The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer Book Review

Author: Michelle Hodkin. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781442421762.

Annotation:  Mara Dyer can’t explain how she survived the tragic accident that took like lives of her boyfriend, Jude, best friend, Rachel, and Jude’s sister Claire. After her family moves to Florida to help her cope with the loss, Mara soon begins to wonder if she was responsible for the death of her friends.

Personal thoughts:  I wasn’t sure what to make of this novel at first, but after the first five or six chapters I was hooked. The novel is very original and intriguing. I was very impressed with the author’s skills at building suspense and mystery in the plot. I also really enjoyed the romance between Noah and Mara. I am really looking forward to this series!

Plot summary: Sixteen-year-old Mara Dyer is struggling to cope with the loss of her best friend, Rachel. Mara can’t remember what happened: only that her boyfriend, Jude, his sister, Claire, and Rachel were killed in the collapse of an abandoned asylum near their Rhode Island home. Mara was in the building too, but somehow managed to survive. Now her parents and doctors have diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder, and move her and her two brothers to Miami, Florida to get a fresh start. Mara hopes that being in a new place will rid of her the visions that plague her, visions of her dead friends and crumbling buildings. As she tries to remember the details of the fateful night, Mara discovers that her new school might not be the most therapeutic environment: mean girl, Anna, is intent on embarrassing Mara after she attracts the attention of the popular and handsome, Noah. Mara couldn’t be less interested in dating, especially someone with a reputation like Noah. But as she learns more about him, and herself, Mara wonders if Noah might be the key to unlocking the mystery surrounding the tragedy that changed her life forever.

Review:  This intriguing debut novel from author Michelle Hodkin keeps the mysteries flowing from start to finish, making for a page-turner that is difficult to put down. Understanding what is happening to Mara Dyer is not an easy task for the character or for the reader. It’s difficult to determine what in the novel is real and what is imagined, but this only adds to the story: Mara can’t figure it out either. The novel acts as a bit of a theme chameleon as the plot progresses: part mystery, part tragedy, part romance and part supernatural thriller, Hodkin keeps the reader guessing throughout the novel. The result is an utterly original story that truly needs to be read to be understood. A very promising start to an intriguing new series.

Genre: Mystery

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Soul Screamers series by Sarah Vincent.

Themes:  Death, grief, loss, post-traumatic stress syndrome, sanity vs. insanity, murder.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from best-selling teen authors Cassandra Clare, Veronica Roth, Kristin Miller and Beth Revis.

Series Information: First installment in Mara Dyer series.

Discussion questions:

-     -  Research post-traumatic stress syndrome. Do you think it describes Mara’s condition?

-      - Why do you think Mara is so reluctant to date Noah?

-      - What do you think is the truth about Mara, Noah and their relationship?

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair Book Review

Author: Elizabeth Laird. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780547341262.

Annotation:  In seventeenth-century Scotland, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair narrowly escapes execution after being accused of witchcraft in her hometown on the Isle of Bute. Now, unable to return home, she seeks out her uncle and his family in the town of Ladymuir, only to discover that danger has followed her.

Personal thoughts:  My expectations of this novel were so different from my experience reading it that, at first, I wasn’t sure what to think. The story is very well written and full of Scottish dialogue that makes for a really authentic read. I also found Maggie to be an interesting character. My primary issue with the novel is that it is somewhat slow and, therefore, not likely to be appreciated by a young adult audience. As a historical fiction novel for adults, I think it is wonderful. I would have a hard time recommending it to most teens, however, as I think this time period and setting would not really resonate with them.   

Plot summary: Life in seventeenth-century Scotland is not easy for sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair. An orphan, Maggie was raised from an early age by her Granny, a hot-tempered and cantankerous old woman, in a cottage on the Isle of Bute. Granny has managed to make enemies of most of the residents of Bute, many of whom believe she is a witch. In the midst of a society full of religious turmoil, Maggie suddenly finds herself and Granny on trial for witchcraft. In order to escape execution, Maggie flees Bute to live with her uncle, Hugh Blair, and his wife and children on their farm on the mainland in a town called Ladymuir. Maggie is unaccustomed to life off the island, but is happy to be free of the danger that awaited her on Bute. Her peaceful new life in Ladymuir doesn’t last long, however, when Annie, a girl her age who testified against her in her trial on Bute, arrives at the farm. Uncle Blair and his family are charmed by Annie, who claims that she has come to repent for her false accusations on Bute, but Maggie is not convinced. Can she maintain her new existence in Ladymuir, or has the danger of her past followed her across the waters of the Scottish coast?

Review:  Part fiction and part memoir, Laird’s historical novel The Betrayal of Maggie Blair offers a slow but ultimately interesting story about a period of time not often featured in stories for young adults. Most readers, both teen and adult, will find themselves learning a great deal about seventeenth-century Scotland and the religious fervor that was sweeping Great Britain at that time. Although the novel does include elements that will resonate with those familiar with the Salem Witch Trials, the majority of the story focuses on the Covenanters: a group of Presbyterians who’s refusal to acknowledge the English king as head of the church earned many an untimely death. Maggie’s story serves primarily as a way for the author to present an in-depth history lesson into what is likely an unfamiliar era for American readers. In the epilogue, Laird mentions that Hugh Blair, Maggie’s uncle, was actually a real person who actually lived in Ladymuir in the late 1600s. Other characters in the story are also historical figures, making the novel a blend of fact and fiction. Although the story is slow, especially in the beginning, it ultimately provides an interesting look into the past that patient readers will enjoy.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: N/A

Themes:  Scotland, seventeenth-century, religion, witchcraft, family relationships, betrayal.  

Awards/Reviews:  Starred review from School Library Journal, positive reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions:

- Research the living conditions of seventeenth-century Scotland. What would Maggie’s everyday life have been like?

- What did you learn about the “Covenanters” from this novel? Research how this group impacted religion in Great Britain.

- Why do you think this novel is called The Betrayal of Maggie Blair? Who do you think betrayed Maggie the most?

- Do you think that Granny was a good parent to Maggie? Why or why not?

- Would you have done what Maggie did to help her Uncle? Why or why not?

- Why do you think violence is often part of religious history?

Sweet Venom Book Review

Author: Tera Lynn Childs. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN: 9780062001818.

Annotation:  Gretchen, Grace and Greer are sixteen-year-old triplets and descendents of the Gorgon Medusa destined to spend their lives fighting mythical creatures that invade the human realm. The only problem is that the three girls don’t know each other exists, and only Gretchen is aware of her role as a monster hunter.  

Personal thoughts:  As a fan of Greek mythology, I was really excited to hear about a book that incorporates one of my favorite mythical leading ladies, Medusa, into the story. I was not disappointed in the resulting novel, which takes this rather gruesome myth and turns it into an engaging book for young adults. I really appreciate that Sweet Venom is not only entertaining, but also an opportunity for readers who are not as well-versed in Greek mythology to learn more. I am really looking forward to the next installment in the Medusa Girls!  

Plot summary: Told in alternating voices between the three sisters, Sweet Venom is the beginning of a new series for young adults about triplets Gretchen, Grace and Greer: sixteen-year-old descendents of the misunderstood Gorgon, Medusa, who are destined to spend their lives as huntresses, sending monsters who cross into the human realm to hunt back to where they belong. At the outset of the novel, only Gretchen is aware of her role as a monster hunter. Unaware that she even has a sister, let alone two identical twins, Gretchen encounters Grace, a recent transplant to San Francisco, by chance and is surprised to find that the girl who looks just like her also seems to have the ability to see monsters. It seems that San Francisco, the setting of the novel, is home to a gap between the monster realm and the human realm. Monsters roam the city disguised as humans, and only the three huntresses have the ability to see their true forms and, using their fangs, dispatch the monsters. At first, Grace is excited to meet her twin, but wary of training with the Rambo-like Gretchen to fight minotaurs, draeconas, and other “beasties.” When Grace and Gretchen discover they have a third sister, Greer, it seems that they’ve stumbled upon more than they bargained for about the truth of their heritage and their role in securing the safety of the human realm.

Review:  Fans of Greek mythology will relish the first installment of the Medusa Girls trilogy by veteran author Tera Lynn Childs. Full of references to the residents of Mount Olympus (apparently, Athena was jealous of Medusa and fabricated the whole “snake haired killer” scenario), ancient monsters, oracles and more, this novel offers a fun and fresh take on some very old characters. Told in alternating voices between the three sisters, the plot constantly moves forward, making for an engaging and quick read. The author does a good job of introducing enough of the plot points to keep the reader interested, while also leaving some details to be unraveled in the second and third installments of the trilogy. The San Francisco setting of the story is also very pleasing for Bay Area residents, as the city itself plays a large role in the story. Childs has also been able to successfully create three sixteen-year-old female protagonists who manage to not tread into “annoying” territory very often. The meek but kind Grace makes a good contrast to the seasoned Gretchen. Greer doesn’t make her appearance until well into the novel, but also manages to be an interesting character as well. Overall, a good start to an interesting series.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: Oh.My.Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs, Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs.

Themes:  Greek mythology, monsters, sisters, San Francisco.

Awards/Reviews:  N/A.

Series Information: First installment in Medusa Girls series.  

Discussion questions:

- Research the history of Medusa. How does her legend compare to the story of Sweet Venom?

- Which of the sisters is your favorite? Why?

- Have you ever known someone like Miranda? Why do they behave the way they do?

- Which sister do you identify with the most?

- Do you think there is more to Nick and Gretchen’s relationship than what Nick is letting on?

- Why do you think Greer began to see monsters after she met Gretchen and Grace?

Anna Dressed in Blood Book Review

Author: Kendare Blake. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Tor Teen. ISBN: 9780765328656.

Annotation:  Seventeen-year-old Theseus Cassio “Cas” Lowood has an unusual life: he hunts murderous ghosts and sends them to their permanent graves. But nothing can prepare him for his next target: the ghost of Anna Korlov, a beautiful sixteen-year-old who was murdered fifty years earlier.

Personal thoughts:  I love a good ghost story, so I was really looking forward to reading this novel. I was not disappointed! Although it took a few chapters for me to get used to Blake’s writing style, I really enjoyed Cas’ narrative and thought it did a lot to help tone down some of the absolutely horrifying scenes in the novel. I got a little grossed out at times with all the dismemberment, dead bodies, etc. but I think that this novel would be really enjoyable for older teens who want something scary and creepy with a bit of romance thrown in. I’m looking forward to the sequel.

Plot summary: Seventeen-year-old Theseus Cassio “Cas” Lowood spends his life on the move. Following in his father’s footsteps, he hunts murderous ghosts and sends them to their permanent graves with the knife he inherited after his father was killed in the line of duty. Hoping to somehow avenge his father’s brutal murder, Cas, his mother, a white witch, and their cat travel the country dispatching the not-so-restful dead. Nothing can prepare Cas for what he encounters upon arriving in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After receiving a tip about a spirit called “Anna Dressed in Blood,” Cas feels a strange pull to the case that he isn’t used to. It seems that the ghost of sixteen-year-old Anna Korlov has been haunting her old Victorian mansion since she was murdered in 1958. To say that Anna has simply been rattling chains and slamming doors shut would be the understatement of the century: she has killed over 25 people since her death, ripping limb from limb anyone who dares enter her house. In an effort to learn more about Anna, Cas befriends Carmel, the “queen bee” at his new high school, and Thomas, a nerdy telepath who comes from a long line of witches himself. When Cas is lured to Anna’s mansion by Carmel’s jealous ex-boyfriend, he makes his first encounter with Anna: a beautiful but frightening ghost with jet-black eyes, wearing a dress dripping with her blood. For reasons unknown, however, Anna spares Cas’ life, and he is left wondering whether he should, or can, kill her like the rest of the ghosts he has hunted.

Review:  Told in a bitingly sarcastic tone with blood-red type, Anna Dressed in Blood is not your typical boy-meets-girl love story. Almost from the beginning, it is clear that Blake’s writing-style is unique. Cas is the narrator of the story, and the character’s jaunty wit permeates what would be an otherwise horrifying plot. Cas is a very likeable protagonist, and his job as a ghost hunter makes for an interesting twist in his dealings with Anna. Oftentimes in ghost stories written for young adults, the characters seem to haphazardly stumble upon their spectres. Cas, however, seeks Anna out, despite tales of her dismembering the townsfolk for fifty years. The result is a fun and fresh approach on horror that makes for a very exciting read. With that said, parents, teachers and librarians should be warned. Although it is a very good story with a lot of the typical young adult cast of characters (i.e. the outsider, the queen bee, the nerdy sidekick, the overprotective mom, etc.), Anna Dressed in Blood is a novel for older teens. The book is chock full of cussing, gore, violence and horror that would likely land it on the no-fly list for parents of anyone under fifteen. For older teens, however, it is a well-written, enjoyable, and genuinely creepy ghost story that is sure to leave readers clambering for the sequel, Girl of Nightmares, set to be released in 2012.

Genre: Horror

Reading level: Grade 10+

Similar titles: Hereafter by Tara Hudson.

Themes:  Ghosts, Wicca, occult, murder, ghost hunters, witches, friendship, death.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Kirkus and Booklist.

Series Information: First installment in Anna series.  

Discussion questions:

- Did you learn any new words from Wicca or VooDoo lore after reading this novel?
- Where do you think the spirits that Cas killed were sent?
- What was the scariest part of the novel in your opinion?
- Why do you think Anna was murdered?
- What would you like to see happen in the next installment?

Glow Book Review

Author: Amy Kathleen Ryan. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  St. Martin’s Griffin. ISBN: 9780312590567.

Annotation:  Kieran and Waverly are part the first generation of children born on the Empyrean, one of two ships destined to start a human colony on New Earth. The pair are in love, but their plans for marriage are abruptly ended when the Empyrean’s sister ship, The New Horizon, stages an attack against the Empyrean and kidnaps all the young girls onboard.

Personal thoughts:  Although I did see a lot of similarities between other recent works in young adult literature (i.e. Across the Universe), I ended up finding Glow to be a very unique and interesting book. It really reminded me of many allegorical novels I’ve read for academic purposes, where there is a larger message behind the plot. I look forward to seeing where the author takes this series.   

Plot summary: Kieran and Waverly seem to be the perfect couple. Both are members of the first generation of children born aboard the Empyrean, a massive spaceship that, along with its sister ship, the New Horizon, is travelling across the galaxy to colonize a planet dubbed “New Earth.” Life on the Empyrean is peaceful, but Waverly is struggling with the idea of getting married: she is still a teenager and there is pressure from the rest of the ship to have children as soon as possible. Kieran and Waverly’s lives change forever when, without warning, the New Horizon stages an attack on the Empyrean: killing most of the adults, and kidnapping all the young girls, including Waverly. After Waverly and the rest of the girls are taken to the New Horizon it becomes clear why they have been brought there: the women on their sister ship are infertile, and they need the girls to help them avoid extinction. Meanwhile, back on the Empyrean, Kieran is coping with the loss of the ship’s adults, including the captain. Left with trying to manage the hundreds of young boys not taken by the crew of the New Horizon, Kieran is struggling with opposition from Seth, another boy his age who wants to captain the Empyrean himself. Will Kieran and Waverly survive their respective fates after the New Horizon’s horrible betrayal? Will they be reunited?

Review:  This first installment in the Sky Chasers sets very high expectations for the rest of this new series. The setting of the novel is not entirely original: a ship carrying humans to colonize a new planet is a concept that has been popping up more and more in young adult literature. The plot, however, is unique and very engrossing. Very little time is spent leading up to the events of the book. Waverly and Kieran’s lives aboard the Empyrean are abruptly altered early in the novel, and most of the story focuses on their ordeals after their ship is attacked. This focus by author Amy Kathleen Ryan makes Glow something that can be enjoyed by both teen boys and girls equally: while there is some slight mushiness in the plot, the novel is far more science-fiction than romance. There is a lot of action that keeps the plot moving forward, but there are also subtleties to the novel as well. Religious overtones are hard to miss, as are elements of Lord of the Flies and the Puritanical “city on a hill” concept. Overall, Glow is a multi-faceted and sophisticated piece of science-fiction literature that is enjoyable for teens and adults of both genders. The next installment in this series is set to be released in the summer of 2012.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Across the Universe by Beth Revis, A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan.

Themes:  Space travel, colonization, betrayal, motherhood, politics, religion.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Kirkus.   

Series Information: First installment in Sky Chasers series.  

Discussion questions:

- Why do you think Waverly was having reservations about becoming a young mother? How did the mission of the Empyrean impact her feelings?

- What would you have done if you were onboard the Empyrean during the attack by the New Horizon? Would your actions have changed things?

- Do you think the people on board the New Horizon were “villains”? Why or why not?

- Do you believe what Anne Mather said about the history of the Empyrean’s captain and crew members?

- Who would you side with: Seth or Kieran? Why?

- What would you like to see happen next in this series?

Lost Voices Book Review

Author: Sarah Porter. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Harcourt Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780547482507.

Annotation:  Abused and neglected, fourteen-year-old Lucette hopes the sea will swallow her up as she tumbles off a cliff near her Alaskan home. Instead, Luce is transformed into a mermaid and joins a tribe of other young mermaids who were once mistreated just like her.  

Personal thoughts:  I was looking forward to reading this novel and I was not disappointed. When I first read the jacket I was thinking the book would be much lighter fare than it was. There are some very serious and tense issues in the novel, and the whole concept of the “mermaid” is actually very thought provoking beyond the typical “girls with tails” mystique. The characters are well thought and intriguing as well. I look forward to the second installment in the series!  

Plot summary: Fourteen-year-old Lucette “Luce,” lives in a small Alaskan fishing village. Luce’s mother died when she was four and her father disappeared a year earlier when the boat he was working on presumably sank. Luce was left to live with her drunk and abusive uncle who is constantly beating her and making her feel worthless. One afternoon, Luce’s uncle attempts to rape her on the cliffs near their home. When Luce fights him off, he tells her not to come home and abandons her in a raging storm. Luce is bewildered and unsure of what to do, when she suddenly slips off the cliff and into the ocean below. She should be dead, but instead, Luce is transformed into a mermaid. She discovers a tribe of other teen girls who were also abused or neglected in their human lives, causing them to also turn into mermaids. The tribe is lead by Catarina, a beautiful and charismatic mermaid who transformed when she was sixteen. At first, Luce is enchanted by her life as a mermaid: the girls are strong, beautiful and have the ability to hypnotically enchant humans, and each other, with mesmerizing songs. Soon, however, Luce learns how the tribe uses their singing abilities: to sink passing ships in an effort to punish humans for how they were treated in their lives on land. Luce feels a primal urge to participate in the activities of the tribe, but isn’t sure if she can cope with a life dedicated to murdering the innocent. To make matters worse, a new mermaid enters the tribe, one who threatens to destroy the first family Luce has called her own.

Review:  Well-written and utterly unique, this first installment in the Lost Voices trilogy is made even more impressive by the fact that it is author Sarah Porter’s debut novel. Mermaids are an interesting topic for a young adult novel in their own right, but the back-story the author has created for the lives of the mermaid tribe, from how they are created to the rules that govern their lives to their eating habits, take the plot to a more sophisticated level. Certain aspects of the storyline are quite sad: Luce, and the rest of the mermaids, have all suffered inexplicable horrors in their lives on land that caused them to transform. The first several chapters of the novel chronicle Luce’s abuse at the hands of her uncle, and these are some of the most tense in the story. Roughly the first half of the novel focuses more on Luce and her transformation, and this is more poignant and, in many ways, enjoyable than the second half of the book. Porter introduces other characters into the novel, including an annoying and shallow mermaid who threatens the entire tribe, creating more melodrama that waters down the emotional response invoked by the first half of the story. This is the first installment in the trilogy, so Porter did have to create some plot points to keep things moving, and hopefully she can return to the more character driven aspects of the story in the next installment. Overall, Lost Voices is an emotionally charged by enjoyable beginning to a very unique series.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Fins series by Tera Lynn Childs, Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs, Ripple by Mandy Hubbard.  

Themes:  Mermaids, sexual abuse, physical abuse, friendship, orphans, death, loss, grief, Alaska.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from teenreads.com and Bulletin.  

Series Information: First installment in Lost Voices trilogy.

Discussion questions: 

- Why do you think that Luce became a mermaid? Do you think she deserved to become a mermaid? Why or why not?

- What is the timahk similar to?

-   Do you think what Catarina did with the men she drowned broke the timahk?

- Would you have been able to participate in sinking ships if you were Luce? Why do you think the mermaids got pleasure from killing humans?

- What do you hope to see happen in the next book? Why?

Tighter Book Review

Author: Adele Griffin. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780375866456.

Annotation:  Seventeen-year-old Jamie is struggling with her own problems even before her mother finds her a summer job on the island of Little Bly as an au pair to eleven-year-old Isa. Soon after arriving on Little Bly, Jamie discovers the mansion Isa’s family owns might be haunted by restless spirits.

Personal thoughts:  I have to admit that this novel was not what I was expecting at all after reading the book jacket. In many ways, this novel differs from other ghost stories for teens so much that it would be just as appropriate for adult readers. The plot is very much a psychological thriller that dives headfirst into some very complicated issues. There are elements of a ghost story, but the real focus of the novel is on Jamie and her own personal ghosts. Overall, I was impressed, even if I didn’t have a great time reading the novel. Tighter is definitely something different, and something that teens who want to think should read.

Plot summary: Seventeen-year-old Jamie Atkinson is struggling with some major personal demons as she sets out to spend the summer as an au pair on the island of Little Bly. She is addicted to pill popping: antihistamines, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, anything to ease the pain of an old track injury and, more importantly, numb out her mind. Jamie is plagued by memories of a romantic relationship she had with her chemistry teacher that ended in rejection. She’s also being haunted by visions of two of her relatives who committed suicide. Her mother thinks that taking a job on the small New England island will help Jamie, so she travels to Skylark, Little Bly’s largest mansion to care for eleven-year-old Isa while her father is in Hong Kong. Also living in Skylark are Connie, the middle-aged housekeeper, and Milo, Isa’s older brother. Jamie and Isa become fast friends, but soon Jamie discovers a secret about Skylark’s past: Isa’s previous au pair, Jessie, was killed in a tragic accident with her boyfriend, Peter, the summer before. It seems that Jamie bears a startling resemblance to Jessie, so much so that the ghost of Peter might be haunting Skylark attempting to reach out to her.

Review: Tighter delivers a ghost story far more psychological than most young adult novels dare to travel, resulting in a thoughtful and unique read. It is clear from the first page that the “heroine”, Jamie, is more than a little off-kilter. Not only is she addicted to popping pills stolen from her parents medicine cabinet, but she is plagued by horrifying ghostly visions of two relatives who committed suicide. She is also coping with an inappropriate romantic relationship she had with her chemistry teacher, one that ended with her being rejected. Even with these personal demons, Griffin lets on throughout the story that there is something deeper to Jamie’s problems, something that becomes unraveled as the novel progresses. When Jamie arrives on Little Bly and begins to believe that Skylark is haunted, the reader is constantly wondering whether her visions are the result of her self-medicating, or if the ghost of Peter is truly trying to contact her. Jamie’s charge, eleven-year-old Isa, is an interesting character who is also dealing with her own demons. It is Isa’s older brother, handsome, fourteen-year-old Milo, however, who is the most intriguing resident of Skylark. He and Jamie seem to have an instant connection, but one that is far from positive. Milo has a knack for cutting right to the core of Jamie’s insecurities, and seems to be more involved than he’s letting on in Peter’s ghostly presence in Skylark. Overall, Tighter is a relatively short but powerful novel that delivers a storyline far different from usual young adult fare. Equally enjoyable for teens and adults, readers will be left thinking long after the final page.  

Genre: Ghost Story/Psychological Thriller

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: Lark by Tracey Porter, Shine by Lauren Myracle.

Themes:  Ghosts, addiction, mental illness, teacher and student relationships, death, grief.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, and School Library Journal. Written by National Award Finalist author.

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions:

- How does Jamie’s addiction to pills influences the events of the story?

- Do you think that Jamie taking the job at Skylark was a good idea? Why or why not?

- How did Jamie’s memories of her relationship with Sean Ryan influence the events of the story?

- After completing the novel, what was your understanding of Milo’s influence on Jamie, Isa and Peter?

- Do you think that Skylark is haunted? Why or why not?