Andy and Ghost Boy by Karen Tyrrell

Title: Andy and Ghost Boy

Author: Karen Tyrrell

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Digital Future Press

Published: 22^nd July 2023

Format: Paperback

Pages: 194

Price: $16.99

Synopsis: Disaster magnet, Anxious Andy dreams of finding one true friend and his forever school, but how can he when Ghost Boy, his rambunctious friend, sabotages everything?

Andy and Ghost Boy trigger a catastrophe at school.

 At Camp Discovery, a bully showdown results in disaster.

Can Andy become the hero and save the day?

Shortlisted for the CYA Writing Competition 2022.

Shortlisted for SCWBI-Larrikin House Competition 2022.

~*~

Andy has moved – again. He’s at his 39^th school, and he’s nervous. All he wants is to make one true friend and stay at the same school forever. It’s never happened because his dad has to move wherever he can find work. To cope with his anxiety and all the change, Andy has an invisible friend called Ghost Boy, who pops up all the time sabotaging things for him? And to top it all off, Andy’s new school has a bully called the Hulk who keeps targeting him during his first week. Plus, Andy is worried about Mum, who never leaves the house. So, when the librarian, Mr Reed, invites Andy on a special camp, he isn’t sure if he can leave his family. And if he goes, will he be able to work through his feelings and help the least likely person?

Andy and Ghost Boy is a new novel aimed at readers aged seven and older by Karen Tyrrell. Andy, the focus character, is struggling to adapt to his new school and life, because he knows that it can change at any moment, the minute his dad gets a new job. And making friends is hard – he doesn’t feel confident, and part of him knows there may be no point if he has to move again. But when a mysterious girl helps him during a panic attack on the first day, Andy is fascinated by her and wants to thank her. The story really picks up when the kids go to Camp Discovery, a place for kids with anxiety to find ways of being confident, talking about what they are going through, and making friends within the school community. There was a sense of trepidation with Andy, as he hoped the Hulk wasn’t there, but the presence of a kid named Cody who refuses to answer when his name is called feels like it is overshadowing things. But Andy’s determination shines through, despite his fear. I sensed he wanted to find ways to cope with his anxiety and get rid of Ghost Boy, the little voice in his head and his ear telling him he couldn’t do things. I also felt that Andy didn’t really want Ghost Boy around, because Ghost Boy was the manifestation of his anxiety that he couldn’t control.

This short, fast-paced, and fun novel celebrates friendship, family, and finding your place whilst highlighting important mental health issues and illustrating that anxiety and mental health can affect anyone, at any age, as Andy sees through his father and his teacher, Miss Flowers. I liked that in this book, everyone’s anxiety and worries manifested differently, and the key characters – Andy, Elle, and one other person – used different ways of coping. It showed that everyone needs help and understanding, and that friendship is powerful. But sometimes, as this novel shows, people try to hide their struggles in negative ways and project this onto other people. The story does not excuse bullying, and nobody ever should, but it highlights that everyone has insecurities and finds different ways to deal with them.

I think younger readers will like this book because they can see their world, their feelings and in some cases, what they or people around them are going through. It is a book that might spark conversations and shape understanding across the board, and it is a timely book, and one that will be reassuring and comforting to anxious kids and adults, as it lets them know that they are not alone in their concerns. It is one that I hope will be helpful to many readers.         

Karen’s books can be bought here: https://www.karentyrrell.com/mybooks/