Mortina

Mortina is a zombie girl who longs for friends her age. She lives at Vila Decadenta with her aunt, Disparuta. Her close friend is a greyhound named Tristete. He is grey and white. Her aunt hides her, scared she will frighten other children. Mortina has pale skin. She can take off her body parts with no pain. She can then put them back in place.

Halloween gives her a chance to join the other children. She needs no costume. But what happens when they learn she wears no mask?

This funny tale with pictures is for children. It looks at friendship and what makes us different. How the children treat Mortina challenges her aunt’s fears. Through play and things they dream up, they accept her. Adults may find such things strange.

Barbara Cantini wrote the story and drew the art. She has won awards for her work as an illustrator. She worked in animation, then moved into books. She has worked with publishers in Italy and Britain. She has also worked with those in the United States. Mortina first came out in autumn 2017. It found readers among children in Italy.