The little grey girl by Celine Kiernan
![cover image](https://www.readplus.com.au/covers/thelittlegreygirl.jpg)
The Wild Magic Trilogy book 2. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN
9781406373929.
(Age: 9-13) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy. Ghosts. Witches. Scary
books. In the second book in The Wild Magic Trilogy, following Begone
the raggedy witches, Mup and her family travel to the castle,
where Mam is greeted, to her dismay, as the new queen. But the old
queen is still powerful and the kingdom is in danger. Mup sees a
little grey girl, a ghost who has extraordinary powers, and
discovers that she can make anyone exceptionally sad as she haunts
them with terrible memories from the past. What can she do to help
heal the kingdom?
This is a book that will appeal to children and young adults who
like ghost stories with brave protagonists who try to fight evil.
The little grey girl has frightening powers and children with vivid
imaginations will be able to see the terrible things that she
remembers from the dungeons under the castle. (It is not a story for
the faint-hearted to read at night.) However many readers will be
able to concentrate on the closeness of Mup's family, her friendship
with Crow, and her determination to help everyone, including the
little grey girl.
Mup is a very strong character who can stand up to witches and
ghosts, while acknowledging when she is wrong and being able to
apologise when her actions hurt someone. Throughout the story she
gradually learns about her powers as a witch and uses them to do the
right thing.
Kiernan's prose is vivid, sparse and easy to read and it takes the
reader on an adventure with Mup soaring through the air, sitting on
the castle roof with Crow, and using her witch light to explore the
tunnels and dungeons that are hidden under the castle floors.
Tiny illustrations throughout the book add atmosphere and add to the
tension. Readers who examine the front cover, too, will get a shiver
down their spines when looking at the shadow of the fierce dog
depicted there.
Older readers might like to continue reading about ghosts with City of
ghosts by Victoria Schwab, and younger readers might like the
style of books by Katherine Rundell.
Pat Pledger