A dazzling debut about a lonely kid ghost who goes searching for answers about her past in a forgotten coastal town that fizzes with secret magic. 'I loved it!' said Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of Nevermoor.
'Find the thing the Witches call a treasure,' says Old Man, 'and you'll get back all those memories you're missing.'
With a body made of wax, seaweed for hair and polished abalone shells for eyes, Corpse is bound to haunt the Witches' sea shack forever. She has no memory of the kid she was before she was snatched and ended up on the rock-that-doesn't-exist. But the delivery of an unexpected message sets Corpse off on a surprising quest, searching for answers to the old and familiar questions that have filled her not-brain since the day she first woke up a ghost. Questions about her name. Questions about her family. With only her eight-legged friend Simon for company, Corpse heads into the unknown. There will be danger - cruel Witches, a silver-eyed sea monster and a cunning Merchant with a hungry grin - but Corpse is not afraid. She'll stop at nothing to uncover the truth about her past. Only some answers, it turns out, are much closer than she thinks.
A sparkling adventure story about friendship, family and finding out that there is nothing more powerful than a kid acting with their whole heart. A Girl Called Corpse is one of the most exciting children's fantasy debuts to hit the shelves since Nevermoor
About the Author
Reece Carter grew up on his family farm in Tammin, Western Australia. There was an unfortunate lack of witches and ghosts though, so Reece had to find them in books instead. Roald Dahl, Paul Jennings and Emily Rodda were some of his first favourite authors. When Reece moved away to boarding school at the age of eleven, he could regularly be found hiding in the library, tucked away in the corner with a good book. With the encouragement of his English teacher, Reece started writing his own stories.
After a few years travelling overseas, Reece moved to Melbourne. But even while working as a nutritionist by day, Reece maintained a secret double life, continuing to write middle-grade novels by night. Now, he lives in Sydney and writes kids' fiction full-time. When not reading or writing, Reece can usually be found talking to his dog Hagrid - and hoping that one of these days Hagrid might decide to talk back. A Girl Called Corpse is his debut novel.
Industry Reviews
'A Girl Called Corpse is just the right mix of eerie and bleak-think Neil Gaiman by way of Roald Dahl and Tim Burton-with occasional moments of levity. And what's not to love about a trusty spider sidekick named Simon?' Books+Publishing
'A pacy, witty adventure that feels like an Australian-style Neil Gaiman ghost tale.' Spectrum, Sydney Morning Herald
'Unique and soulful, this is a story about heart, in more ways than one.' Sandy Fussell, Sunday Telegraph
'A Girl Called Corpse is ghoulishly charming. A spooky, funny, magical and atmospheric adventure with a compelling hero you will adore. Corpse feels like a worthy successor to Coraline by way of The Witches, with a creepy, comic touch of Round the Twist for good measure. I loved it!' Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of the Nevermoor series
'Wonderfully imaginative and enthralling.' Jaclyn Moriarty, award-winning author of the Kingdoms and Empires series
'Fizzes and crackles with magic, mystery and exactly the correct amount of huntsman spiders. I loved this book so much.' Karen Foxlee, bestselling author of Dragon Skin and Lenny's Book of Everything
'Frightfully good. Death has never seemed such fun.' Jeremy Lachlan, award-winning author of the Jane Doe Chronicles
'Fresh, modern and inclusive while as spine-tinglingly creepy as an old abandoned cemetery, this masterfully told tale of the dead beats with a genuine human heart. I loved this with my entire soul!' Shirley Marr, award-winning author of A Glasshouse of Stars
'Dramatic and spooky, with the most delightful lively voice.' Amelia Mellor, bestselling author of The Grandest Bookshop in the World
