flowerranger's review against another edition
4.0
This novel shattered my heart into a billion pieces.
Girl, did I not expect that ending.
Perhaps this book was the Happy End as a whole and as all happy endings, it was quite sad in the end.
Though I did struggle with Pink’s mischievous deeds of jealousy and I don’t think the plot with the bawang is appropriate for middle grade.
I’m very happy to have read this book and you will be, too, and sad.
Girl, did I not expect that ending.
Perhaps this book was the Happy End as a whole and as all happy endings, it was quite sad in the end.
Though I did struggle with Pink’s mischievous deeds of jealousy and I don’t think the plot with the bawang is appropriate for middle grade.
I’m very happy to have read this book and you will be, too, and sad.
annalise_ellis's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
misspalah's review against another edition
5.0
As someone who’ve had a fair share of encountering a supernatural phenomenon / ghosts / apparitions while growing up and being shipped off to allegedly haunted boarding school on top of that, I should’ve steer clear from this book (but i am glad i didn’t).Not only it was so unapologetically Malaysian, it took me back of my childhood on knowing all different type of ghosts and their descriptions. When i got to know Hanna Alkaf’s book is about “Pelesit”, i was sold instantly. I wouldn’t call Pelesit a shapeshifter per se but so often it came to people’s house in a form of grasshopper. How did you distinguish the real grasshopper and the pelesit grasshopper ; bright red eyes and most of the time, it came to your house in middle of the night. Anyway, enough about Pelesit. For those who are not Malaysian or not aware of this ghost, you can google and read about it (but don’t do it during midnight unless you are a brave soul). The book brought us into the forgotten and past Malay culture where majority of Pawang and Bomoh use ghost as their servant. Suraya’s grandmother is one of them. When she died, the ghost (Pelesit / Pink) has to find a new master. This is how the friendship between Suraya and Pink (Pelesit) began in the first place. Suraya met Pink when she was young and Pink came to her life somehow offering companionship which she didn’t have. Her mom was busy working and somewhat detached to Suraya. You may ask what in the 7 hells Suraya would befriend a ghost but if a child is lonely and has no one around her, it would be plausible. After all, Suraya was at the impressionable age and will trust anyone who is kind to her. Pink is the Name for the Pelesit that are given by Suraya. Suraya eventually become Pink’s master as their blood bound after pink fed on her finger. Their relationship evolved to a companionship but it didn’t have a spark like Suraya and Jing Wei who came to her life later. Pink was not happy about it especially when Suraya started prioritising Jing Wei over him. This whole possessiveness exhibited by Pink takes its toll on Jing Wei and Suraya knew Pink was the cause of it. She confronted Pink and decided to cut him off. Pink retaliated by explicitly casted bad things unto Suraya. When Suraya’s Mom and Pawang Started to get involved, this changes everything. Suraya discovered about her past and family history and how it is connected to Pink. I love Suraya and Jing Wei but what makes this book special is Pink , the pelesit himself. Although it was not a good thing that you feel relatable to a Ghost character but i do feel for him. He was forced to be something that he’s not, he doesn’t know love because all his life was a constant demand of fulfilling bids by his former master and he wanted peace but he didn’t know how to embrace it. Overall, 5 stars and if i could give 10 stars, i would. I wish Hanna Alkaf will release this in webtoon just like she did for her previous book the weight of our sky, i would love to read it in comic version. This is highly recommended to all ; Malaysian or not , if you are into spooky horror stuff with a heartfelt story, this is it.
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You will find, child, that there are many monsters in this world who hide their darkness beneath a mask of piety. Call yourself a religious man and nobody will question you; do it well enough and you can stab them in the back, again and again and again, while they nod and say it is all for their own good.
- Pink to Suraya on those fake religious men
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“But Mama, broken mothers raise broken daughters. Did you not see how we could have each filled the parts the other was missing? Been stronger, together?”
- Suraya to her mom on their relationship
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P/S : I am not a fan of star wars hence some things that Jing Wei did in the book feels a little bit cringe
cutesycream's review against another edition
4.0
"Power is an addiction. A small taste is often enough for people to crave another, and then another, and then another, and those who have it will do anything to get more of it."
The Girl and the Ghost told a story about Suraya with her ghost called Pink. The ghost is a gift from her grandmother who were a witch.
At first I hesitated to finish this book in the night time, because looking at the title I thought the story would be super scary (I'm really afraid for some kind ghost story) . But turn out, in the first half of story it just really fun and tragic just like other middle grade book. How Suraya enjoy her school and how she meet her new friend. But for the few end chapter, it feels a little scary ofc because than they told all about pawang hantu, graves, dead and ghost but overall is a good story and not too scary for me.
The Girl and the Ghost told a story about Suraya with her ghost called Pink. The ghost is a gift from her grandmother who were a witch.
At first I hesitated to finish this book in the night time, because looking at the title I thought the story would be super scary (I'm really afraid for some kind ghost story) . But turn out, in the first half of story it just really fun and tragic just like other middle grade book. How Suraya enjoy her school and how she meet her new friend. But for the few end chapter, it feels a little scary ofc because than they told all about pawang hantu, graves, dead and ghost but overall is a good story and not too scary for me.
godlizza's review against another edition
4.0
This book goes hard with the creepiness and weird imagery! Good for you, book!
But for real, this is a great book about friendship, and when to let go of the anchor of grief. The relationship between the girl, Suraya, and the ghost, Pink, was tumultuous for sure, but served the purpose of the story, which is to say that it is best to live and let dead things lie. Good stuff!
But for real, this is a great book about friendship, and when to let go of the anchor of grief. The relationship between the girl, Suraya, and the ghost, Pink, was tumultuous for sure, but served the purpose of the story, which is to say that it is best to live and let dead things lie. Good stuff!
sakitjawa's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
luvterature's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
god, suraya and jing and pink have all of my hearts. suraya awfully reminds me of my own childhood and jing? my bold adorable brave baby. and let's just not talk about how i love pink! my heart goes out for him