Bianca the Ghost

Although the story takes place in an Israeli agricultural village, this book is written in the tradition of the European Gothic novel where reality and fantasy each play a role. The narrator is an independent, rebellious girl called Talya. Irma, a new immigrant from the former Soviet Union, is her best friend. Weird things happen in this sleepy village and they all seem to point to Bianca, a local ghost who came to Israel from Hungary. Bianca`s bridegroom was killed in a war, and the young bride was so unhapppy that she drowned herself. Ever since then, she visits the world as a ghost and lives in the village cemetery. One day, Talya and Irma meet an Israeli soldier who has deserted from the army and found shelter among the tombstones. Together with the son of the Thai cook, the two friends help the soldier hide from the military police who are looking for him. The soldier is touched by Bianca`s story and the two lonely souls become friends.