coming of age story, necessarily, Shelly does manage to find herself, and I really enjoyed the growth. Shelly’s just trying to figure out what the heck it means to be Shelly without losing herself to grief. I’m always up for a good character arc, and I really enjoyed this one—partly because it was so stinking relatable, even at my age, and partly because of the journey Shelly takes. It’s not quite a normal means of finding one’s self. Probably because ghosts are involved. But as an adult, it’s easy to start to see the not-so-great choices, the semi-spiraling emotions, and knowing that, eventually, things are going to have to give.
Sticking Points:
- I would’ve personally liked to see more of the ghosts, since some of their arcs felt a bit incomplete. I’m the sort that likes things to feel done when it ends, but there were still questions I had about some of the ghosts and what became of them, etc. There was also a part at the end that I didn’t quiet understand why something happened, either. It’s such a little nitpicky thing, but by the time I finished the book, I still just kept wondering, like, “What ever happened to so-and-so?”
Many thanks to Annick Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I don’t read as many works inspired by American Indian or First Nations cultures as I’d like, so when I saw this, I jumped on it immediately. Mid-grade has been so hit or miss for me lately, because I’ve found a lot of it just ends up being too young for me. What?! I hear you say. You, who’s nearly 30, are now too old for mid-grade?! I know. Color me shocked, too. Who would’ve guessed? With this book, though, I was pleasantly surprised, because it did have the sort of depth I look for in books.
The Ghost Collector is the heartbreaking tale of a daughter waiting for her mother’s spirit to come back, and also the lively, funny story of all the other spirits she meets along the way.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I loved the idea of it, and I was surprised just how much I ended up enjoying it. I’ve been looking for some books for my own mid-grade reader, and this one ticked all the boxes for me. I would definitely recommend it for any mid-grade readers who are dealing with grief and loss themselves.
My Thoughts:
- I appreciated how this book normalizes Cree culture, rather than presenting it as “exotic” or “other.” I don’t often think authors intend to do this, but I do notice that it happens a lot. Shelly is proud of her Cree heritage, but it isn’t the defining feature about her. She’s not reduced to being “this Cree character.” Nor is she held as a sort of comparison for all these other non-Cree characters. This is certainly no dissertation about Cree culture, but there are little aspects of the culture that were slipped in that I thought would serve as a great place to start the conversation with mid-grade readers on other cultures, particularly First Nations.
- Hidden in the arguments between Shelly’s mother and grandmother over whether she should be involved in ghosts seems to be this really poignant implication about culture being passed down through the generations. Shelly’s mother grew up with ghosts, and for whatever reason, as an adult, she turned her back on that lifestyle. But Shelly’s grandmother wants to teach Shelly about the ghosts—something that’s been directly passed down through their Cree lineage and is a unique talent most people don’t have. It’s not in-your-face obvious, but I thought it was really interesting how it spoke to this generational culture divide that often happens with any sort of minority (and any sort of immigrant, even) where it’s a hard choice between assimilating to the society they live in and wanting to retain part of their culture. This is such an important topic faced by so many people in today’s world, and yet often never discussed, and while the author doesn’t go in depth on the subject, she does a great job of making it matter in even little everyday things.
- That moment when someone has to explain to the protagonist what a tape deck is, and her mother is talking about recording songs off the radio when she was young, and wow, you’ve just realized how old you are. The protagonist of this story, I am not. Not anymore! Which actually makes this almost more interesting to me, because it’s really easy to see my own daughter as the protagonist, and it makes the events of this story all the more impactful from an entirely different (and maybe slightly unexpected) angle. It was super easy for me to straddle both sides of this: from a mother, terrified of leaving her daughter behind, and as a daughter, who would have been devastated if her mother had died at that age.
- While there are certainly a lot of heavy moments in this book, it isn’t all dark, and there were so many fun personalities to enjoy. Because what’s a book without its characters? Shelley’s grandmother was definitely a highlight for me, because she was proud and stubborn but also funny and doing her best. But a lot of the characters in this book are ghosts, and I loved them just as much.
- The ghosts themselves were for sure a highlight for me in this book, because they all had such personality! Shelly meets a lot of ghosts in her travels. As you do. Some are ready to move on, and some not so much. There was just such a variety with them, and I loved meeting a whole range of ghosts and seeing their circumstances. The best part: as per the Cree worldview, humans aren’t the only creatures that become ghosts, which means plenty of encounters with formerly fuzzy critter spirits, too.
- This book hurt my feels in all the right ways, because while it is about death and grief, it’s also about life and acceptance. Though it deals with death, it doesn’t wax philosophical about grief and losing someone. Instead, the power is in the subtle ways it portrays the grieving process. It’s in the quiet moments after death, absorbing it, dying inside while you try to carry on. It’s in the way you’re forced to return to everyday life like nothing’s changed, even though everything has. It’s the image of a little girl sitting on her mother’s bed, waiting, because she’s so dang certain that her mother’s ghost will come for her. Just oof. The way this book tackles grief is so accessible, especially for mid-grade readers, in my opinion, because it doesn’t just wallow in it, but shows the little ways grief can sneak up on a person.
- While I wouldn’t say this is a typical coming of age story, necessarily, Shelly does manage to find herself, and I really enjoyed the growth. Shelly’s just trying to figure out what the heck it means to be Shelly without losing herself to grief. I’m always up for a good character arc, and I really enjoyed this one—partly because it was so stinking relatable, even at my age, and partly because of the journey Shelly takes. It’s not quite a normal means of finding one’s self. Probably because ghosts are involved. But as an adult, it’s easy to start to see the not-so-great choices, the semi-spiraling emotions, and knowing that, eventually, things are going to have to give.
Sticking Points:
- I would’ve personally liked to see more of the ghosts, since some of their arcs felt a bit incomplete. I’m the sort that likes things to feel done when it ends, but there were still questions I had about some of the ghosts and what became of them, etc. There was also a part at the end that I didn’t quiet understand why something happened, either. It’s such a little nitpicky thing, but by the time I finished the book, I still just kept wondering, like, “What ever happened to so-and-so?”
September 10, 2019
What a heartfelt middle grade book about grief, belief, death, and moving on. This is one of those books that anyone at any age can read it and get something out it, which I admire Mills for doing. There are so many wonderful hard lessons for anyone to learn. For example, life goes on after experiencing death of a loved one, and we are all people, even our parents. I, myself, have learned recently that your parents are just people and not perfect, superheroes as you thought as a kid. I so related to Shelly and her mom's relationship. I wish I had a peace offering like The Cure album. Shelly also learning responsibilities through faith. It was intriguing to read from the point of view of someone with a Cree background (by an own voices author) and having a different understanding of death than what I grew up with. Wow, just wow at the discussion of lost and grief. Mills wrote the book beautifully. I would be lying if I said i didn't tear up.
Favourite quotes: "Sometimes the rules are what you make them of them. Sometimes they need to be bent - broken. Sometimes the world is made of hard choices."
"...life has become a before and an after and she doesn't know how to bring them together."
Favourite quotes: "Sometimes the rules are what you make them of them. Sometimes they need to be bent - broken. Sometimes the world is made of hard choices."
"...life has become a before and an after and she doesn't know how to bring them together."
November 27, 2020
4 ⭐️
this was a sweet and poignant book about grief that’s honestly everyone of all ages should read. it’s written by a cree author and she tells the story of a cree family. it’s so nice we get to see this kind of representation in children’s literature. and obviously bc this is written by a cree woman, aspects of her culture aren’t written in like many white authors try to do when they’re asserting “yes this is a poc!!! look at their almond eyes!!! their caramel skin!!” and other unnecessary and out of place details. instead we slowly see the significance of things like hair and burning sweet grass
this was a sweet and poignant book about grief that’s honestly everyone of all ages should read. it’s written by a cree author and she tells the story of a cree family. it’s so nice we get to see this kind of representation in children’s literature. and obviously bc this is written by a cree woman, aspects of her culture aren’t written in like many white authors try to do when they’re asserting “yes this is a poc!!! look at their almond eyes!!! their caramel skin!!” and other unnecessary and out of place details. instead we slowly see the significance of things like hair and burning sweet grass
July 9, 2019
A glorious story, simultaneously heartwarming and heartwrenching, about 3 generations of an indigenous Canadian family (Cree) living an embittering life in a city. Grandma and granddaughter Shelley see and communicate with ghosts, helping them to move on. Shelley's mother wants no part of that. But unexpected tragedy impels Shelley to use her gift overtime, collecting ghosts to herself to ease their loneliness--and hers. THE GHOST COLLECTOR is a truly beautiful novel.
November 8, 2020
At 186 pages, this middle grade novel featuring sixth grader, Shelly and her ghost hunting Grandma kept me quite enthralled.
If you carry your ghosts in your hair, you can cut them off when you don't need them anymore. Otherwise, ghosts cling to your skin, dig their fingers in under your ribs, and stay with you long, long after you want them gone.
Although Shelly's mother disagrees with Shelly's grandma taking her daughter along on these ghost experiences, Shelly is learning what all the Cree Women before her have done to help ghosts move on after death. But when a tragic accident occurs, Shelly begins to question if all ghosts truly have to move on?
Ordered on a whim, I enjoyed the relationships between Shelly and her grandmother and mother. There was just the right amount of conflict and exploration of the spirit world and I felt there was a steady momentum throughout the novel.
Highly recommended for the classroom!
Goodreads review published 08/11/20
If you carry your ghosts in your hair, you can cut them off when you don't need them anymore. Otherwise, ghosts cling to your skin, dig their fingers in under your ribs, and stay with you long, long after you want them gone.
Although Shelly's mother disagrees with Shelly's grandma taking her daughter along on these ghost experiences, Shelly is learning what all the Cree Women before her have done to help ghosts move on after death. But when a tragic accident occurs, Shelly begins to question if all ghosts truly have to move on?
Ordered on a whim, I enjoyed the relationships between Shelly and her grandmother and mother. There was just the right amount of conflict and exploration of the spirit world and I felt there was a steady momentum throughout the novel.
Highly recommended for the classroom!
Goodreads review published 08/11/20
August 21, 2019
I love the imagery of this book. Shelley and her grandmother use their hair to catch ghosts and release them so they can go on to the next world. Sometimes ghosts get stuck. Birds die flying into buildings, and then haunt the buildings. Rats die, and aren't sure where to go, and cause a fuss. Most ghosts that Shelley and her grandmother find are animals and just want to go home.
They do not take very ghost they see, such as the ones in the cemetery. Shelley's mother objects but lets them do it, as long as it doesn't interfere with school work.
The kids think it is all made up. But I like what Shelley says to them:
Based on Cree legends about catching ghosts, and the author's great grandmother, who, like Shelley's grandmother, helped the police find missing people who they thought were dead.
A good, but sad book about ghosts, and life and death.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
They do not take very ghost they see, such as the ones in the cemetery. Shelley's mother objects but lets them do it, as long as it doesn't interfere with school work.
The kids think it is all made up. But I like what Shelley says to them:
"It's not made up just because you don't know about it and nobody wrote about it in a book. You don't know everything."
Based on Cree legends about catching ghosts, and the author's great grandmother, who, like Shelley's grandmother, helped the police find missing people who they thought were dead.
A good, but sad book about ghosts, and life and death.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
June 20, 2019
this book was so fabulous and i’m glad it’s in this world for kids to get spooked by. i have to admit i was biased to like it bc GHOSTS but also the writing is fantastic and it gives my heart a thrill to read good writing in middle grade as well as a good story. this is really more of a 4.5 for me, the only thing that holds me back from a 5-star was it could be a bit too on the nose sometimes. but what a good concept and execution and WOW i want to meet allison mills she seems super cool and i also loved the promo materials for this. plus she loves ghosts because she relates to the liminality? IVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS hell yes
July 31, 2019
'She walks around town and looks for the dead in dark corners and forgotten places. She snatched ghosts from alleyways and buildings and takes them home to hide in her room. She rescues them.’
This is a book about a girl who not only sees ghosts but catches them and sets them free so that they can go ahead to the afterlife, whatever outcome that is. That is a gift passed down in her family and she learns it from her grandmother who is known for her expertise ghost catching. To make this even better they catch the ghosts by letting down their own hair and letting them get caught in their follicles. It’s such a simple, innovative strategy. The Rapunzels of Ghost Hunting.
This novel was gorgeous to put it bluntly. I’m a ghost lover and I won’t hide it and Allison Mills did a fantastic job at weaving a story about the paranormal and making it heartbreaking and human. The story is about Shelly and her grandmother who catch ghosts, Shelly’s grandmother is teaching Shelly the basics of ghost catching and Shelly’s life has pretty much been all about ghosts (IMPORTANT RULE: DO NOT BRING GHOSTS BACK HOME) when tragedy strikes at home and Shelly’s own mother dies. The tide turns and so does Shelly’s attitude towards ghosts and death.
I loved everything about this and this has roots in Cree folklore which I am not familiar with but it is so interesting and lovely and I’m happy that this book showcases it.
The characters were all fascinating especially Shelly and her grandmother. There are so many great lessons to take away from this especially of course regarding loss and death. But also life itself and what we can glean from it in the short time we have here on earth.
This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2019. I’m still feeling the losses of my grandmothers so I think this read hit me maybe 20 times harder because I was sobbing like no other but it is also really really good.
Sidenote: It was so bizarre and funny to see both my first name AND middle name used in this book. First time this has EVER happened while reading haha. Amanda and Estelle for anybody curious.
“That’s worth getting remembered.”
Thank you very much to Netgalley and Annick Press Ltd. for this ARC. All opinions are my own. Check out more haunted reviews on my blog: https://aelilyreads.home.blog/
This is a book about a girl who not only sees ghosts but catches them and sets them free so that they can go ahead to the afterlife, whatever outcome that is. That is a gift passed down in her family and she learns it from her grandmother who is known for her expertise ghost catching. To make this even better they catch the ghosts by letting down their own hair and letting them get caught in their follicles. It’s such a simple, innovative strategy. The Rapunzels of Ghost Hunting.
This novel was gorgeous to put it bluntly. I’m a ghost lover and I won’t hide it and Allison Mills did a fantastic job at weaving a story about the paranormal and making it heartbreaking and human. The story is about Shelly and her grandmother who catch ghosts, Shelly’s grandmother is teaching Shelly the basics of ghost catching and Shelly’s life has pretty much been all about ghosts (IMPORTANT RULE: DO NOT BRING GHOSTS BACK HOME) when tragedy strikes at home and Shelly’s own mother dies. The tide turns and so does Shelly’s attitude towards ghosts and death.
I loved everything about this and this has roots in Cree folklore which I am not familiar with but it is so interesting and lovely and I’m happy that this book showcases it.
The characters were all fascinating especially Shelly and her grandmother. There are so many great lessons to take away from this especially of course regarding loss and death. But also life itself and what we can glean from it in the short time we have here on earth.
This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2019. I’m still feeling the losses of my grandmothers so I think this read hit me maybe 20 times harder because I was sobbing like no other but it is also really really good.
Sidenote: It was so bizarre and funny to see both my first name AND middle name used in this book. First time this has EVER happened while reading haha. Amanda and Estelle for anybody curious.
“That’s worth getting remembered.”
Thank you very much to Netgalley and Annick Press Ltd. for this ARC. All opinions are my own. Check out more haunted reviews on my blog: https://aelilyreads.home.blog/
June 16, 2019
The Ghost Collector is a sweet, sad, heartfelt story. I read it all in a single sitting. The Cree folklore was quite fascinating- it's a take on ghosts and ghost catching I had never encountered before, probably because I'm not too familiar with Cree folklore and mythology. The music throughout the story was a great way to set the mood (it helped that it was all music that I quite enjoy). My ARC came with a spotify playlist and I highly recommend going and checking that out.
I definitely got teary at the end. The emotional payoff was satisfying, and although the story was sad, the ending felt hopeful.
I would give this one a 7 out of 10.
I definitely got teary at the end. The emotional payoff was satisfying, and although the story was sad, the ending felt hopeful.
I would give this one a 7 out of 10.
October 28, 2019
My heart hurts after reading this debut novel - it was one of those books that came into my life at the exact moment that I needed it. What I thought was going to be a spooky middle-grade story about ghost hunting actually turned into a book about losing a parent and the grieving that comes along with it.
My dad passed away (2 weeks ago today as I write this) and my heart is still shattered. This author was able to perfectly describe most of my feelings in a way I haven't been able to articulate. In a way, its comforting to get validation and know that things I've been thinking/feeling are completely normal.
Not only that, but there were direct quotes that weirdly fit my situation in a way that left me shocked after reading. Here are a few:
"It feels like everything should be different, but it's not. Neighbors walk their dogs. Other kids walk home from school. Shelly passes people jogging who smile and wave hello. Something should be different, but it's not. The weather is overcast but not raining. People are living their lives."
"Okay feels like it's years and years away right now, so far away it might as well be the moon, might as well not exist, but the car keeps driving toward the house and Grandma keeps holding Shelly close. The world keeps moving."
"Any day now her mother's going to walk through the door and apologize for being gone for so long, the way she did when she had to pull long shifts at work. Shelly will tell her it's okay. That it doesn't matter if it took a long time, it's just nice to have her home. Only she doesn't come."
"Shelly doesn't think she's a child anymore. She's gotten older since her mom died. She can't stop growing up and getting further away from her mom."
"She wants to tell [him] he needs to stay around if he wants her to remember him. She wants to tell Grandma that memories aren't the same as a person. That they fade. One day she won't remember the sound of [his] voice... One day she won't remember her mother's face. Maybe ghosts aren't the same as living people, but they're better than nothing... She wants to keep everybody here, with her, instead of letting them leave."
"Death is something that happens to everyone, but knowing when it's going to happen, choosing when you make the transition from life to death, choosing whether or not you'll be a ghost and stick around a little longer, isn't something most people get the chance to do."
My dad passed away (2 weeks ago today as I write this) and my heart is still shattered. This author was able to perfectly describe most of my feelings in a way I haven't been able to articulate. In a way, its comforting to get validation and know that things I've been thinking/feeling are completely normal.
Not only that, but there were direct quotes that weirdly fit my situation in a way that left me shocked after reading. Here are a few:
"It feels like everything should be different, but it's not. Neighbors walk their dogs. Other kids walk home from school. Shelly passes people jogging who smile and wave hello. Something should be different, but it's not. The weather is overcast but not raining. People are living their lives."
"Okay feels like it's years and years away right now, so far away it might as well be the moon, might as well not exist, but the car keeps driving toward the house and Grandma keeps holding Shelly close. The world keeps moving."
"Any day now her mother's going to walk through the door and apologize for being gone for so long, the way she did when she had to pull long shifts at work. Shelly will tell her it's okay. That it doesn't matter if it took a long time, it's just nice to have her home. Only she doesn't come."
"Shelly doesn't think she's a child anymore. She's gotten older since her mom died. She can't stop growing up and getting further away from her mom."
"She wants to tell [him] he needs to stay around if he wants her to remember him. She wants to tell Grandma that memories aren't the same as a person. That they fade. One day she won't remember the sound of [his] voice... One day she won't remember her mother's face. Maybe ghosts aren't the same as living people, but they're better than nothing... She wants to keep everybody here, with her, instead of letting them leave."
"Death is something that happens to everyone, but knowing when it's going to happen, choosing when you make the transition from life to death, choosing whether or not you'll be a ghost and stick around a little longer, isn't something most people get the chance to do."
September 4, 2020
This book was sweet but a little uneven for me. Some of the ideas about ghosts were really interesting or descriptive, which made the more bland interactions stand out in a bad way. There were some really well done descriptions of Shelley’s experience of grief that highlighted for me how stilted a lot of the description of her experience in school was. I guess it was a bit like the author was caught between trying not to “tell” too much, and get detailed or figurative in describing Shelley’s internal experience, and trying not to rely on “showing” for a middle-grade audience that might not draw as much nuance as the author hoped to convey.
As a kid I would have enjoyed this book a lot. So if you’re in the target age range, go for it!
As a kid I would have enjoyed this book a lot. So if you’re in the target age range, go for it!
July 2, 2023
What a gem!
This book was labeled YA, but the premise sounded intriguing, so I grabbed it. I'm glad I did. A quick read, I finished this in one sitting (more storms knocked the power out, so it was a good reason to do nothing but read this afternoon).
Based on a Cree worldview and inspired by the author's great-grandmother, this novel touches on love, loss, death, grief, and fear/questions about what happens after a life has ended.
I found myself stunned to find that the wisdom here in this slim volume applied to me because I suffered a huge upheaval a month prior to the COVID pandemic and lost my entire way of life. There is a part in this book where it hit me: I'm hanging onto the ghost of who I used to be and how I used to live... and I'm suffering terribly for it. Many tears followed, and I suspect I'll be crying for a time to come, having never properly mourned until now. There are many forms of death and loss, it's not just when a person passes away.
I'll be thinking about this for a long time and will be looking up more about the Cree worldview to learn in greater detail this fascinating lore.
This book was labeled YA, but the premise sounded intriguing, so I grabbed it. I'm glad I did. A quick read, I finished this in one sitting (more storms knocked the power out, so it was a good reason to do nothing but read this afternoon).
Based on a Cree worldview and inspired by the author's great-grandmother, this novel touches on love, loss, death, grief, and fear/questions about what happens after a life has ended.
I found myself stunned to find that the wisdom here in this slim volume applied to me because I suffered a huge upheaval a month prior to the COVID pandemic and lost my entire way of life. There is a part in this book where it hit me: I'm hanging onto the ghost of who I used to be and how I used to live... and I'm suffering terribly for it. Many tears followed, and I suspect I'll be crying for a time to come, having never properly mourned until now. There are many forms of death and loss, it's not just when a person passes away.
I'll be thinking about this for a long time and will be looking up more about the Cree worldview to learn in greater detail this fascinating lore.
September 18, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Shelly has a special gift passed down through the women in her family that allows her to not only see ghosts but also catch them in her long hair. Her grandmother taught her how to catch the ghosts, appease them, and send them on their way to pass on.
When Shelly's mother dies in a car accident, she is sure she will be able to find her and bring her home but no matter where she looks, there is no sign of the ghost she wants to see the most. Shelly accumulates ghost after ghost as she tries to fill the void her mother left but no amount of stray neighborhood ghosties will sate her and Shelly is forced to learn an important lesson about letting go.
This heartwarming and hopeful little story for 'tweens' has lessons in folklore and friendship but mainly focuses on death and grief. Despite that Shelly is used to ghosts, she is not prepared to lose a loved one and buries her grief by hoarding stray neighborhood ghosts in her bedroom.
I really enjoyed how the plot and character development revolved around the five stages of grief. Shelly goes through denial, anger, and even tries bargaining with the music-loving ghost that lives in the cemetery before losing hope. Thankfully, the fifth stage of grief is acceptance and Shelly learns many important lessons throughout the story before it wraps up beautifully!
This is an excellent coming-of-age story with life lessons that will stick with you. It's also not very spooky at all considering it has ghosts so don't be afraid to give this ghost story a try!
This review was originally shared on my book review blog: Lazy Day Literature.
Shelly has a special gift passed down through the women in her family that allows her to not only see ghosts but also catch them in her long hair. Her grandmother taught her how to catch the ghosts, appease them, and send them on their way to pass on.
When Shelly's mother dies in a car accident, she is sure she will be able to find her and bring her home but no matter where she looks, there is no sign of the ghost she wants to see the most. Shelly accumulates ghost after ghost as she tries to fill the void her mother left but no amount of stray neighborhood ghosties will sate her and Shelly is forced to learn an important lesson about letting go.
This heartwarming and hopeful little story for 'tweens' has lessons in folklore and friendship but mainly focuses on death and grief. Despite that Shelly is used to ghosts, she is not prepared to lose a loved one and buries her grief by hoarding stray neighborhood ghosts in her bedroom.
I really enjoyed how the plot and character development revolved around the five stages of grief. Shelly goes through denial, anger, and even tries bargaining with the music-loving ghost that lives in the cemetery before losing hope. Thankfully, the fifth stage of grief is acceptance and Shelly learns many important lessons throughout the story before it wraps up beautifully!
This is an excellent coming-of-age story with life lessons that will stick with you. It's also not very spooky at all considering it has ghosts so don't be afraid to give this ghost story a try!
This review was originally shared on my book review blog: Lazy Day Literature.
November 12, 2020
This was an ok book. I liked reading it and it kept me interested. But it didn't pull me in. Great for passing time and just for something to read. Interesting characters, I loved the plot and the creativity that went into writing this. It was written well, but not exactly my cup of joe. To each their own.
May 20, 2020
Brief thoughts originally published 8 January 2020 at Falling Letters.
I Can Make This Promise and The Ghost Collector each feature a girl with special talent, albeit one that is more supernatural than the other. Shelley catches ghosts in her hair. She and her grandmother help them move on to where they’re supposed to be. Mostly, Shelley helps with animal ghosts. When Shelley’s mom dies suddenly, Shelley’s grandmother has to take on more work to support the two of them. She leaves Shelley to be babysat by a neighbour. But Shelley has other ideas – she needs to find her mother’s ghosts. Shelley becomes obsessed with clinging to the ghosts that she catches, rather than helping them move on. Not as dark and heavy as it might sound, nor as sensationalist as it might have been in the hands of another writer, The Ghost Collector is a moving, compassionate story about working through loss and grief.
I initially found it odd that, after Shelley’s mother’s death, Shelley’s grandmother didn’t immediately have a conversation with Shelley about the likelihood of Shelley’s mother becoming a ghost. But then I reminded myself that I’ve never suddenly and unexpectedly lost my daughter and become my grandchild’s caregiver. That conversation could easily have been missed among other priorities.
I Can Make This Promise and The Ghost Collector each feature a girl with special talent, albeit one that is more supernatural than the other. Shelley catches ghosts in her hair. She and her grandmother help them move on to where they’re supposed to be. Mostly, Shelley helps with animal ghosts. When Shelley’s mom dies suddenly, Shelley’s grandmother has to take on more work to support the two of them. She leaves Shelley to be babysat by a neighbour. But Shelley has other ideas – she needs to find her mother’s ghosts. Shelley becomes obsessed with clinging to the ghosts that she catches, rather than helping them move on. Not as dark and heavy as it might sound, nor as sensationalist as it might have been in the hands of another writer, The Ghost Collector is a moving, compassionate story about working through loss and grief.
I initially found it odd that, after Shelley’s mother’s death, Shelley’s grandmother didn’t immediately have a conversation with Shelley about the likelihood of Shelley’s mother becoming a ghost. But then I reminded myself that I’ve never suddenly and unexpectedly lost my daughter and become my grandchild’s caregiver. That conversation could easily have been missed among other priorities.
July 6, 2020
This is such a different ghost story! The author's great-grandmother told her stories which led to this tale - and I'm glad she did.
The Ghost Collector is not a haunting tale in the sense of giving you chills, but a tale of how our lives might be haunted. Haunted with grieving.
Shelly has inherited her family's ability to catch ghosts in her hair and to help them along. She can catch the ghosts of animals as well as people. When her mother dies, it's only natural that Shelly would expect to have time with her mom's ghost. How do we grasp onto things to help us remember our loved ones? I've known of people who keep their parents' treasures, or photos, or stories. If you could keep the ghost of a loved one near would you? What happens when we can't have what we want - our loved one to stay? Shelly goes through this process of grieving and spins the reader into her hair for the ride.
Kids need sad books. It helps them process the hard things in their lives.
If a middle-grade book has anything that might make some parent wary, I feel like I need to mention it. There is a very passing reference to a lesbian couple. The book talks about Hannah's wife in passing while the characters are on a ghost job.
There is no violence, sexual content, or swearing.
I recommend this book and author.
The Ghost Collector is not a haunting tale in the sense of giving you chills, but a tale of how our lives might be haunted. Haunted with grieving.
Shelly has inherited her family's ability to catch ghosts in her hair and to help them along. She can catch the ghosts of animals as well as people. When her mother dies, it's only natural that Shelly would expect to have time with her mom's ghost. How do we grasp onto things to help us remember our loved ones? I've known of people who keep their parents' treasures, or photos, or stories. If you could keep the ghost of a loved one near would you? What happens when we can't have what we want - our loved one to stay? Shelly goes through this process of grieving and spins the reader into her hair for the ride.
Kids need sad books. It helps them process the hard things in their lives.
If a middle-grade book has anything that might make some parent wary, I feel like I need to mention it. There is a very passing reference to a lesbian couple. The book talks about Hannah's wife in passing while the characters are on a ghost job.
There is no violence, sexual content, or swearing.
I recommend this book and author.
May 11, 2020
Super cute story for middle graders that will make you smile and likely cry. I loved the references to The Cure and The Smiths, which I’m sure all the kids won’t get.
August 16, 2020
This is a good book, but the writing is very off-putting. It is jilted and does not flow. I would have been much more emotionally invested if the writing had been smoother. I am not sure if it was constantly using Shelly’s name to the point of annoyance or if it was something not so easily noticeable. The writing just ruined the strength of the book.
The story was good, but not great. Again, it felt disjointed and a little messy. I understand the message and the intent, but it was a little weak. I love stories like this that have a connection with ghosts, but this one fell flat. The connection between the ghosts and the ghost hunter was not strong, Shelley jape this most of the book focusing on herself, which was a little off-putting. I think this could have been a really amazing book if it was a stronger and the writing got a bit spruced up and deep.
The story was good, but not great. Again, it felt disjointed and a little messy. I understand the message and the intent, but it was a little weak. I love stories like this that have a connection with ghosts, but this one fell flat. The connection between the ghosts and the ghost hunter was not strong, Shelley jape this most of the book focusing on herself, which was a little off-putting. I think this could have been a really amazing book if it was a stronger and the writing got a bit spruced up and deep.
October 24, 2020
Shelly loves ghosts. She loves learning from her Cree Grandmother how to catch ghosts in their hair and help spirits move on. She's never been too concerned with where the spirits move on to - until Shelly's mother suddenly dies, and Shelly's relationship with the dead drastically changes.
This is NOT your typical middle grade ghost story! There's one scary moment with an angry ghost in a hotel elevator, but otherwise the story is a moving exploration of grief, loss and love. Plus it's an #ownvoices novel written by a librarian - does it get any better?!
This is NOT your typical middle grade ghost story! There's one scary moment with an angry ghost in a hotel elevator, but otherwise the story is a moving exploration of grief, loss and love. Plus it's an #ownvoices novel written by a librarian - does it get any better?!
October 10, 2019
The idea behind the story was intriguing which is why I requested the advance reading copy, but it was very disappointing style-wise. It felt like I was reading a very early draft. I did not finish this.
March 2, 2020
The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills pulls off a child protagonist with an extraordinary ability who is also extraordinarily authentic. Shelly, like her grandmother, is able to connect with ghosts, talk to them, and carry them from one place to another using her hair as a vehicle. Her natural curiosity about them, coupled with her desire to take on jobs like an adult makes the supernatural element so matter-of-fact and effortless. I never thought I could read a story about a character bringing a ghost home and believe it so thoroughly. The descriptions of how it feels it actually hold a ghost in one's hair were especially well-written and vivid. The ghosts themselves don't merely act like translucent humans but have a distant disconnect with the mortal world. They fixate on what was important to them in life but are disinterested in what's happening in the present, very much like characters stuck between two worlds.
At the heart of the story, though, is Shelly's relationship with her mother, who doesn't want her daughter spending so much time chatting with the dead. The mother and grandmother present opposing views (and Shelly definitely sides with Grandma), but the love between mother and daughter never wavers. The relationship is real; one of ups and downs, good times and bad times. Ultimately, this was one of those books that intrigued me from the start, and while I originally encountered this title on Netgalley, I just had to buy it for myself. I consumed it in a single afternoon, barely able to put it down, and although I don't cry at books very often, I was misty-eyed by the end of it. A strongly recommended read.
At the heart of the story, though, is Shelly's relationship with her mother, who doesn't want her daughter spending so much time chatting with the dead. The mother and grandmother present opposing views (and Shelly definitely sides with Grandma), but the love between mother and daughter never wavers. The relationship is real; one of ups and downs, good times and bad times. Ultimately, this was one of those books that intrigued me from the start, and while I originally encountered this title on Netgalley, I just had to buy it for myself. I consumed it in a single afternoon, barely able to put it down, and although I don't cry at books very often, I was misty-eyed by the end of it. A strongly recommended read.
December 6, 2019
Shelly is Cree and lives with her mother and grandmother. She is interested in carrying on with her grandmother’s family business of ghost collection and extermination, which her mother has rejected as a career option. Shelly in particular, is tasked with catching ghost animals in her hair and releasing them outdoors when they can more easily move on to the next stage. Shelly’s grandma deals with the more complicated cases. Shelly’s mother disapproves of Shelly going along on the ghost collecting jobs, but Shelly is passionate about learning the business. When a terrible accident takes Shelly’s mom’s life, Shelly loses her ability to help ghosts move on and instead starts hoarding ghosts in the house. There’s really only one ghost she’s interested in finding, however, but that ghost eludes her completely. The Ghost Collector is interesting conceptually, but isn’t well executed.
I was initially excited about this book because it is by an Indigenous author and is purported to have a storyline about an indigenous character, but the Native elements feel very peripheral and are rarely mentioned. Shelly and her grandmother help ghosts move on to the other side (using their hair somehow), but it’s unclear what elements are cultural. I also think that most students will be dismayed to find that ghosts are not creepy, but instead are mostly boring and bland...like normal people who have gotten lost on their way somewhere. Moreover, the book is written in third person, but feels like it should be written in first person.
I was initially excited about this book because it is by an Indigenous author and is purported to have a storyline about an indigenous character, but the Native elements feel very peripheral and are rarely mentioned. Shelly and her grandmother help ghosts move on to the other side (using their hair somehow), but it’s unclear what elements are cultural. I also think that most students will be dismayed to find that ghosts are not creepy, but instead are mostly boring and bland...like normal people who have gotten lost on their way somewhere. Moreover, the book is written in third person, but feels like it should be written in first person.
January 29, 2020
A marvelous new story with so much heart. The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills delves into big feelings of grief and loss and how we cope when those things hit close to home.
Shelly’s grandmother is a ghost collector, she helps the ghosts of people and animals that get stuck behind, it’s a family business. Grandma, Shelly’s mom and even Shelly herself all have the ability to see ghosts and help them along their journey. Shelly loves helping Grandma help the ghosts in their community. Grandma is pretty well known, even the police ask for her help from time to time. When the unthinkable happens, Shelly’s life is turned upside down and she begins to collect the ghosts around her instead of helping them move on.
I love that Allison Mills is sharing some of her history and community with young readers. The Ghost Collector is a story about loss and how we cope with loss. It’s also sprinkled with her Cree ancestry to move the story along and give it more depth. It’s not the entire focus of the story, it’s the connecting strand that links Shelly and her family and helps us to understand the important jobs of elders in different communities. Mental well being is a big focus in many schools right now. When we are experiencing loss and grief, we can have a hard time reconciling all of the big feelings we experience. This book was an intimate look at how the death of someone close can make us do things we wouldn’t ordinarily do, to feel like we can survive the hurt. Through compassion, caring, and understanding we can make our way to the other side of grief
Shelly’s grandmother is a ghost collector, she helps the ghosts of people and animals that get stuck behind, it’s a family business. Grandma, Shelly’s mom and even Shelly herself all have the ability to see ghosts and help them along their journey. Shelly loves helping Grandma help the ghosts in their community. Grandma is pretty well known, even the police ask for her help from time to time. When the unthinkable happens, Shelly’s life is turned upside down and she begins to collect the ghosts around her instead of helping them move on.
I love that Allison Mills is sharing some of her history and community with young readers. The Ghost Collector is a story about loss and how we cope with loss. It’s also sprinkled with her Cree ancestry to move the story along and give it more depth. It’s not the entire focus of the story, it’s the connecting strand that links Shelly and her family and helps us to understand the important jobs of elders in different communities. Mental well being is a big focus in many schools right now. When we are experiencing loss and grief, we can have a hard time reconciling all of the big feelings we experience. This book was an intimate look at how the death of someone close can make us do things we wouldn’t ordinarily do, to feel like we can survive the hurt. Through compassion, caring, and understanding we can make our way to the other side of grief
January 24, 2020
Shelly and her grandmother catch ghosts with their hair. How do you catch ghosts with your hair? Shelly and her mom live with grandma. Shelly and her mom do things her grandma would not approve of but its their secrets. When Shelly and grandma get news that her mom is dead due to a car accident, Shelly can’t believe it. When Shelly “gets it,” she expects her mom to show up to her as a ghost. She doesn’t know why she hasn’t seen her mom’s ghost. She goes and asks ghosts if they have seen her mom. She brings home a ghost from the cemetery to her room. When the ghost complains about no one to talk to during the day, she brings home a kitten ghost, then another ghost until her room gets crowded. She hides them while she goes to school so grandma won’t know what Shelly has done. Will Grandma discover the ghosts? Will Shelly find her mom’s ghost?
Besides the humor in the novel, there is a serious theme about death of a loved one and grieving. There is an interesting twist on how Grandma and Shelly move ghosts on. The idea is that ghosts don’t belong here on earth. I enjoyed the novel seeing the relationship between Shelly and her Grandma grow into a good relationship.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the book author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Besides the humor in the novel, there is a serious theme about death of a loved one and grieving. There is an interesting twist on how Grandma and Shelly move ghosts on. The idea is that ghosts don’t belong here on earth. I enjoyed the novel seeing the relationship between Shelly and her Grandma grow into a good relationship.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the book author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
August 24, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and Annick Press for the review copy of The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills. All opinions are my own.
Shelly's family is able to do something extraordinary. Not only can she, her mother, and her grandmother see ghosts, but they're able to catch them in their hair. Shelly and her grandmother capture ghosts in their hair and help them move on. Shelly's mother though has never really been a fan of spending time with ghosts and attempts to keep Shelly from helping her grandmother. Things change dramatically for Shelly when her mother dies suddenly in an accident. This causes Shelly's relationship with ghosts and death, and she begins hoarding ghosts in her bedroom as she searches for the ghost of her mother.
This book is rooted in a Cree worldview and is based on stories of Mill's great-grandmother's life. The Ghost Collector starts off light and fun. The concept of collecting ghosts in your hair and helping them move on is intriguing. I really liked that not only human ghosts were included, but also a variety of animals (mice, cats, dogs, birds, etc.). The book then takes a turn and becomes more serious as it handles the topics of death, grief, and moving forward after losing a loved one. Mills handles these topics masterfully and uniquely in a way that makes them accessible to younger readers.
Shelly's family is able to do something extraordinary. Not only can she, her mother, and her grandmother see ghosts, but they're able to catch them in their hair. Shelly and her grandmother capture ghosts in their hair and help them move on. Shelly's mother though has never really been a fan of spending time with ghosts and attempts to keep Shelly from helping her grandmother. Things change dramatically for Shelly when her mother dies suddenly in an accident. This causes Shelly's relationship with ghosts and death, and she begins hoarding ghosts in her bedroom as she searches for the ghost of her mother.
This book is rooted in a Cree worldview and is based on stories of Mill's great-grandmother's life. The Ghost Collector starts off light and fun. The concept of collecting ghosts in your hair and helping them move on is intriguing. I really liked that not only human ghosts were included, but also a variety of animals (mice, cats, dogs, birds, etc.). The book then takes a turn and becomes more serious as it handles the topics of death, grief, and moving forward after losing a loved one. Mills handles these topics masterfully and uniquely in a way that makes them accessible to younger readers.
September 11, 2019
So so lovely. Allison Mills captures grief with great tenderness as Shelly learns how to let go. Details were sparse to focus on plot, and the third person narration almost made me feel like a ghost myself witnessing Shelly's process. I loved the idea of Shelly and her grandma catching ghosts in their hair (amazing imagery). Astutely touched on serious topics like class and stereotypes about indigenous spirituality in ways that make sense for kids. Greatly appreciated the commentary on capitalism through Shelly’s grandma having to start charging a fee for her services even though it went against her values.
It was tough to experience the grandma having to adjust her values and I feel like there was opportunity there for Shelly to understand how her grandma must have been feeling and processing her grief over losing her daughter. There was such a loneliness lingering on the pages that kept me reading- I just wanted Shelly to be ok. I thought it was going to be a spooky book, but focusing on the ghosts' energies and what they represented for the main character rather than investigating their deaths changed the tone for the best. The author was informed by the Cree worldview and this book was inspired by stories about her great grandmother’s life, which make it more special. Absolutely recommend.
It was tough to experience the grandma having to adjust her values and I feel like there was opportunity there for Shelly to understand how her grandma must have been feeling and processing her grief over losing her daughter. There was such a loneliness lingering on the pages that kept me reading- I just wanted Shelly to be ok. I thought it was going to be a spooky book, but focusing on the ghosts' energies and what they represented for the main character rather than investigating their deaths changed the tone for the best. The author was informed by the Cree worldview and this book was inspired by stories about her great grandmother’s life, which make it more special. Absolutely recommend.
Read
October 24, 2020I don't exactly recall how this book ended up on my TBR -- I think after The Only Good Indians, I found some recs on Twitter for other books by Native authors, and Allison Mills's middle grade book came up? That seems likely.
This being maybe the second or so modern MG book I've read, my frame of reference may not be adjusted appropriately for what an MG book can deal with, but I'll say this:
At less than 200 pages, this is a pretty quick read, where sometimes whole chunks of time are summed up or where some deep feeling is stated as text rather than detailed subtext at twice the length. The story is also very simple: a girl has the ability to see ghosts and help them on to the afterlife, whatever that is like, just like her mother (who doesn't like it) and grandmother (who sees it as her duty and later as a job), and then, death touches her family, and she is confronted with the grief of being alone and ignored -- just like the ghosts in her life.
It's... a lot less fantastical than I thought going in, and while this might not be the book for me, I almost wish I was a school librarian to recommend it to the kids who would need it.
This being maybe the second or so modern MG book I've read, my frame of reference may not be adjusted appropriately for what an MG book can deal with, but I'll say this:
At less than 200 pages, this is a pretty quick read, where sometimes whole chunks of time are summed up or where some deep feeling is stated as text rather than detailed subtext at twice the length. The story is also very simple: a girl has the ability to see ghosts and help them on to the afterlife, whatever that is like, just like her mother (who doesn't like it) and grandmother (who sees it as her duty and later as a job), and then, death touches her family, and she is confronted with the grief of being alone and ignored -- just like the ghosts in her life.
It's... a lot less fantastical than I thought going in, and while this might not be the book for me, I almost wish I was a school librarian to recommend it to the kids who would need it.
November 6, 2022
Shelly is a little Cree girl growing up in the city with her mother and grandmother. The ability to see and catch ghosts in their hair runs in the family. Grandma does this for a living while Mom prefers to stay away from ghosts, always making sure to keep her hair pulled back lest she catch an unwanted ghost. The daughter, Shelly, loves the world of ghosts, in spite of her mother's warnings to pay more attention to the living world.
An unexpected loss, however, causes Shelly to pay more attention to ghosts than ever as she searches for the ghost of a lost loved one. She ends up at odds with her grandmother, feeling as though the world is unfair and not understanding why things have to change now. Shelly begins collecting ghosts to keep in her room rather than helping them to move on, as she was taught. But if Grandma can break the rules, why shouldn't she?
A poignant story about grief, The Ghost Collector deals with some pretty heavy issues, but in a way that feels satisfying in the end. It's true that death is permanent, and that nothing will ever be the same. But in the end, it's okay because we still have the memories of our lost loved ones -- even if they don't come back as a ghost. We learn with Shelly that the only direction to move is forward.
I strongly recommend this book for any age of reader.
An unexpected loss, however, causes Shelly to pay more attention to ghosts than ever as she searches for the ghost of a lost loved one. She ends up at odds with her grandmother, feeling as though the world is unfair and not understanding why things have to change now. Shelly begins collecting ghosts to keep in her room rather than helping them to move on, as she was taught. But if Grandma can break the rules, why shouldn't she?
A poignant story about grief, The Ghost Collector deals with some pretty heavy issues, but in a way that feels satisfying in the end. It's true that death is permanent, and that nothing will ever be the same. But in the end, it's okay because we still have the memories of our lost loved ones -- even if they don't come back as a ghost. We learn with Shelly that the only direction to move is forward.
I strongly recommend this book for any age of reader.
November 24, 2019
See my full review here.
Like all the women in their family, Shelly and her grandmother can see ghosts. And they can catch them. In their hair. Once caught, the ghosts can be set free and sent on their way, to wherever it is they are supposed to be. Sometimes the ghosts are in a house, sometimes they are animals, and sometimes they are quite happy to stick around. Shelly loves joining her grandmother on a ghost job. Grandmother says you can’t free them till they are ready to go, but often a cup of warm milk does the trick. When a tragedy befalls the family, Shelly finds herself drawing inward, choosing the company of ghosts over the real world. Drawing on her Ililiw/Cree heritage, Mills develops a strong cast of characters who are sympathetic and real. The writing is generally strong, with occasional humour as well as excellent dialogue and descriptive setting. The First Nations references are well integrated in the story and don’t feel at all forced. I did feel the story dragged a bit toward the end, with too much omniscient narration. My thanks to Annick Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Like all the women in their family, Shelly and her grandmother can see ghosts. And they can catch them. In their hair. Once caught, the ghosts can be set free and sent on their way, to wherever it is they are supposed to be. Sometimes the ghosts are in a house, sometimes they are animals, and sometimes they are quite happy to stick around. Shelly loves joining her grandmother on a ghost job. Grandmother says you can’t free them till they are ready to go, but often a cup of warm milk does the trick. When a tragedy befalls the family, Shelly finds herself drawing inward, choosing the company of ghosts over the real world. Drawing on her Ililiw/Cree heritage, Mills develops a strong cast of characters who are sympathetic and real. The writing is generally strong, with occasional humour as well as excellent dialogue and descriptive setting. The First Nations references are well integrated in the story and don’t feel at all forced. I did feel the story dragged a bit toward the end, with too much omniscient narration. My thanks to Annick Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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