The Ghost Who Pinched Me

by Mabel Gan

Something made me look from the amahs to the frangipani tree in the corner. And there she was—Ying. She was looking up at me. I shivered. Was my fever making me imagine things? I needed to tell Ma and Papa right away, but at this very moment, they were at Bukit Brown Cemetery, tending to Ying’s funeral.Ten-year-old Bee Ling grows up sheltered and privileged in 1940s Singapore, jealous of her beautiful, perfect elder sister, Ying. When the Japanese attack Singapore, Ying is killed in an air raid at school. Shortly afterwards, Singapore is occupied by the Japanese and the family endure the wartime hardship and horrors that ensue. Her sister returns as a spirit to guide, protect and reassure her that she will survive the war. Bee Ling grows to appreciate what she has left and gains an understanding of the bonds of love that exist even in the face of devastating loss. Written with unflinching clarity through the innocent eyes of a child, this coming-of-age novel is an intimate portrait of love, family, resilience, and the power of sisterhood.

Genres: Middle Grade

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Andrea McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a super book to use as a mentor text with our Grade 6s in our historical narrative unit. Enjoyed it and very much looking forward to meeting Mabel Gan.

[Jac · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on how loss and war impacts the family of a young girl in Japanese occupied Singapore.

[Apollos Michio · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost Who Pinched Me by Mabel Gan is a well-paced and engaging novel that tells the story of a girl named Bee who loses her sister during the Japanese Occupation in 1940s Singapore. However, she sees and feels her sister around the house even after her death and throughout the tumultuous period of wartime uncertainty, quietly protecting Bee and her family. 🇸🇬🇯🇵

Despite the unfortunate situation of war, this book is not depressing at all but hopeful and even lighthearted at times, centering around playful Bee who grows up in a privileged environment. 👧

I particularly liked the theme of sibling jealousy between Bee and her sister, and the heartwarming resolution towards the end of the book. 👯‍♀️

Overall, this is a clear, simple story that is nicely excecuted and I enjoyed it! 📖

4.25/5

[Aquila M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written entirely from a child’s perspective, The Ghost Who Pinched Me reveals the experiences of a ten-year-old girl named Bee who lives in a well-to-do family during the 1940s in Singapore.

After Bee’s sister, Ying, was killed in an air raid at school, she returns to their house as a ghost and protects the family.

I’ve never really wondered how the people in Singapore lived their day-to-day lives during the Japanese Occupation and this book gave me a brief glimpse into the lives of people at that time.

I love how the author incorporated supernatural into the story and how the events unfolded in a relatively fast pace which made the book less dull.

Overall, this was a short and interesting read for me!

My rating: 4/5

[Adhima Ratnaningtyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about war that was not solely depressing, but also actually heartwarming and hopeful!

[Vivian Teo · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the title and back cover blurb – a ghost (and a pinching one!), cemetery, dead sister - one would expect a creepy read. A few scenes did give me the chills, but the novel is much more than a ghost story. It’s a poignant read about the family ties that bind us, and relationships and bonds that endure in times of adversity.

Set in 1940s Singapore, the story tells of a privileged ten-year-old girl, Bee Ling, who has always been jealous of her elder sister, Ying. After Ying is killed in an air raid at school, Bee Ling encounters her sister’s spirit as she and her family suffer the hardships of war.

The story makes a heartfelt read for middle schoolers through its candid yet tender touch on sibling love and the Japanese occupation as viewed through a child's eyes. Reading it as a parent and sister myself, it moved me on quite a few aspects, particularly Bee Ling's parents' loss of a child and the preciousness of sisterhood.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Link to my book talk: https://youtu.be/q6thfSgl1GA

I love reading historical fiction because it's a window to see what it's like living during historical time and I get to learn history in a fun way. Through this book, I experienced what it is like to be a 10-year old girl living in Singapore during World War II. THE GHOST WHO PINCHED ME is a perfect read around Halloween season, but it is not spooky or scary at all (no worries if you're scared of spooky books like me)! Instead, it is a lovely sibling rivalry and love story. The book is 114-page and is a quick read. I highly recommend it. Another great World War II historical fiction/ biography with an Asia backdrop is Chinese Cinderella, which I book talked earlier.