The Ghost That Won't Shut Up (In a Good Way)

Published: June 29th, 2010
The Ghost and the Goth
By: Stacey Kade
Hyperion Book CH
ISBN-13: 9781423121978


Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

Review

   Alona Dare didn't look both ways before crossing the street - it meant getting hit by a bus and being left behind to haunt her high school, with a mulititude of other ghosts.  Will Killian just wants to graduate so he can get away from all of the ghosts that won't leave him alone and move on with his life (preferably not in a mental institution like his creepy shrink wants).  When Alona and all of the other ghosts in the school figure out Will has ghost-talker abilities, things begin to really get crazy!  Can Will graduate without getting stuck in a padded room?  Alona wants to move on, but is she really supposed to?  And what is up with the attraction between them?  I truly enjoyed this book!!!  I had put off reading it because of the stupid name and the same-old, same-old summary.  I have been burned by my expectations for books like this before.  But this time, I fell in love!  The cover actually pertains to the story, surprisingly enough.  And I love Alona's snarky commentary about everything around her.  Will is an awesome main character, but Alona was my favorite.  I think this book actually would have been better without the romance because it has enough mystery and humor to keep you going and wanting more when it ends.  I couldn't put it down and will definitely be reading the next book and salivating over the description of the third one, until it's released in May!  Recommended for those who enjoy paranormal books with a really great sense of humor.


VERDICT:  5/5  Stars

*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*