Awards

• Long-listed for CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers 2018 (Australia)
• Long-listed for Gold Inky Award-Australian Titles 2018
• Short-listed for Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature: Young Adult 2018 (Australia)
• Short-listed for CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers 2018 (Australia)
• Short-listed for NSW Premier's Literary Awards: The Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature 2018 (Australia)

Overview

Everyone knows seventeen-year-old Grace Foley is a bit mad. She's a prankster and a risk-taker, and she's not afraid of anything—except losing. As part of the long-running feud between two local schools in Swanston, Grace accepts a challenge to walk the pipe. That night she experiences something she can't explain. The funny girl isn't laughing anymore. She's haunted by voices and visions—but nobody believes a girl who cries wolf. As she’s drawn deeper into a twenty-year-old mystery surrounding missing girl Hannah Holt, the thin veil between this world and the next begins to slip. She can no longer tell what's real or imagined—all she knows is the ghosts of Swanston, including that of her own mother, are restless. It seems one of them has granted her an extraordinary gift at a terrible price. Everything about her is changing—her body, her thoughts, even her actions seem to belong to a stranger. Grace is losing herself, and her friends don’t understand. Is she moving closer to the truth? Or is she heading for madness?

Full Product Details

9781925355291

Table of Contents

Reviews

`I'm obsessed with Vikki Wakefield's words. Seriously-I'd be happy reading her grocery list.' * Alpha Reader * `Ballad for a Mad Girl has all the features to appeal to its intended audience, with its tight plot, its claustrophobic country town atmosphere and a group of longtime friends growing up and sometimes growing apart. Many are sure to enjoy the tension and edginess of Vikki Wakefield's novel.' * Magpies * 'Ballad for a Mad Girl is a real page turner...Beautifully written. The gothic, literary tone adds to the creepy atmosphere.' * Reading Time * 'Beautifully written, chilling and atmospheric, Ballad for a Mad Girl is a story with heart, horror, and hope.' * Bookish Manicurist * `With complex and genuine characters, a captivating narrative and the authenticity of a small-town setting, Ballad for a Mad Girl is the epitome of great Aussie YA.' * Written Word Worlds * `A beautifully creepy book.' * Booktopia * `Talented author Vikki Wakefield produced another gripping novel for YA readers...A clever mystery and insightful working out of newly adult relationships among characters as real and nuanced as ourselves.' * Adelaide Advertiser * `Vikki Wakefield is one of the most creative and daring authors writing for young adults today. Ballad for a Mad Girl is an Aussie YA Gothic tale that smartly uses the supernatural to explore the depths of grief and growing up, and the pain to be found in both. This is a caring and keening novel, creepy but tender and wholly marvellous.' * ALPHA Reader * `In Ballad for a Mad Girl, Vikki Wakefield does it again, this time raising the bar with a riveting, beautifully told ghost story that draws you in until the very last page.' * Kids' Book Review * `Ballad for a Mad Girl is about the living, the dead, the long journey of grief, and what happens when the lines between them blur. A spooky, gripping rollercoaster ride!' -- Nadia L King `Ballad for a Mad Girl is an intense, unsettling read...Every page is charged with emotion.' * Loony Literate * `Vikki Wakefield is one of the most creative and daring authors writing for young adults today. Ballad for a Mad Girl is an Aussie YA Gothic tale that smartly uses the supernatural to explore the depths of grief and growing up, and the pain to be found in both. This is a caring and keening novel, creepy but tender and wholly marvellous.' -- Danielle Binks `Vikki Wakefield is one of Australia's best YA writers. I couldn't put down Ballad for a Mad Girl.' -- Cath Crowley `Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliant, edgy and unsettling. Grace is a tough and sympathetic anti-heroine. I felt her grief and, even when I cursed her curiosity, was compelled to follow her to the story's satisfying, cinematic end.' -- Simmone Howell `There's a dark side to being the funny one in the group. This is a piercing, creepy tale about a wild girl who could lose herself to a ghost. Vikki Wakefield's writing never fails to give me chills.' -- Emily Gale `Everything you already love about Vikki Wakefield-plus a spine-tingling supernatural mystery. Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliantly creepy and thrilling.' -- Fiona Wood `Wakefield's writing is unflinchingly honest...readers who let themselves sink into Wakefield's descriptions of small-town life, its constraints, and frustrations will enjoy following Jack as she searches for meaning, finding love and purpose in the unlikeliest people.' * Publisher's Weekly on Friday Brown * `[Wakefield's] characters are believable flawed and memorable and there are some good life lessons for young players.' * Otago Daily Times * `Vikki Wakefield writes stories that will break your heart.' * Readings * `Vikki Wakefield...proves again that she's the mistress of YA twisted relationships and disturbed characters, all memorable, all sketched with compassion, wit and insight, the adults as well as teens.' * Ruth Starke, Australian Book Review, Books of the Year 2015 * `Fans of intelligent, unflinching, spine-crawling thrillers...will love Ballad for a Mad Girl.' * Books + Publishing *

`I'm obsessed with Vikki Wakefield's words. Seriously-I'd be happy reading her grocery list.' * Alpha Reader * `A tightly drawn story of compulsion...I could picture the landscapes so carefully created by Wakefield. The striking cover will impel young adults to choose to read it and they will be stunned by the extraordinary thriller within.' * ReadPlus * `Ballad for a Mad Girl has all the features to appeal to its intended audience, with its tight plot, its claustrophobic country town atmosphere and a group of longtime friends growing up and sometimes growing apart. Many are sure to enjoy the tension and edginess of Vikki Wakefield's novel.' * Magpies * 'Ballad for a Mad Girl is a real page turner...Beautifully written. The gothic, literary tone adds to the creepy atmosphere.' * Reading Time * 'Beautifully written, chilling and atmospheric, Ballad for a Mad Girl is a story with heart, horror, and hope.' * Bookish Manicurist * `With complex and genuine characters, a captivating narrative and the authenticity of a small-town setting, Ballad for a Mad Girl is the epitome of great Aussie YA.' * Written Word Worlds * `A beautifully creepy book.' * Booktopia * `Talented author Vikki Wakefield produced another gripping novel for YA readers...A clever mystery and insightful working out of newly adult relationships among characters as real and nuanced as ourselves.' * Adelaide Advertiser * `Vikki Wakefield is one of the most creative and daring authors writing for young adults today. Ballad for a Mad Girl is an Aussie YA Gothic tale that smartly uses the supernatural to explore the depths of grief and growing up, and the pain to be found in both. This is a caring and keening novel, creepy but tender and wholly marvellous.' * ALPHA Reader * `In Ballad for a Mad Girl, Vikki Wakefield does it again, this time raising the bar with a riveting, beautifully told ghost story that draws you in until the very last page.' * Kids' Book Review * `Ballad for a Mad Girl is about the living, the dead, the long journey of grief, and what happens when the lines between them blur. A spooky, gripping rollercoaster ride!' -- Nadia L King `Ballad for a Mad Girl is an intense, unsettling read...Every page is charged with emotion.' * Loony Literate * `Vikki Wakefield is one of the most creative and daring authors writing for young adults today. Ballad for a Mad Girl is an Aussie YA Gothic tale that smartly uses the supernatural to explore the depths of grief and growing up, and the pain to be found in both. This is a caring and keening novel, creepy but tender and wholly marvellous.' -- Danielle Binks `Vikki Wakefield is one of Australia's best YA writers. I couldn't put down Ballad for a Mad Girl.' -- Cath Crowley `Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliant, edgy and unsettling. Grace is a tough and sympathetic anti-heroine. I felt her grief and, even when I cursed her curiosity, was compelled to follow her to the story's satisfying, cinematic end.' -- Simmone Howell `There's a dark side to being the funny one in the group. This is a piercing, creepy tale about a wild girl who could lose herself to a ghost. Vikki Wakefield's writing never fails to give me chills.' -- Emily Gale `Everything you already love about Vikki Wakefield-plus a spine-tingling supernatural mystery. Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliantly creepy and thrilling.' -- Fiona Wood `Wakefield's writing is unflinchingly honest...readers who let themselves sink into Wakefield's descriptions of small-town life, its constraints, and frustrations will enjoy following Jack as she searches for meaning, finding love and purpose in the unlikeliest people.' * Publisher's Weekly on Friday Brown * `[Wakefield's] characters are believable flawed and memorable and there are some good life lessons for young players.' * Otago Daily Times * `Vikki Wakefield writes stories that will break your heart.' * Readings * `Vikki Wakefield...proves again that she's the mistress of YA twisted relationships and disturbed characters, all memorable, all sketched with compassion, wit and insight, the adults as well as teens.' * Ruth Starke, Australian Book Review, Books of the Year 2015 * `Fans of intelligent, unflinching, spine-crawling thrillers...will love Ballad for a Mad Girl.' * Books + Publishing *

'Fans of intelligent, unflinching, spine-crawling thrillers...will love Ballad for a Mad Girl.' Books + Publishing 'I'm obsessed with Vikki Wakefield's words. Seriously-I'd be happy reading her grocery list.' Alpha Reader 'Vikki Wakefield...proves again that she's the mistress of YA twisted relationships and disturbed characters, all memorable, all sketched with compassion, wit and insight, the adults as well as teens.' Ruth Starke, Australian Book Review, Books of the Year 2015 'Vikki Wakefield writes stories that will break your heart.' Readings '[Wakefield's] characters are believable flawed and memorable and there are some good life lessons for young players.' Otago Daily Times 'Wakefield's writing is unflinchingly honest...readers who let themselves sink into Wakefield's descriptions of small-town life, its constraints, and frustrations will enjoy following Jack as she searches for meaning, finding love and purpose in the unlikeliest people.' Publisher's Weekly on Friday Brown 'Everything you already love about Vikki Wakefield-plus a spine-tingling supernatural mystery. Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliantly creepy and thrilling.' -- Fiona Wood 'There's a dark side to being the funny one in the group. This is a piercing, creepy tale about a wild girl who could lose herself to a ghost. Vikki Wakefield's writing never fails to give me chills.' -- Emily Gale

‘I’m obsessed with Vikki Wakefield’s words. Seriously—I’d be happy reading her grocery list.’ * Alpha Reader * ‘Fans of intelligent, unflinching, spine-crawling thrillers…will love Ballad for a Mad Girl.’  * Books + Publishing * ‘Vikki Wakefield writes stories that will break your heart.’ * Readings * ‘[Wakefield’s] characters are believable flawed and memorable and there are some good life lessons for young players.’ * Otago Daily Times * ‘Everything you already love about Vikki Wakefield—plus a spine-tingling supernatural mystery. Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliantly creepy and thrilling.’ -- Fiona Wood ‘There’s a dark side to being the funny one in the group. This is a piercing, creepy tale about a wild girl who could lose herself to a ghost. Vikki Wakefield’s writing never fails to give me chills.’ -- Emily Gale ‘Ballad for a Mad Girl is brilliant, edgy and unsettling. Grace is a tough and sympathetic anti-heroine. I felt her grief and, even when I cursed her curiosity, was compelled to follow her to the story’s satisfying, cinematic end.’ -- Simmone Howell ‘Vikki Wakefield is one of Australia’s best YA writers. I couldn’t put down Ballad for a Mad Girl.’ -- Cath Crowley ‘Vikki Wakefield is one of the most creative and daring authors writing for young adults today. Ballad for a Mad Girl is an Aussie YA Gothic tale that smartly uses the supernatural to explore the depths of grief and growing up, and the pain to be found in both. This is a caring and keening novel, creepy but tender and wholly marvellous.’ -- Danielle Binks ‘Ballad for a Mad Girl is an intense, unsettling read…Every page is charged with emotion.’ * Loony Literate * ‘Ballad for a Mad Girl is about the living, the dead, the long journey of grief, and what happens when the lines between them blur. A spooky, gripping rollercoaster ride!’ -- Nadia L King ‘In Ballad for a Mad Girl, Vikki Wakefield does it again, this time raising the bar with a riveting, beautifully told ghost story that draws you in until the very last page.’  * Kids’ Book Review * ‘Vikki Wakefield is one of the most creative and daring authors writing for young adults today. Ballad for a Mad Girl is an Aussie YA Gothic tale that smartly uses the supernatural to explore the depths of grief and growing up, and the pain to be found in both. This is a caring and keening novel, creepy but tender and wholly marvellous.’  * ALPHA Reader * ‘Talented author Vikki Wakefield produced another gripping novel for YA readers…A clever mystery and insightful working out of newly adult relationships among characters as real and nuanced as ourselves.’  * Adelaide Advertiser  * ‘A beautifully creepy book.’ * Booktopia  * ‘With complex and genuine characters, a captivating narrative and the authenticity of a small-town setting, Ballad for a Mad Girl is the epitome of great Aussie YA.’  * Written Word Worlds * 'Beautifully written, chilling and atmospheric, Ballad for a Mad Girl is a story with heart, horror, and hope.’  * Bookish Manicurist  * 'Ballad for a Mad Girl is a real page turner...Beautifully written. The gothic, literary tone adds to the creepy atmosphere.’  * Reading Time * ‘Ballad for a Mad Girl has all the features to appeal to its intended audience, with its tight plot, its claustrophobic country town atmosphere and a group of longtime friends growing up and sometimes growing apart. Many are sure to enjoy the tension and edginess of Vikki Wakefield’s novel.’  * Magpies * ‘A tightly drawn story of compulsion...I could picture the landscapes so carefully created by Wakefield. The striking cover will impel young adults to choose to read it and they will be stunned by the extraordinary thriller within.’ * ReadPlus  * ‘This is another great young adult novel by Vikki Wakefield that looks at the real world of a teenager, and what might be happening on the other side.’ * Big Book Club *

Author Information

Vikki Wakefield writes realist fiction for young adults. Her work explores coming-of-age, family, class, relationships and the lives of contemporary teens. Her novels All I Ever Wanted, Friday Brown, Inbetween Days and Ballad for a Mad Girl have been shortlisted for numerous awards. Vikki lives in Adelaide, Australia.

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