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cjmcnallyI’m searching for a novella/short story I last read in primary school (late 1990s/early 2000s). It was one of a series of short spooky stories by the same publisher - another was about teen vampires, I think there may have been an alien one too.
This book was from the perspective of a teen girl whose best friend has recently died (I think from suicide), and is now haunting her. The friend (I think her name is Fern) taps on the girl’s window and shows her a pendant or necklace, which I think is a fish or fish tail. The girl works out that Fern has left her letters or a journal inside an old tree that they used to hide letters to each in as young children. These tell the story of why Fern died.
Fern became obsessed with a new, young teacher who started at the girl’s school, to the point where she would start predicting the colour of his ties or clothes. I don’t remember if the teacher might have an interest in Fern too, but I think she gets rebuffed. Either as a result of this, or for some other reason, when she sees the teacher get into trouble in the ocean, she doesn’t do anything to help and he drowns. She then kills herself a short time later.
I think this fish or fish tail necklace or pendant also plays a role (maybe given to Fern by the teacher?) and might feature on the book cover art, or be in the title in some way.
I might have a few details slightly off, but if this storyline sounds familiar or you can help identify the series of short scary stories it could be part of, it would be so appreciated!
This book was from the perspective of a teen girl whose best friend has recently died (I think from suicide), and is now haunting her. The friend (I think her name is Fern) taps on the girl’s window and shows her a pendant or necklace, which I think is a fish or fish tail. The girl works out that Fern has left her letters or a journal inside an old tree that they used to hide letters to each in as young children. These tell the story of why Fern died.
Fern became obsessed with a new, young teacher who started at the girl’s school, to the point where she would start predicting the colour of his ties or clothes. I don’t remember if the teacher might have an interest in Fern too, but I think she gets rebuffed. Either as a result of this, or for some other reason, when she sees the teacher get into trouble in the ocean, she doesn’t do anything to help and he drowns. She then kills herself a short time later.
I think this fish or fish tail necklace or pendant also plays a role (maybe given to Fern by the teacher?) and might feature on the book cover art, or be in the title in some way.
I might have a few details slightly off, but if this storyline sounds familiar or you can help identify the series of short scary stories it could be part of, it would be so appreciated!
