Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish

Bibliography
McNish, C. (2006). Breathe: A ghost story. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.

261 Pages

Plot
Jack has just moved into an old house with his mother following his father’s death. Jack is a good boy, often helping his mother; however he has serious asthma attacks that often leave him too weak to move. One day Jack begins to feel a presence in the room with him. Jack soon realizes he can see ghosts, namely The Ghost Mother. The Ghost Mother is a long dead woman mourning the loss of her daughter. Jack initially is intrigued and feels sorry for The Ghost Mother. But soon Jack realizes that The Ghost Mother is more sinister than she seems.

Review
McNish’s ghost story is full of plot twists and turns. He begins the book with great suspense, allowing the reader to learn about both Jack, his mother, and the ghosts in the house. Additionally, Jack’s severe asthma is a cause for concern as he is initially viewed as a weak child. However, the book’s plot tends to get muddled during the second half of the book. Told in third person narrative, McNish’s characters become stretched thin due to their different situations. While The Ghost Mother’s personality and choices are understandable, the author’s depiction of the afterlife seems a bit out of place with the rest of the story.

Genre
Horror

Reading Level/Interest Level
This book would appeal to readers in 5th – 7th grade.

Similar Content
Something Upstairs by Avi

Personal thoughts
I thought that McNish did an excellent job portraying a boy with Asthma. Having had childhood Asthma, the author seemed to understand the feelings and physical affects of an attack.

Subjects/themes
Family
Death
Friendship

Awards
No known awards

Series information
No known sequels

Character names/descriptions
Jack: The protagonist who recently lost his father, but soon realizes he can see spirits

The Ghost Mother: The most prominent spirit in the house, she relies on the life sources of other ghosts to keep herself alive. Wants to relive motherhood by becoming Jack’s new mother.

Sarah: Jack’s mother. Worries about her son’s state following her husband’s death. Knows how to help Jack during an Asthma attack.

Oliver, Charlie, Gwyneth, and Ann: The children ghosts living in the house. Since the Ghost Mother is constantly feeding, they are weaker than she, as such; Jack only hears them and senses their presence.

Annotation
Jack is coming to terms with his father’s death, but it is hard when you can see ghosts.