Ghostlines 

This book had a very unique writing style, using very long, dragged out sentences and using the word 'and' a lot. I do see why this is and I think that the extremeness of this gets slightly less as you near the middle & end of the book. I think that the use of italics to show when someone is speaking is a unique choice that makes the actual reading of the book very slightly less enjoyable. Overall, the plot and story were my favourite parts whereas the writing itself was not preferable.

Theo dP

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really enjoyed this book! Having read some of Katya Balen's work before, this book was just as good as her other work, if not better! I thought it had a rich plot, detailed charecters and extremely well described setting.

Rowan

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I found this book very enthralling from the start, it really captured my attention with its interesting hook. My favourite part of the book was the amazing description of the island (especially the fairy pools) that transported me onto Ayrie. I especially liked how the relationship between Tilda and Albie grew over the book and the beautiful ending had me sad that the book was over. This is one of the best books I have ever read.

Hana

HGS Book Club

I enjoyed this book very much though I noticed a few spelling mistakes here and there. I couldn't put it down and the idea is very original!

Emily

Reading Wizards

I enjoyed this book very much. I thought it had a nice storyline, I enjoyed this style of writing and found the description of the island and the slow uncovering of Rowen's backstory very captivating

Willow

CGS CAKE Club

I liked Gostlines, but it had a lot of wasted potential. I liked the descriptions of Ayrie and the description of her perfect life. It had a great build up of desperation from Tilda and I liked the idea of a ghost story. However, at the end the author threw it all away. there was a storm and that was about it. I didn't like how the ghost 'just wanted some company' and how they didn't even get off ayrie by themselves, instead they were rescued. Overall I'd say 4/10

Toby

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

During Ghost Lines, a young girl named Tilda loves to explore the wonders that lay close to the jagged, rocky mountains of her home island. Throughout the book, she finds secret coves, beaches and many more hidden places filled with magic. However, a boy from the mainland, Albie, has just arrived and Tilda is intrigued to show him everything she's found in the mountains.

Amelie

Chiswick Carnegie

This book is about a girl who lives on a island called Ayrie. One day she sees a boy being sick over the edge into the sea. She decides she wants to give him a tour of the island. Then they go to another island nobody is allowed to go to. They build a camp and become really good friends. One of my favourite bits of the book is the description of where she first sees the boy and how the writer describes him. By the end of the book I was finding it a bit boring even though it started off really good. I did really like this book overall and I would recommend it to people who like adventure.

Summer

Vista Academy Littleport

Ghostlines is about Tilda who has to show Albie around the island of Ayrie, because he has just moved there and is struggling to settle in. They kayak to a secret haunted island and Albie starts to like it there a little bit more. I like about this book the theme of the secret island being haunted by ghost stories told over campfires and that all of the people on the island get along fine with things that wouldn't be normal for people on the mainland such as wild swimming in fairy pools every day. There were a couple of things that I didn't like about Ghostlines and they were that the title isn't of huge significance in the plot. It is only mentioned in passing a couple of times and the storyline works still if the author doesn't mention it. The plot twist towards the end of the book also felt rushed and the problem occurring to the resolution was over in about 30 pages. Overall I would give this book 2/5.

Felix C

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I thought that this was a truly wonderful book. It was engaging and compelling; full of adventure and emotion. I love how the characters are brought together by the beauty of nature (including puffins!!) There was nothing that I didn't like about it. I think that this book is suitable for ages 9-11. Overall, I loved it!

Annie

NDHS Book Group

I really enjoyed Ghost Lines as the characters were very relatable and the story line was thrilling and adventurous. It shows a lot of kindness and sorrow and how hard it really is to move somewhere where you know no-one and everything you love is across the sea. I liked reading the sub plot of her brother, Rowan and the dramatic last few chapters which ended nicely when all the secrets were revealed. This book is an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to people age 8 to 13.

Hannah

Rainbeau Readers

Ghostlines is about Tilda , a girl who has lived on an island all her life and Albie , a boy who has just moved and finds it hard to warm up to the new life . I think it's quite a nice book in the sense that it's quite an easy read and has a nice storyline . The island adventures are nice to read about as there is a lot of descriptive language which helps you see what the author is writing about in your head. I also enjoyed the sub plot of her brother as it kept me reading wanting to find out what happened . However , one slight thing that bothered me was the fact that almost all the sentences were very long with multiple 'ands' in them . I think it was supposed to reflect how she's thinking this and her brains moving quickly but it was a bit hard to get used to . Overall , I quite liked this book and I would give it a 7 or 8 / 10.

Holly H

Vista Academy Littleport

I thought that Katya Balen’s “Ghostlines” was an incredibly well-written and riveting novel, and her creative spin on traditional grammar gives the narrator a realistically childlike and playful voice, which you can’t find in most other books. I also enjoyed the character arcs and the themes of suspense, mystery, fantasy and childlike wonder explored throughout.

Amelie

The Maynard School

It was a decent book but I couldn't get a grip with the plot. 7/10

Connor R

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I loved the world building of the island and the relationship between Albie and Tilda. I also enjoyed the mystery of Rowan. I want a sequel with a time skip of a few years so they can find out how they feel about eachother.

Cece

Cake a Book Club

This book is very inspiring because Albie is a very relatable person. He has moved to a new place and needs to make friends. Change can be a difficult thing but this book shows how to adapt. This book shows a lot of kindness which is why I enjoyed it.

Zeven

Rainbeau Readers

GhostLines, by Katya Balen is story about a young girl called Tilda who lives on the beloved Scottish island of Ayrie, where she takes you on a journey of magic, secrets and the power of friendship. Tilda's brother is no longer on the island and she believes it is her fault so inevitably, when a boy called Albie arrives(who unlike her, is not at all keen on the island), she feels she must do everything in her power to convince him to stay, even if it means traveling to the forbidden island. At the end of the novel, one thing is definitely clear, things are never quite as scary when you've got your best friend by your side. Overall I really enjoyed GhostLines and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique adventure.

Josie

Chiswick Carnegie

I personally really enjoyed Ghostlines and think that it's strengths lie in the vivid, almost alive feeling, description of the island which really helps the story come alive. I personally felt the ending was a bit roped-in and I would have preferred a slower pace - like the rest of the novel. The characters were quite real-feeling however I did feel like their motives and opinions could have been expanded on. Overall, a good book but one which would have benefited from a few small changes.

Benjamin R

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This is a great book, I loved the setting and I found the plot was really believable and I felt I was there with Tilda and Albie. I thought the ending was good as it neither had you thinking why did it have to end now and nor was it a let-down.

Zoë

Skipton Shadows

A brilliant, imersive book that really hooked me. I loved it! The ending was one of the best I have ever read. Really beliveable. I really felt like I was there watching it all happen.

Hollie

St Kaths

The book Ghostlines touched my heart. It was so clear that it was about friendship, adventure and new places. My favourite character was definitely Tilda, she was so gentle and tried her hardest to earn Albie’s trust even when he was rude to her. I also thought Moses was a good character, stupid but gentle and funny. The part that I loved with Moses was when Tilda woke up with a potato in her ear and Moses licked it. It made me laugh! Even though the story is a little bit younger for me I adored it, the description was spot on, Tilda’s personality and character was great. My favourite part of the whole book was when Albie and Tilda sail to Alda Isle, their bond was so strong! I also thought Micheal was funny since he has his goats on leads, but I think Tilda was so brave when she and Albie ventured into the haunted island, Even when she was frightened she was also excited and I love it when the characters are scared but excited because it gives the book more plot and you think, oh Tilda’s scared of course she’s going to run back to her home and stay safe but no, she and Albie ignored the (scary) bit of the island and made great effort to create ‘The Hideaway’ It sounded so comfy! I recommend this book to people who like adventure books, ghost stories, and friendship! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, it just ripped my heart!

Charlotte

Euro Champs

I really enjoyed this book and how it expressed growing up, fitting in and making new friends. It had a fun light theme with a deep meaning, this book was so good I read it in one sitting! If you’re a fan of a descriptive countryside book then this is for you.

Olivia

Rainbeau Readers

Ghostlines review. This book is by my favourite author and so I was delighted to see it has been nominated and shortlisted. This book is so beautiful with a unique, poetic writing style that makes the story so vivid. The beautiful descriptions and phrases contribute greatly to the gripping storyline that makes it all the more special. The way the author portrays Tilda as so passionate is so pure and heartfelt that I as the reader found myself protective of Ayrie. Again, the beautiful figurative language really enhances the story: the picture that has been painted is so clear and vivid. The phrases made me pause and just marvel at the perfectness of that phrase. I loved reading this book and all the others by this author. Thank you Katya Balen for such a stunning book and I would love to read whatever you write next. I hope you are proud of your nomination.

Isabel

NDHS Book Group

I really liked Ghostlines by the Carnegie winning author, Katya Balen, because it was vivid, exciting and at some point, quite emotional too. It is now one of my favourite books. I loved the setting- wild, untamed and free. You could feel the fresh sea-breeze of the Ayrie around you and you could smell the scent of the rainy air. The story is about a fierce, nature-loving girl called Tilda, living in an island called the Ayrie. When an anxious newcomer called Albie, moves in from the Mainland, things change. Everything Tilda likes, Albie hates. When Albie's mother forces him to explore the Ayrie with Tilda, he is not happy at all. Tilda is upset that Albie hates the Ayrie but Tilda comes up with a brilliant plan. A plan that would make Albie love the Ayrie forever. But the only problem is that the secret island is forbidden to anyone who lives in the Ayrie. Could she and Albie secretly pay a visit to the secret, forbidden island haunted with a ghost who died there a long time ago and live on to tell the tale...

Mithulesh A

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

There is a girl called Tilda living on an island called Ayrie. In this island, everybody knows everyone and everything pretty much stays the same. It was just the end of the time when the tourists would come to visit Ayrie to see the puffins. This marked the beginning of the silent season. However, there is a new boy called Albie who was green on the boat journey. When Tilda tried to make friends with him, she accidentally punched her and that made Albie angry. Obviously, his mum visits Tilda to talk about introducing her son to the island and maybe showing him a few secret areas. Reluctantly, she accepted it and sacrificed the end of her holidays and missed hanging out with her gang. When Tilda showed him around, Albie just seemed to hate everything she liked. I mean everything and that includes the quietness of the island, and the isolation people can get. But this didn't stop him from Tilda from getting an idea. Even though she's not allowed, she takes Albie on a trip. One that took them to...the forbidden island Ayrie kids are not allowed to enter. Surprisingly, they find something important to Tilda. She was talking about him the entire time and she finally met Rowan.

Ihsan K

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

A beautifully written and impeccably described book. I almost felt as if I was alongside the characters in their journey.

Charlotte

St Kaths

Very enjoyable plot, leaves reader wondering through most story where Rowan is and if Albie will finally find his place, interesting and leaves in suspense.

Julia

Reepham Reads

Ghostlines is about a girl named Tilda who lives on a very small island named Ayrie. Barely anyone comes and goes and the last person that did broke her heart. This story gets revealed throughout the book. Finally, a boy named Albie comes from the mainland and does not like it there so Tilda tries to impress him by taking him to a forbidden ghost island in Ayrie. What they discover there changes both of their minds.

Anaiya

Brentwood Carnegies

I thought this book was very interesting and vivid, and I really enjoyed the unique setting! I liked how you got an insight into life on a small island, as it is not somewhere most books I read are usually set, and Tilda was such an interesting protagonist, and it felt very real and almost like she was right there talking to the reader. All the characters felt developed and realistic, and it had a blend of being realistic but also quite warm and comforting. I really loved reading this and was sad when I had to return it, and it's definitely one of my favourite books on the shortlist so far.

Iris

Skipton Shadows

This book was really fun and adventurous. It started a bit slow and not very interesting but then Tilda started showing the new boy, Albie round the islands greatest things to do. They make memories with puffins and set up a secret den on a secret island. It was really imaginative and had loads of fun mini-adventures along the way. A great book I enjoyed and one I would read again. :)

Joshua R

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This is a story set in the remote Island of Ayrie some of the main people in this story are Tilda: a fierce nature-loving girl who has lived in Ayrie her entire life and Albie: a newcomer from the city who is struggling to adapt to the wild isolated lifestyle. To prove the magic of Ayrie to Albie, Tilda takes him to the old island a forbidden and treacherous place that is rumoured to be haunted an hour’s boat ride away where things suddenly get dangerous when they get caught in a big storm. The reason the book is called Ghostlines is a metaphor referring to the invisible paths carved into the sea by countless boat journeys over thousands of years. I quite liked this book because it feels less like you’re just reading and like you’re submerged inside of the story

Patrick J

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I found this a bit hard to follow especially the plot with Matilda and Albie and the whole haunted house thing but I did like the art and imagery and the dog! I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the ones that were available last year.

Eli

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Ghostlines by Katya Balen follows the story of the main character Tilda, who lives in the island of Ayrie. Everyone knows each other, and she has lots of friends. When a new boy arrives, she ends up taking him out to a haunted island that people are forbidden to go to, as one last shot at making him like Ayrie. I enjoyed this book, it is written in first person and the author uses lots of descriptive language in the story, which I think creates lots of visual images in your head. She writes in a way that makes you feel like you are actually in the story and experiencing what happens to the characters. There was one thing I didn't like and that was when the author wrote using 'and' quite a lot in just one sentence. It showed the protagonist's emotions and was used when Tilda experienced lots of things all at once, but I found it confusing and sometimes had to reread the sentence again to process it. However overall I thought this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

Emma

Vista Academy Littleport

Another great book by author Katya Balen. I really enjoyed this story set in Scotland.

Mrs Payne

The SGS Book Bandits

I liked the dog and the imagery in the story.

Grace

HGCSC Library

Ghostlines by the Carnegie award-winning Katya Balen is a vivid and heartwarming story about Tilda, a young girl living on the wild and isolated island of Ayrie with her family. Tilda adores the cold sea air, the taste of salt and seaweed on her tongue, and the sound of gulls and puffins that fly over the island. When a new boy named Albie moves to Ayrie, Tilda tries to show him how amazing the island is, despite Albie being uninterested. Later on, she takes Albie to a forbidden island where it is rumoured to be haunted. This book focuses on themes of friendship, belonging, and courage, which makes this a good read for anyone looking for a short and uplifting story. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to anybody wishing to read a vivid and heartfelt book without it being too long. I think I will most remember how sweet and heartwarming the book was, and how it really touched me.

Elizabeth

Brentwood Carnegies