‘The overriding mood is one of joy and hope. The title nods to the idea that beneath the Yarra lies a ghost river that takes good souls to its heart and spits out the bad. There are the small joys found in days spent by a filthy river, the joy of friendship and hope born of resilience. … What shines through Birch’s writing is his love for the river and the carefree summer days of his childhood.’ The Guardian Australia
‘Birch is a sophisticated writer: technically adroit even at his most raw, mindful of the anticanon from which his own work emerges, he nonetheless reserves the right to deal in his chosen subject matter with a simplicity and intermittent grace that has no ideological grounds beyond the desire to allow a story to tell itself. ... Birch licks his world into shape with the rough delicacy of a big cat cleaning its cubs.’ The Weekend Australian
‘The hard language always underpinned by a battler’s romanticism, a belief in people, the world, the spirit, and the struggle.’ Saturday Age
‘This is a beautifulnovel, part coming of age story, part history of inner Melbourne.’ Readingsonline
‘Birch is a very fine imagist, and his deft touches when describing the boys' interactions with the natural world, especially, are masterful… It is a beautiful novel.’ The Saturday Paper
‘A magical coming-of-age story, this is one of my great reads of the year.’ Surf Coast Times/Bellarine Times
‘Birch is a natural storyteller. … A vivid portrait of his central characters … in Ghost River we find a welcome and vital addition to his body of work.’ Australian Book Review