Review of The Boy who Lived with Ghosts

[Salome Ogani]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Boy who Lived with Ghosts" by John Mitchell.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

The Boy Who Lived with Ghosts by John Mitchell is a powerful yet sad story that looks into the complex emotional and psychological toll that a sibling's mental health struggles can have, not just on the affected individual but on the entire family. This memoir tells us about the life of a young boy named John. He has a twin sister named Emily and an older sister named Margueretta. His father is an alcoholic who spends most of his time drunk instead of taking care of his family. They are a low-income family; John only has two knickers, and they can barely afford food to eat. One day, the father wakes up and vanishes without a trace, leaving the mother to take care of the three children on her own. Anytime the mother goes out and leaves John alone in the house with Margueretta, she beats him up and sometimes strangles him. She started acting strange and said there were voices in her head that told her to kill herself or kill somebody. So the mother takes her to a doctor, and it is discovered that Margueretta actually has paranoid-schizophrenia, and that is what causes her to harm herself and keep attempting suicide.

Through John's eyes, the story goes into his sister's mental breakdown and the impact it had on his childhood. When I first saw the book's title, I had the impression that it was a story about a real-life paranormal experience. As I read the story more, I realized that the thing referred to as "ghosts" in the book was the trauma John had to endure and face as a young boy growing up in a home where he was abandoned by his father and had to assume the position of the man of the house at the young age of 7. My heart really goes to John for having to go through such a traumatic experience of living with someone who threatened to kill him and harmed him, and he still had to be strong to support both his mother and younger sister.

I really love the way the author looked into each person's life carefully and gave each person attention, as well as how the story captures different phases and experiences of John's life as he grows. My favorite person would definitely be Emily; even though she was a secondary character in the memoir who wasn't really mentioned much, she still managed to capture my heart; she always supported and tried to protect John from Margueretta whenever she beat him. I also like John's mother, who was trying to help Margueretta, and I admire how she stopped her from committing suicide multiple times.

I would recommend this book to readers with personal experiences related to mental health challenges, either themselves or within their families; young adult readers who have dealt with growing up and supporting loved ones in distress; and readers interested in stories that raise awareness and help destigmatize mental health. It's the kind of narrative that has the power to raise awareness, foster empathy, and actually provide enlightenment for readers who may have had similar experiences. The only thing I disliked about the story was how there was no trigger warning concerning the constant mention and act of suicide. Other than that, it is a wonderful story, and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars. The book's editing is also perfect.

******
The Boy who Lived with Ghosts
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Boring Pigeon]

Based on the review, "The Boy Who Lived with Ghosts" by John Mitchell seems like a compelling and powerful memoir that delves into the challenges of living with a sibling's mental health struggles. The reviewer praises the author's ability to capture the emotional toll and complexity of the situation, as well as the attention given to each character. They recommend the book for readers with personal experiences related to mental health and anyone interested in stories that raise awareness and destigmatize mental health. The reviewer rates the book 5 out of 5 stars. Touching moments, brought tears to my eyes.

[Ajiboye Hammed]

I love the plot because it very educative and enlightening. Life will continue look up and down. We can always be a light to others. Good review.

[Alarict surt]

could explore how the child interacts with these ghosts, possibly finding both comfort and distress in their presence. Ghosts, in this sense, are not necessarily terrifying figures, but reflections of the child's inner life and his inability to let go of the past or to find a way forward.

[Mary Barnes+]

This review is incredibly powerful and heartbreaking. The author's ability to convey the depth of John's trauma is evident. It's clear that this is a story that will stay with readers long after they finish the book.

I'm particularly interested in how the author portrays the impact of mental illness on the entire family, not just the individual suffering from it. Your description of John's role as the "man of the house" at such a young age is both shocking and heartbreaking.

The author's decision to focus on the characters and their experiences is commendable. It's clear that the story is told with empathy and understanding. While the lack of a trigger warning is a significant oversight, it doesn't diminish the book's overall impact.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this important book.