I downloaded this not realizing it was a book for children, but I read it anyway. I very much enjoyed it! I believe the targeted age would be around 10-12? I loved ghost stories when I was that age, especially ones that weren’t that scary. What’s great about this story is how it approaches a very sad and troubling topic (the passing of a parent) and handles it in a way that is approachable but not preachy or didactic. As an adult, I understood what the novel was trying to do (walk a child reader through a realistic depiction of grief) but it wouldn’t have been obvious to a child.

There’s a great set of characters – a couple of quirky ghosts, a fun grandmother turned caregiver, and a wonderful protagonist you really feel for. There were a few amusing scenes that helped lighten the tone but didn’t detract from the mood. There were also two scenes that were even a little scary but didn’t go too far.
It was great to see people of colour featured primarily in the novel, and especially the main character who was of First Nations background. I liked the Canadian aspect too, of course!

The book is a non-scary Sixth Sense and a moving tale that teaches kids about loss, acceptance and moving on. It was realistic despite the magical realism genre and the author did a fabulous job suggesting the socio-economic status of the family without bludgeoning us with it. While I, as an adult, knew it would work out in the end, a kid would likely be enthralled by what was going to happen next.

I will buy a copy to give to my daughter when she’s old enough.

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.