"Astonishing . . . beautiful and engrossing . . . a deftly handled mystery.” — Harper's Bazaar
“Wharton’s heartfelt debut centers on a British woman of Hong Kong descent trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s death. . . . the pitch-perfect pacing and well-crafted protagonists will keep readers turning the pages. This is a writer to look out for.”
— Publishers Weekly
"Captivating characters and lucid prose." — Melissa Fu, author of Peach Blossom Spring
“Chinese British author Wharton presents the well-crafted story of Lily Miller; her older sister Maya; and the mystery behind a bequest of one million British pounds sterling (500,000 pounds each) made by a stranger named Hei-Fong Lee that the sisters can claim only by going to Hong Kong. . . . Wharton is skilled at creating characters. . . . A debut work of historical fiction with strong storytelling that readers of Lisa See, Jamie Ford, and Gail Tsukiyama will enjoy; book groups should appreciate this first novel and look forward to Wharton’s future work.” — Library Journal
“Sparkling prose and a page-turning plot combined with wonderful storytelling. . . . An absolutely dazzling debut.” — Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green Eyed Girl
"Londoner Lily Chen descends into the maze of 1990s Hong Kong to piece together her late mother’s secret past in this slow-burning mystery....Two complex histories are nested within one another, a testament to the mutually inextricable struggles of a mother and daughter who, in life, pass each other like two ships in the night. Brimming with cinematic tension, this novel offers relationships and revelations more precious than a 500,000 pound inheritance." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“An intriguing, beautifully written study of the stories we inherit. I loved being in Lily and Sook-Yin's heads, my heart breaking for them. . . . I loved it!” — Nikki May, author of Wahala
“Ghost Girl, Banana is an epic yet deeply intimate novel. I was rapt throughout, propelled by Wiz Wharton's taut, immersive prose. She swept me up in Sook-Yin and Lily's mirrored journeys of discovery, spanning decades and continents, but always I could feel the vibration of these women existing in the wider world; their stories are so skillfully shot through with the hum of change.” — Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding
"A gripping and evocative tale of family secrets, courage, adversity, and love." — Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters
“A story of family, love, redemption and belonging, told with such heart and empathy. Wiz Wharton is a phenomenal talent, original, fresh, and with a pinpoint clarity to her prose that cuts right to the bone. She has created such a special book, with a story that needs to be told. Essential and utterly unforgettable.” — Fiona Scarlett, author of Boys Don't Cry
"The novel bounces between three different timelines, and Wharton skillfully navigates between each . . . To be marginalized, to never quite fit in, even with all her striving, is Sook-Yin's fate. But Lily's journey of self-discovery, so winningly chronicled by Wharton, promises a better fate for Sook-Yin's younger daughter." — New York Times Book Review