Moving to Orchard Grange was supposed to be a New Beginning, but Emily should have known it would never be that easy. What is the secret of the old Black Pear tree that taps on her window when no one else is around? And why did some long-forgotten resident of the house leave a simple silver necklace twined among its branches? Emily and her family moved to Orchard Grange to escape the memories of the past. Unfortunately, Orchard Grange has some terrifying memories of its own…

The Black Pear  is Alan Porter’s second novel and a ghost story in the traditional sense. The teenage protagonist, Emily, moves house with her parents in order to overcome a horrible event in their history. However, her new home also holds a dark secret in its past too and inevitably, Emily must face the guilt and fear that haunts her sleep in order to put right the unfinished story that stains Orchard Grange. This is a short, well-written book aimed at the young adult, which combines all the better qualities of a traditional ghost story.

 We have a main character who must come to terms with a sense of loss and guilt; an unhappy spirit whose life was tainted with deep injustice; and a mysterious event from the past, which needs putting right. The pace of the story works very well with gripping endings closing many of the chapters. The plot has clearly been well thought out and I particularly liked the secondary characters who befriend Emily: Ben and Daria. The latter of which reminded me of Dickon (from The Secret Garden) – perhaps it was that primal connection with nature in all respects.

As one would hope to have in ghost story, there a super moments of tension and fear: the hidden room in the attic might be a classic ghost story location and the tapping of the branch on the windowsill is the familiar symbol of something dark trying to get in but Porter handles this so well. The only criticism that I have of the novel itself is the rather vague title and the cover; the latter of which, for me, doesn't sing the story's song.

The Black Pear should appeal to a broad range of readers but as with many ghost stories, there are different layers to be appreciated. Although it is a novel, aimed to scare and unnerve the reader, it is also a lesson in reflection and an understanding of what makes us human and the need to understand issues and events in our own past that we may not want to face.

2009-05-30