Bookworm Lily Griffin has a lot to handle with a bullying big brother and a frenetic family. But going to stay with her beloved grandfather changes everything. In his rambling country house, long-forgotten secrets lurk in locked rooms. When Lily finds a girl trapped inside a magic mirror, she uncovers a long-forgotten family secret and sets in motion a remarkable chain of events.
With her gift of intuition and imagination, Lily is the perfect person to investigate the strange goings-on. And as magical mysteries unravel, Lily finds herself surrounded by weird and wonderful pals – both dead and alive.
Paula Hayes is an Australian writer whose first novel, Lily in the Mirror, was a CBCA Notable in 2017. The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin is Hayes’ latest novel, sure to inspire middle-grade readers. It’s funny, heartfelt and very charming.
Lily is a singular character, hilarious, sweetly poignant and deeply daggy. Plagued by social doubts and her own peculiarities, she doesn’t think she’s the right person to investigate the many secrets of her grandfather’s house. But really, her quirky personality works to her advantage. Lily goes on a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs throughout the novel, yet it allows her to come into her own, mend some family relationships and discover enduring friendships.
Through the portal of magical realism, Hayes tells a heartfelt story that explores realistic and challenging themes in a comprehensible way. While Lily faces an array of challenges, I appreciated how sensitively Hayes tackles the topic of dementia, its realities and coping mechanisms. Ultimately, this is an uplifting and funny story that sheds light on the reality of how messy life can get, while showing that things can and do fall into place. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
The book is sectioned into three parts, each with vivid illustrations by Katy Jiang that bring the characters and elements of the story to life. Recommended for readers aged 9+, there are lessons of love and loss, family and friendships, and learning to believe in yourself. I loved it. The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin is the perfect book for children to bury their noses in these school holidays.
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