All He Wants for Christmas

When Mickey Blanchette went snooping for Christmas gifts, he donned his Santa hat. Then he found a stash of unwrapped copies of Ghost Girl.

He pawed through the book and was delighted to read about the two felines that lived in Companion Moon, the haunted inn that served as the focal point of the novel. Pretending to be mousers, they had wheedled their way indoors to chase non-existent mice. What they really wanted—and readily found—was comfort and warmth. So did everyone who visited the inn.

A creature of nine lives himself, he appreciated a central theme in the book, that where there is no death—where past, present, and future are indivisible—one has the freedom to live.

Mickey liked reading about Mo, a gray tabby, who liked to slink around, offering her nose for a scratch; and Willy, a black cat, who purred his way out of dark corners at the mere mention of his name. Along with the dog, Angus, and 17 ghosts, they led Bonnie, the 12-year-old protagonist, on a journey of self-discovery.

But Mickey seemed to focus not on Bonnie’s self-discovery, but on the journey exemplified by the old proverb that explains cats’ nine lives. “For three they play; for three they stray; and for the last three, they stay.” Like Mo and Willy, Mickey knows a good thing. He relates to unconditional comfort and warmth. Why else would he deign to wear a costume?

It may have to do with being a creature of nine lives himself. He seemed to especially appreciate a central theme in the book, that where there is no death—where past, present, and future are indivisible—one has the freedom to live.

Mickey was so intrigued with the cats, the cozy setting, and the timeless theme that Ghost Girl offers, that he asked for his own copy.

He also suggested it would be a perfect gift for a pre-teen on your holiday shopping list. Or for that matter, any adult interested in Celtic mythology. He tapped his paw on the back of the book, noting the endorsement of George Cinclair Gibson, Ph.D., author of Wake Rites: The Ancient Irish Rituals of Finnegans Wake.

According to Gibson, a Celtic scholar, “Young readers will find Ghost Girl a relevant and positive guide for their own lives. Older readers will find Ghost Girl an attractive introduction to the deep and profound mysteries and spiritual precepts of the Irish Celtic tradition.”

“And cats,” Mickey purred, “Will find it deep and profound.”

As he snuggled into his favorite bed for a long night of reading, he alternated his gaze between the book and me. I understood he wanted me to read Chapter 1 to him, and share it with you.

So, with compliments of Mickey, Click here.