The Red-Eared Ghosts

Mary Frewin, a young girl with the ability to see red-eared ghosts, finds her life complicated by the arrival of two of the ghosts, a thin man and his large, wolflike dog, who seem particularly interested in Mary.

From Publishers Weekly

Alcock's (Singer to the Sea God) flight of fancy about a preadolescent with "special" vision has plenty of memorable moments?beginning with Mary Frewin's shocking proclamation that, since her days in a pram, she has been visited by red-eared ghosts: "Some of 'em look like they've worn away in patches, just leaving bits of 'em floating in space." Through a circuitous (and highly entertaining) chain of events involving an antique book, a misplaced wig, a rakish art teacher and a gang of ruffians, Mary learns she has inherited her supernatural powers from her great-great-grandmother Mary Crumb, who mysteriously disappeared over a century ago. Retracing her ancestor's steps through London, Mary falls through a time warp and lands in a parallel universe where she finally learns the identities of her ghosts. At this point, the novel's plot becomes somewhat convoluted with vague explanations of paranormal phenomena. Readers may well share the heroine's befuddlement as she struggles to understand her relationship to a clan of displaced aliens while trying to find a way home. The author's earthbound characters, including Mary's overly anxious teacher, her beautician mother and her proud-to-be-a-doorman father, prove to be more alluring than the ghosts, who even Mary admits "don't do nothing exciting." On the other hand, Mary's death-defying reentry home is spectacular enough to beguile most fantasy buffs. Ages 10-14. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9. Since infancy, Mary Frewin has seen ghosts with red ears but no one believes her. Things change when a couple of teachers take an interest in her. One of them is a believer in "alternate worlds" and thinks Mary may actually be seeing people from a parallel universe. He turns out to be right, as halfway through the novel she crosses over to this other world, where she is mistaken for her own great-grandmother who had journeyed there decades before. As she tries to find a way home and learns more about this new place, Mary's story bogs down a bit. The friendships she develops here are not as vividly realized as her relationships with two friends in England. The rather complicated details about the nature of the parallel universe detract from the initially intriguing plot. A much needed author's note is included to explain the relationship between the two worlds. Despite the actions of a menacing and manipulative "ghost," the novel never becomes suspenseful. However, Mary is a fascinating character and most readers will persist through the sluggish moments. She takes risks and places herself in danger because she is determined to convince others that the figures she sees are real. Her feisty personality carries the novel along, and her ultimate success in convincing her friends and parents is satisfying.?Steven Engelfried, West Linn Public Library, ORCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-7. More of a time fantasy than a ghost tale, this is the story of Mary Frewin, who has one special ability--she sees ghosts. As it turns out, the red-eared people she sees are actually on the other side of a time warp. Eager to learn about her great-great-grandmother, who mysteriously disappeared, and hounded by a troublemaker from the other side, Mary does make her way across time, where she becomes enmeshed in local rivalries. Unlike many stories that pick up when the fantasy begins, this has more going for it in the present; once Mary gets to the other side, the narrative becomes difficult to follow. A concluding author's note clears up much of the confusion, but it's too bad this information isn't part of the story itself. Even though things get muddled toward the end, Alcock is such an engaging writer and the first three-quarters of the book is so strong that kids will be pulled along to the end and enjoy the trip. Ilene Cooper

From Kirkus Reviews

Alcock (Singer to the Sea God, 1993, etc.) leavens this fantasy with generous doses of her usual sly wit, raising it a cut above other time-travel tales. There's always been something odd about Mary Frewin, from the time she was in her pram. She sees ghosts--sometimes just a foot here, a shoulder there--and, among the full-bodied ones, they all have flaming red ears. No one believes Mary, not even her long-suffering parents. Her teacher's new boyfriend, who's interested in the paranormal, discovers that Mary's great-great-grandmother, Mary Coram, who disappeared long before the girl's birth, shared Mary's gift; in fact, she's not seeing ghosts at all but creatures from Izel, a parallel world plagued by timequakes that render space and time utterly chaotic. Mary Coram disappeared there, and Mary Frewin believes she must follow in her ancestor's footsteps. This clever story is full of unexpected developments and lively, unusual characters, including the Bad-Dog Boys, a gang of louts who torment Mary in the real world, and a motley crew of Izellians in the other. Grand fun. (Fiction. 10-14) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Vivien Alcock (1924 - 2003) is the well-known author of many compelling mysteries and supernatural fantasies for children. Childhood is, she once wrote, "an exciting and dangerous time, and it fascinates me." Her books reflect that excitement, danger, and fascination.

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