A bullied girl who communicates with ghosts finds her inner strength in this haunting novel in verse that will resonate with anyone who has felt themselves to be different.

Anna sees ghosts. The spirits of her ancestors call to her from the shadows, and no matter where she is, Anna always answers. Kids in her middle school tease her. Teachers and parents are worried by her strange behavior. The only one who seems to understand is Anna’s beloved grandmother, Bubbe, who has always treasured Anna’s shayna neshama, her beautiful soul. Spending Shabbos with Bubbe is the only thing that gives Anna the sense of love and belonging that she needs.

But when a ghost named Ruthie appears at Bubbe’s house by the sea, Anna begins to uncover long-hidden secrets that reveal the mystery of her family’s troubled past. As Anna and Ruthie get closer, Anna must decide for herself whether being connected to a restless ghost is worth the risk. When it becomes clear that Bubbe’s life is in danger, Anna must face the horrible truth: She alone has the ability to save her family and heal the wounds that follow them from one generation to the next.

National Book Award long-listed author Marcella Pixley brings her Jewish faith and her acclaimed sense of lyricism to this powerful story of bravery, forgiveness, and healing.

Praise for Neshama

The wonderful writing is spare and striking, immediately establishing an occasionally eerie, though never truly frightening, atmosphere, and the words flow effortlessly. The story allows plenty of space for thoughtful reflection on grief, antisemitism, and bullying while also conjuring cozy scenes of familial love and believably fostering understanding between opposing parties. A mesmerizing meditation on family, forgiveness, and the freedom to be found in embracing one’s truest self.
—Booklist (starred review)

An eerie, melancholic story of family trauma and healing.
—Kirkus Reviews

In verse that alternates nimbly between Anna’s thoughtful first-person narrative and Ruthie’s fierce interjections, Pixley (Trowbridge Road) illustrates concrete earthly experiences alongside a more diaphanous ghostly world.
—Publishers Weekly

The accessible verse is rich with imagery, with feelings evocatively described, and warm scenes at Bubbe’s house mixing with Anna’s awareness of ghosts. An atmospheric ghost story for character-driven readers.
—The Horn Book

A sensitive, affirming novel-in-verse, Neshama celebrates the life-giving power of children being able to embrace their unique gifts.
—Foreword Reviews

This novel in verse is a spiritual exploration of how the past can have lasting effects through generations of a family. It is a lesson in being oneself even when no one, not even those meant to love you, accept you for who you are.Anna is a beautiful, strong, and inspiring character. . . . A unique ghost story.
—School Library Journal

This book is beautifully written. Not all free verse books are poetry, but this one truly is. The words are rich and warm and envelope you in a world of ancestors and the healing power of religious traditions. The truths Anna learns are universal and the lessons she learns about forgiveness are quotable. — Kiss The Book

Every poem, every word, in Marcella Pixley’s novel in verse, NESHAMA, is hauntingly beautiful. This is the middle grade novel that I needed as a child. Readers will believe in ghosts and the power of prayer and also what it means to forgive and to accept yourself. It is as if Neshama set an extra seat at Bubbe’s Shabbat table for the reader where they can taste the soup, the challah, and hear the whispers of the ghosts of her ancestors.
—Judith Magazine

This book will steal your heart and open your soul. Neshama by Marcella Pixley is a beautiful homage to the lessons of our ancestors, the power of prayer, the transcendence of forgiveness, and the freedom that comes from being uniquely you. I loved every word!
—Elly Swartz, author of Same Page

A beautiful, quiet storm of a story that explores grief, forgiveness, and finding courage for the present through the past.
—Randy Ribay, author of Everything We Never Had

Marcella Pixley’s deftly crafted novel in verse is a thought-provoking page-turner. A perfect read-aloud and book club selection!
—John Schu, librarian and author of the New York Times best-selling Louder Than Hunger

In haunting, heart-stirring verse, Neshama draws you in to a deep and unexpected world of courage, forgiveness, and healing. It will grip you from the very first line.
—Chris Baron, author of the Sydney Taylor Notable Book The Magical Imperfect

A stunning verse novel that captures the raw ache of being an outsider and the courage it takes to find one’s voice. I adored and applauded Anna as she became increasingly clearheaded and stronghearted! Tender, mesmerizing, and truly uplifting—a testament to the beauty of second chances.
—Jennifer Richard Jacobson, author of Small as an ElephantSee Less