A Skinful of Shadows

the long version

**THIS IS THE STORY OF A BEAR-HEARTED GIRL...** Sometimes, when a person dies, their spirit goes looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space within them, perfect for hiding. Young Makepeace has learned to defend herself from the ghosts that try to possess her in the night, desperate for refuge, but one day a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard. And now there's a spirit inside her. The spirit is wild, brutish, and strong, and it may be her only defense when she is sent to live with her father's rich and powerful family. There is talk of civil war, and they need people like her to protect their dark and terrible family secret. But as she plans to escape and heads out into a country torn apart by war, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession--or death. Master storyteller Frances Hardinge has crafted another rich, gripping, and intelligent tale of a girl making hard choices in a perilous world. This description comes from the publisher.