Bodie and the Ghost Showdown - by Ffion Jones (Paperback)

About the Book

Bodie is haunted by a ghost who feeds her fears about being sick. With her best friend Mina's help, she learns to stand up to him and take back control. A funny, empowering story for children aged 7+ about understanding emetophobia and trying to build resilience against it.

Book Synopsis

Bodie has a secret fear: being sick. She is haunted by a ghost who whispers warnings and worries, convincing her to avoid buses, sleepovers, and even her favourite basketball games. She misses out on all this fun to keep her "safe" from the scariest thing she can imagine - throwing up!

At first, Bodie listens. The more she obeys, the stronger the ghost becomes. But with the support of her best friend Mina, Bodie learns to challenge his tricks, find her courage, and take back control of her life.

Bodie and the Ghost Showdown is a heartwarming story that gives children 7+ the tools to understand and overcome emetophobia. Blending humour and hope, with relatable characters, it's an empowering read for any child facing anxiety. The book also includes a guide for parents, carers, and professionals offering step-by-step suggestions for supporting kids with emetophobia. With practical tips and discussion prompts, it equips adults to assist children in applying the lessons of the story to real life.

Review Quotes

As both a clinician who has worked with anxious children for many years and a parent who has walked this road personally, I know how profoundly the fear of getting sick can shape a child's world. Emetophobia is far more common than most people recognize. I've seen it forcefully drive school avoidance, selective eating, social withdrawal, and a level of daily distress that families struggle to handle. What often looks like 'general anxiety' is in fact a very specific, very powerful fear-and one that is frequently overlooked in professional settings.

Bodie and the Ghost Showdown captures this experience with honesty and accuracy. Dr. Jones understands the internal logic of this phobia-the hypervigilance, the physical symptoms, the cycle of avoidance-and she brings it to life in a way that is accessible to children without diminishing the seriousness of what they're facing.

What I appreciate most about this book is that it doesn't simply name the problem; it gently guides children toward the skills that lead to real change. The story reflects the core elements of treatment: facing the fear, reducing safety behaviors, tolerating discomfort, and reclaiming the parts of life the phobia has taken away. It offers children the hope that they can be braver than their fear-and it shows parents what progress can look like.

For families dealing with emetophobia, resources are surprisingly limited. This book fills a genuine gap. It is heartfelt, clinically sound, and deeply validating for the child who feels alone in this struggle. I'm grateful Dr. Jones has given them a story that can open those doors.

-- "Dr. David Russ, licensed psychologist, Co-Author of 'Emetophobia: Understanding and Treating Fear of Vomiting in Children and Adults' and 'Emetophobia! The Ultimate Kids' Guide'"

A warm, insightful, and empowering story that beautifully captures the inner world of a child living with emetophobia. Through Bodie's courage, humour, and struggles, kids learn that fear can be faced one small step at a time. This book is an invaluable resource for any child who longs to feel braver and less alone.-- "Anna S. Christie, Emetophobia Specialist, Author of 'Emetophobia: Understanding and Treating Fear of Vomiting in Children' and Adults' and 'Conquer Your Emetophobia: Advice from a Therapist Who Overcame Her Fear of Vomiting'"

As a lifelong sufferer of emetophobia and now a parent, I found this book brilliant in helping your child with strategies to take control of their own ghost and live life to the full.-- "Laura Davis, Emetophobic and Parent of a child with emetophobia"

This book is incredible. Dr. Jones tells an accurate and impactful story of what it's like living with emetophobia and why overcoming it is so challenging. Parents will get a view into their child's world of emetophobia and children will feel validated and be set on the path to a life free from fear. The intuitive response to emetophobia is often the opposite of what is required for recovery and this book explains this ironic concept with an engaging and compassionate story. I only wish I had this when I was a child struggling in school.-- "Willy Schaller, Fellow Emetophobic in Recovery and Founder of Bia - The Phobia Recovery App"

About the Author

Dr Ffion Jones is an author and illustrator. She works as an emotional wellbeing practitioner and an anti-bullying trainer in schools in the UK and writes stories that help children explore difficult feelings, drawing on both her professional work and her experience as a parent supporting her daughter through emetophobia. She is based in Swansea, Wales.