Kirkus Reviews

Hughes draws on her childhood memories in this longer-than-usual story about a fatherless Welsh family's struggles in Depression-era Liverpool. Two children, Bronwen and Dylan, live in a row house with their widowed mother, who takes in laundry to make her living. On Christmas Eve, left alone briefly, the children are frightened by spooky noises coming from the washhouse, which leads to a new friendship with the kind-hearted Irish Catholic family living next door. A mixture of full-page and spot illustrations in watercolor and ink creates a nostalgic atmosphere, and details of the hand-washing, drying and ironing process are conveyed through both text and illustrations. The overall theme of the budding friendship between families of different faiths is subtly but effectively presented, and children will understand the feeling of neighborly cooperation. A lovely, refreshing, nostalgia-free reminiscence. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-9)

ALA Booklist (Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

Hughes goes back to her own childhood in Liverpool for this thoughtful story. Bronwen and her brother, Dylan, live with their widowed mother, who takes in laundry to make ends meet. They keep to themselves, especially avoiding the O'Riley neighbors, who go to a different church. But one Christmas Eve, Mam goes out, leaving the children alone. It's fine at first, but then a "Plonk! Plonk!" sound comes from the attached washhouse. Frightened, the children run outside, into the arms of Mrs. O'Riley, who shows them the sound is only her sons playing darts. When Mam returns and realizes what a fine neighbor she has, Christmas is a little sweeter. Some of the intended audience may be puzzled by the "different church" problem, so subtly is it worked into the story. But the general meme about setting aside prejudices will be clear. Here, though, it's the details of an impoverished childhood, illustrated in Hughes' signature style, that will have the most effect. This is a world of hard labor and small treats, where kindness goes a long way.

School Library Journal (Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

K-Gr 3 The author/illustrator draws on her memories of 1930s Liverpool to tell this story of a widow and her two children struggling to make ends meet. When the youngsters are left alone while the mother runs an errand on Christmas Eve, they are frightened by ghostly noises coming from the other side of the wall. They have been warned to stay away from the neighbors, the O'Rileys, who go to a church for a "different kind of people, not their kind." Mrs. O'Riley turns out to be an understanding, nurturing adult who takes the siblings in and reveals the source of the noise. American children may not understand the source of the initial religious intolerance. However, Hughes's old-fashioned illustrations are the draw here, and many will find this to be a satisfying family read-aloud. Virginia Walter, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies

Horn Book (Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

In 1930s Liverpool, Bronwen, her brother, and their washerwoman mother keep "ourselves to ourselves," especially when it comes to the Catholic family next door. The titular "ghost" brings the family closer to their community. Like Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas in Wales, the story's strength comes as much from the specificity of Hughes's childhood memories as from the Christmastime setting.