GOLDEN & GREY: An Unremarkable Boy and a Rather Remarkable Ghost
by Louise Arnold
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689875851
Ages 8-12
272 pages

On a rainy Tuesday in England, a ghost named Grey Arthur is feeling sad and wishes that he could be more helpful in the Ghost World. Meanwhile, Tom Golden comes home after a bad day at school. Tom is the new kid at Thorbleton Secondary School and the youngest in his class. If this weren't difficult enough for Tom, he is bullied by classmates and has no friends.

Then, Arthur hears Tom's plight and decides to become Tom's Invisible Friend. Arthur goes to school with Tom every day, helping him deal with the bullies, and each night he tells Tom stories of his Poltergeist hero, the Red Rascal. This could be a wonderful solution for Grey and Tom's loneliness --- if only Tom could see his new friend. Then one day, Tom gets into a bad accident and begins to see Arthur! Tom is at first unnerved by his newfound ability, but as Arthur introduces him to other characters --- including the hilarious Ballpoint Bill and Mrs. Scruffles --- Tom begins to have better days.

The boys' friendship comes at a price, however, when people from both worlds begin seeking out Tom. When Tom gets into a dangerous situation with a shady doctor, it's up to Arthur and his friends to rescue not only Tom, but also the delicate balance between ghosts and humans.

GOLDEN & GREY is a great story that presents the complexities of a boy's friendship with a ghost. Louise Arnold's debut is sure to be a favorite with readers now and in the future.

   --- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle (SdarksideG@aol.com)

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