A Strange New Girl
Tina and Jessie notice someone unusual.
ADA
“I know, right!!” exclaimed Tina
“There’s definitely something weird about her…” affirmed her best friend, Jessie.
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of recess. Tina and Jessie gathered their books and ran to the next class. Just as they were parting ways, Jessie, walking backwards, bumped into someone, and stumbled as her books cascaded from her arms!
“It’s her!” hissed Tina, bending down and collecting Jessie’s books.
“Who?”
“Ada!” she replied.
The Unusual Appearance
Ada’s clothing makes her stand out.
Ada was a new student at their school. She had joined that very day, and had been firmly established as “unfriendable” by the girls in her grade.
What was the reason, you may ask?
Well firstly, she wore a dark, pleated skirt with a simply outrageous, bright pink, overly ruffled top.
That made her stand out from the other students.
And if that wasn’t enough, she wore long leather boots and her blonde hair was pulled into a bun, held up with a huge elaborate bow.
“Ew,” thought Tina, staring at Ada over her Geography notebook. “Which age was she living in?”
A Secret to Share
Jessie acts strange and hints at something important.
As the bell rang after four more classes, Tina hurried down the corridor. She was caught by Jessie, who whispered into her ear—
“Can I come over today? I want to tell you something.”
“Sure!”
“Hmm. Thanks.”
“Everything okay?” asked Tina, concerned.
“Yes, fine. It’s about Ada,” replied Jessie.
“But she’s been with me all day! What do you mean?” cried Tina.
“Never mind. Tell you later,” said Jessie.
The Victorian Discovery
An old book reveals a chilling past.
In the evening, when Jessie came over, she handed Tina a thick and dusty book.
“This is a history book I read at the library today,” said Jessie.
Tina slowly pulled the book towards her. It fell open to a bookmarked page which read—
“Casualties of The Victorian Era, 1880,” read Jessie.
She flipped past a few pages to reveal an old black-and-white picture of a girl standing against the backdrop of a serene lake.
Jessie read the text underneath the picture—
“Adaneel Blickling, drowned in Serpentine Lake, 1880. Picture taken minutes before death.”
The Shocking Realisation
Tina sees the truth hidden in the photograph.
“So, what are you trying to say?” asked Tina.
“Look closely!”
Tina looked at the picture carefully. The girl was wearing a pleated skirt, a ruffled top and long boots. Her hair was held in place by a large bow.
“Wait a minute. Adaneel… Ada!” yelled Tina.
“Exactly!” chimed in Jessie.
The Disappearance
Ada is gone — and no one remembers her.
The next day, Ada was not in school. And when the girls asked around, no one had ever heard of Ada, apparently.
A Soul Returned
The girls arrive at a chilling conclusion.
“What do you think?” asked Jessie.
“I think Adaneel is a soul back from the dead. And now she goes by Ada.”

FAQ’s – A Strange New Girl
What is this story about?
It is a suspenseful short story about two friends, Tina and Jessie, who discover that a mysterious new girl at school—Ada.
What genre is the story?
The story falls under mystery, supernatural fiction, and light horror.
Who are the main characters?
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Tina – Observant and curious
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Jessie – Nervous but intelligent, discovers the truth
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Ada (Adaneel Blickling) – The strange new girl with an eerie past
What is unusual about Ada?
Her outdated Victorian-style clothing, her strange behaviour, and the fact that no one remembers her the next day make her suspicious and mysterious.
Who is this story suitable for?
Ideal for readers aged 8+ who enjoy mild spooky stories, school mysteries, and supernatural twists.
What themes does the story explore?
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Mystery and curiosity
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Friendship
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History and the supernatural
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Facing the unknown
Where can we buy books?
We can buy books at Bookosmia and Amazon.
Bookosmia published books for space-themed or adventure books for kids:
-
“Alien In The Cupboard | Space Adventure Children’s Book for 6+” — a space adventure book for age 6+ by a young author. bookosmia.com
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“Children’s Fantasy Book Set of 5 : Recommended For Age 6‑9” — includes “Alien In The Cupboard” plus 4 more adventure/fantasy books. bookosmia.com
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Shop page (full catalogue) — to explore more books by theme e.g., space, journey, adventure. bookosmia.com
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This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.
Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .
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