The Ghosts & Jamal

Bridget Blankley

Category: Young Adult | Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK

The story of a boy who wasn't born to be a hero

Waking up in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, 13-year-old Jamal tries to piece together what has happened whilst simultaneously trying to evade capture by the attackers. It soon becomes clear that he has been living in a separate outhouse from his family on account of the "bad-spirits" - his epilepsy. Jamal holds up a mirror to violence-driven societies everywhere.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

BRIDGET BLANKLEY spent most of her early life in Nigeria. She has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has been an engineer, educator and fulltime carer. Bridget came late to writing and had her first piece of fiction published in her early fifties. Her work swiftly won prizes, including the Winchester Writer's Competition, 'Writing Can Be Murder' 2013, and the Commonword Diversity Writing for Children Prize, 2016. In the same year she was runner-up in the Alpine Fellowship Writing. Her latest award is the Hammond House Short Story Prize. Bridget lives in Southampton, UK.

REVIEWS

‘With an ending that will take your breath away. The Ghosts & Jamal is a beautifully written book about survival, bravery and finding your places in the world.’
Editor’s Choice, Childrens Books Ireland

‘Jamal's story is hard-hitting and deeply thought-provoking novel that seamlessly combines contemporary issues and ethics alongside a totally enthralling and pacy plot.’

Jake Hope, CILIP Youth Libraries Group, Chair

‘Vividly portrayed the terror of living in a Nigeria rife with conflict and intolerance, the book explores both the good and bad of human nature and ultimately has a strong message of hope and friendship. Powerful and believable!’
Parents In Touch

‘This is a clever story that releases its secrets slowly, with big ideas and lots of heart, it pulls you in and then - whack! What a great ending!’

Melvin Burgess

‘Wow I liked this book a lot. Entirely believable!’
Bookchanted

‘Astute and refreshing!’

Wasafiri

‘Bridget Blankley cleverly writes about Jamal's life post the terrorist attack. He experiences so much hardship, violence and prejudice and he is so young, which Bridget Blankley writes about so realistically. The book explores many different themes including friendship, hope, homelessness and bravery. It is no surprise that Bridget Blankley's manuscript of this book won her an award, it is definitely a read that I would recommend.’
MamaFilz

‘This is a beautiful, mesmerising book, its harrowing nature both tempered and augmented by the fact that it is told from Jamal's perspective of youthful simplicity. It does not end with tidy answers, but rather leaves the reader with uncomfortable questions about a world which can allow such intolerable inequality and brutality.’

BookTrust

‘A book to be recommended... it encourages the reader to enter into and empathise with the predicament of another person. Surely a major benefit the study of literature offers.’
School Librarian

‘Sizzlingly brilliant, spooky and utterly gripping - and we don't use those words lightly, you'll definitely not want to miss The Ghosts and Jamal by Bridget Blankley. Powerful, emotional and important.’

Read it Daddy

‘A worthwhile read with a strong protagonist you'll care for and a compelling story that explores issues of prejudice, determination, belonging and self-knowledge.’

Becky the Book Butterfly

‘You’re taken on a journey with Jamal and I felt every triumph and setback just as he did. You don’t just fall in love with Jamal because of his situation, it’s his positive mindset and outlook on life which is what reels you in. Something I think we could all take a bit of inspiration from.’

Nuovi Inizi

‘This debut YA novel should be on every school reading list, for its honesty in its depiction of the consequences of terrorism, sorrow and coming to terms with an uncaring world.’

BookBlast

‘Jamal is a compelling and a resourceful hero in a world that tells him he doesn't belong. A beautifully written tale of survival and bravery.’
Patrice Lawrence

'What a powerful story!’

Kait's Bookshelf

‘Intriguing, engaging and thought-provoking from start to finish.’

Joanna Hewish, Reading Zone

‘Jamal's story shines a light on another world, where prejudice, rejection and aching loneliness are among the more minor tribulations of everyday life. And his internal struggle to make sense of what goes on around him brings us face to face with the dark insanity to which politics and religion can lead.’

Carousel

‘The Ghosts and Jamal is a beautifully written and important story that deserves to be read and celebrated widely. Reading this book has also introduced me to a new-to-me independent publisher, HopeRoad, who I am hugely impressed by... Bridget Blankley has written an exploration of prejudice and power, fear and friendship. Brilliant for Year 6+. Bravo to HopeRoad Publishing for bringing us such a wonderful book.’
Rhino Reads

Carousel

‘This is a powerful and moving story, set in a violent world and perceived through innocent eyes.’

Bookmark Book of the Month

‘Intriguing, engaging and thought-provoking from start to finish. This novel grabs you right from the start and pulls you in to the confusing world of Jamal and his ghosts. It's a perfect teenage read. Not only does it deal with so many social and ethnic stereotypes, but it teaches teenagers to value the existence they have.’

Reading Zone

‘This is a great book, quite challenging at times, and brings you directly to life in West Africa and the challenging time for anyone with autism or epilepsy. The concept of bad spirits is pretty frightening and an awareness grows that a sudden epileptic attack could leave Jamal in a very bad place... But it doesn't and the surprise at the end of the book is terrific!’

Books Go Walkabout

‘A book to be recommended – it encourages the reader to enter into and empathise with the predicament of another person. Surely a major benefit the study of literature offers.’
School Library Association