"Shadow Girls is a beautifully written coming-of-age novel with ghostly undertones - a haunting read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page."
I loved this atmospheric, coming-of-age novel, with its ghostly and tragic undertones. Shadow Girls explores the fragility and intensity of teenage friendships in the mid-1960s. The book instantly conjured up memories of my own school days in the 1980s – adolescent emotions, rebellious behaviour, first relationships and cliquey peer groups. The characters leapt out of the page, thanks to the stunning, highly descriptive prose and believable dialogue. The first half of the book is a slowburn, building up the tension and feelings of nostalgia; the second half is unsettling and much darker. The supernatural element of the book worked well for me too, sending a chill down my spine, and with an unreliable narrator it was very difficult to know what was real and what wasn't. Shadow Girls is also a beautiful written novel about mental health and the psychological impact of grief. It's a haunting read, and one that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
| Primary Genre | Horror and Supernatural Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Combining psychological suspense with elements of the ghost story, Shadow Girls is a literary exploration of girlhood by the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Jamrach's Menagerie.
Manchester, 1960s. Sally, a cynical fifteen-year-old schoolgirl, is much too clever for her own good. When partnered with her best friend, Pamela - a mouthy girl who no-one else much likes - Sally finds herself unable to resist the temptation of rebellion. The pair play truant, explore forbidden areas of the old school and - their favourite - torment posh Sylvia Rose, with her pristine uniform and her beautiful voice that wins every singing prize.
One day, Sally ventures (unauthorised, of course) up to the greenhouse on the roof alone. Or at least she thinks she's alone, until she sees Sylvia on the roof too. Sally hurries downstairs, afraid of Sylvia snitching, but Sylvia appears to be there as well.
Amidst the resurgence of ghost stories and superstition among the girls, a tragedy is about to occur, one that will send Sally further and further down an uncanny rabbit hole...
Shadow Girls features in the following genres: Horror and Supernatural Fiction, General Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Thriller and Suspense, Contemporary horror and ghost stories, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Psychological thriller, Fiction, Fiction: narrative themes, Books of the Month, Recommendations
Shadow Girls is available in Paperback, Hardback
Shadow Girls was written by Carol Birch and published by Apollo an imprint of Head of Zeus
Shadow Girls has 306 pages
£15.29
