Publication Date: 1 August 2024

The Blurb

There’s a ghost in Richard’s wardrobe.

Every day he carries out a series of rituals that he believes will keep the ghost trapped inside. He tries to tell his friends and family, but they dismiss his worries and concerns as being part of his OCD. But then one day, the wardrobe door is opened…

And that’s when the hauntings begin.

The Review

A thoughtful, haunting story combining supernatural scares with a deeply moving exploration of OCD, fear, and self-acceptance.

Richard’s character is brought to life with remarkable nuance, capturing both the internal battle and the outward effects of living with OCD. His rituals, driven by a need for safety and control, are portrayed with empathy and realism, allowing readers a glimpse into the constant anxiety and pressure of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This element of the novel not only brings much-needed representation to mental health struggles but does so in a way that’s accessible and relatable for young readers. As someone with OCD, I related very much to Richard’s need to just check one more time, over and over again, and the impact this has on timekeeping.

As a school librarian and avid reader of middle grade books, I was also captivated by Amelia and very impressed with her wide range of reading material throughout the story – what a brilliant way to recommend a whole host of new books to young readers. I am also a huge fan of the sleepover mix tape at the end of the book which adds a whole new dimension to the ever more disturbing witching hour sleuthing.

The supernatural element of the book – the ghost in the wardrobe – reflects Richard’s inner fears and uncertainties, embodying the challenges he feels are beyond his control. The ghostly happenings, which grow increasingly eerie, teetering on downright terrifying as the story progresses, add a thrilling layer to the story, drawing readers in with suspense while building on Richard’s emotional journey. Thank goodness for Quinn’s brilliant sense of humour and Tony’s Dad jokes which help balance the tension and bring the heart rate back down just a little!

This book serves as both a mirror for young readers who may be experiencing OCD and as a window for those wanting to understand it. It’s a captivating, compassionate story of bravery, friendship, and learning to believe in oneself – even in the face of ghosts, real or imagined.

The Q&A with Ian (with thanks to my school book club for the questions)

What makes someone a good friend?

What a tricky first question. I think about this a lot when I’m writing and it was a really important theme in my debut middle grade book, Glitter Boy. I think good friends are kind and supportive, stand up for us, forgive us, and allow us to be ourselves.

I’ll give you an example.

I didn’t have a huge amount of friends at secondary school. I experienced terrible and terrifying homophobic bullying and a lot of so-called friends I’d made in the first few weeks of school soon dropped me when they discovered I might be gay. Most of them ignored me for seven years and refused to look at me or be anywhere near me. it was very isolating and confusing.

However, I had one amazing friend, called Nikki, who was my friend for the entire time at secondary school. He was very tall, very cool and loved cars. He stood up for me every day, very rarely left my side and was always there to support and comfort me. looking back, that must have been really tough for him. To be friends with the gay kid who everyone hated. But he never waivered in his kindness and support. I suppose nowadays, we’d also call him an ally. I often think about him and want to say thank you – he probably doesn’t even realise how much it meant to me!

How would you be a good friend to someone like Richard?

I think Amelia, Quinn and Mei become good friends to Richard in lots of different ways. They realise, for example, that Richard often needs a bit more time to verbalise his thoughts and feelings, so they start to give him space rather than talking over him or interrupting him. They encourage him when he’s started talking and show they’re listening.

What I also like about Amelia, who is a real bookworm, is that she never embarrasses Richard because of his reading habits. He feels as though he isn’t a very good reader and is overwhelmed when starting a new book. However, Amelia doesn’t make a big deal of this. Every now and again she asks if Richard would like to read the book she’s reading when she’s finished and that starts to pique his interest.

Quinn and Mei are wonderful at the end of the story too, in one of my favourite scenes. Richard is starting to have a panic attack as they walk down the alleyway, but Quinn and Mei distract him by telling jokes, chatting and asking questions. It’s a simple and subtle thing to do, but it really helps Richard.

In general, there are some other ways you could be a good friend to someone with OCD.

I always like to give practical tips so I think children could spend some time exploring the websites for OCD-UK and OCD Action. I also remind children that saying things like ‘Oh, I’m SO OCD’ just because you like things to be neat or tidy can be quite harmful and offensive to people who suffer with OCD. There are also some brilliant books which deal with OCD, such as The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson, A Flash of Fireflies by Aisha Bushby, and When I See Blue by Lily Bailey.

What is the best memory you have of friendship when you were the same age as Richard?

When I was around Richard’s age, I started at a local drama group for kids. It was the first time I’d met people who were interested in the same things as me and it was a refuge from all the horrible bullying I was experiencing at school. It was filled with really lovely, kind kids and teenagers who accepted me for who I was and I loved it there. I’m actually still really good friends with a lot of the people I met at that drama group and that’s nearly thirty years later! One of the friends I made is called Anna and she was a bridesmaid at my wedding. We both have sons who are the same age and went on holiday together this year to Cornwall. At a time when homophobia was an everyday part of my life, this drama group offered me escape, fun and, it turns out, life-long friends!

Huge thanks to Ian for such thoughtful answers to our questions, and to Hannah at Scholastic for sending me a copy of the book and inviting me to take part in the blog tour. Do make sure you check out all of the other stops.