Summary of “The Stone Child” by Gail Bowen

Summary of “The Stone Child” by Gail Bowen — a haunting short story that blends mystery, loss, and the supernatural in a distinctly Canadian setting:

Summary of “The Stone Child” by Gail Bowen

“The Stone Child” is a Canadian ghost story that explores themes of grief, motherhood, and unresolved guilt through a subtle, haunting narrative.

The story centers on a woman mourning the loss of her child. She visits a remote area in Saskatchewan, where she becomes fascinated by an ancient stone carving of a child—a small statue that local Indigenous people believe holds a powerful spirit. The carving, known as the “stone child,” is said to protect children and mothers, but it can also serve as a reminder of loss and the permanence of death.

As the protagonist learns more about the carving, she begins to sense a supernatural presence around her—hearing faint cries, seeing movements in the shadows, and feeling an emotional connection that blurs the line between the living and the dead. The spirit of the “stone child” seems to mirror her own grief, offering both comfort and an eerie reminder of what she has lost.

Through encounters with the locals and her own visions, she realizes that the haunting is not one of malice, but of memory — the lingering sorrow of mothers and children throughout history. In the end, she confronts her pain, accepting that love and loss are eternal, and that the child she mourns will live on in spirit, much like the stone carving itself.

Themes

Motherhood and loss: The story reflects the deep emotional bond between mother and child.

Cultural belief and spirituality: It draws from Indigenous and settler understandings of spirits and sacred objects.

Haunting as healing: The ghostly presence helps the protagonist process grief.

Memory and permanence: The stone carving symbolizes how grief endures but can also protect and preserve love.

Tone & Style

Quietly eerie and reflective rather than terrifying.

Uses the Canadian prairie landscape as a backdrop to mirror loneliness and spiritual depth.

Bowen’s writing blends realism with the supernatural, creating an emotional and psychological ghost story rather than a traditional horror tale.