Review of “Red Anne in the Ghost Forest”
I am quite pleased that I bumped Zlatko Enev's "Red Anne in the Ghost Forest," in my reading schedule. While there are some troubling flaws in the story, the positives far outweighed the negative.
This 298 page (trade paperback) book was written in Bulgarian and translated so smoothly, I would have thought English to be the original language.
Andrey Kulev ably illustrates with a distinct style that "fits" the atmosphere of the story. On the colorful cover, we see Red (as she is called), two "ghosts" and her backpack. There are over two dozen full page interiors as well, that capture most of the characters and aspects of the Ghost Forest.
Without giving too much of the plot away, Red is visited by a wizard at her home and is soon sucked into the world of the Ghost Forest, along with her backpack. I emphasize this because it is animated and of the teddy bear variety. These two comprise a formidable duo and are a constant throughout. I just have a hard time envisioning a backpack as a companion and though Enev does an admirable job with this situation, it still ranled in the back of my mind. Also, I kept envisioning the backpack as male even though I knew otherwise.
I found Red Anne to be a most unlikely heroine at first. Let's just say that there wasn't much to like about this nine year old girl who had obviously been quite spoiled by her mother. It seems her father lived some distance away ...
Red and backpack must follow slim clues and travel to all parts of the Ghost Forest, in order to find their way back home. I suppose that this tale could be seen as "Alice in Wonderland" derived, but with modern technology thrown in. Somehow, the animals of the Ghost Forest and environs have televisions, computers, mechanical appliances, phones, etc. Again, while charmingly included, this strikes me as just wrong. I would prefer a magical world without the technology, however quaint it is made out to be.
The world of the Ghost Forest intrigued me but left me wanting. It's exact nature is never revealed and if its boundaries are those shown on the map, then I must wonder what lies beyond.
There are mentions of a forest newspaper, schools and legal recourse. Yet, aside from the dozen or so characters encountered in this book, there is no evidence to support these contentions.
Yet, the story drew me along and I was captivated by Red's journey throughout the forest and charmed by the characters she meets along the way. Among them: Grandpa Hedgehog, Madame Owl, the eaglet brothers, Maggie the Magpie and the villainous Mr. Heino (a beaver) and his spider horde.
Red's adventures in the Anthill are perhaps my favorite but pervading over all are the inhabitants that dwell in Ghost Mansion, who hold the key to Red's situation.
Some unanswered questions that may never be answered:
1. How did the Ghost Forest come into existence? We find out about the Ghosts but not the forest.
2. Who is the Wizard, Mr. Laptsev, that pulls the strings in the Ghost Forest and sometimes on modern Earth, well Bulgaria at least?
3. Is Madame Owl conspiratorially involved with Laptsev?
4. What is the relationship of the forest to our world. Several events and people from our world are known and mentioned.
5. How did Justa Diva enter the Ghost Forest from our world and why?
Enev is a master when it comes to conversations and mannerisms. He has written a superb juvenile fantasy that kept me wanting more and all too soon the novel ends but happily, with a probable sequel revealed on the last page.
In fact, there are two sequels awaiting translation and they are: "Red Anne in Heinoland" and "Red Anne in the Ghost Desert." The first seems to indicate that the infamous Mr. Heino transcends the Ghost Forest as far as his villainy is concerned and could the Ghosts of the Desert be related to the those of the Forest? If you had read this book you would know the answer.
"Red Anne in the Ghost Forest" can be ordered from the Xlibris Corporation at 1-888-795-4274 or Orders@Xlibris.com The web site for Xilbris is www.Xlibris.com
Steve Servello
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Berlin, Germany