Review: Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse

Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had often been recommended by friends to read Chris Riddell's Goth Girl series of books, and decided that I would make the attempt lately having been to the bookstore and managed to pick up all three books. Logically, I started with the first.

These books are kind of little slips of genius.

On one layer they're sort of a parody of different types of stories for children. On another layer, it's a wonderful dip into a Regency-esque world that happens to have the fantasic run right alongside the mundane. On yet another layer, it's just a way for Chris Riddell to show off his great illustrations. Ada Goth is a very likeable protagonist, filled with the usual cliché of being motherless you would expect a Gothic heroine to have. Ada does not brood over this, and instead does her best to be a nice, polite, girl. Because she wants to be.

I'm finding myself at a bit of a loss for works as to how to explain this. Lord Goth is clearly Lord Byron, but I wouldn't say Ada is much like the famous Ada Lovelace. Then again, Ada was very sensible in comparison with her father's madness.

If I had to put it plainly, I think I'd say that yes, these books are worth picking up no matter what your age. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series, now.

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