Tonya Hurley offers up a very unique YA novel in ghostgirl.
Charlotte has always been invisible and ignored throughout her life - so the first day of school is her opportunity to insert herself, however forcibly, into the popular crowd and into the heart of her dream guy, Damen.
Or so she hopes.
But just as things are looking her way (Damen is partnered up with Charlotte as lab partners and asks for her to tutor him), she dies.
By way of choking on a gummy bear.
And seeing her hopes and dreams disappear isn't even the worst of it. There aren't any pearly gates waiting for her. No, she still has to go to "school" and "graduate". There is an afterlife, and it includes "Dead Ed".
But as much as her fellow deceased school mates urge her to let go of her old life, Charlotte just isn't made that way. She made plans to get what she wanted this year, and death isn't a big enough barrier to keep her from making it happen.
Ghostgirl is one of those novels that is so insanely fun and different that you just can't put it down. The whole plot is completely cliche-free and the cast of characters are vivid in their personalities. The third person voice was strange to me at first, but before the third chapter was over, I was over any doubts and fully inserted into the story, turning pages quickly.
There's a certain grounded feel to the writing. Charlotte becomes increasingly sympathetic and three dimensional. You can't help but root for her.
I have to applaud Tonya for creating a whole new world to read and reread about. It was equal parts hilarious, poignant, romantic, ghostly, and just plain entertaining.
And the book itself is gorgeous, with a shape as unique as the story itself and details adorning it in a way that you almost never see on other hardcovers. Honestly, I love the cover so much, I wanted to mention it.
Anyway, this book is definitely worth picking up - I am personally thrilled that there's a sequel, ghostgirl: homecoming, coming out in July. Charlotte is definitely a character I'd follow for many books, discovering all the many layers of the afterlife.
Charlotte has always been invisible and ignored throughout her life - so the first day of school is her opportunity to insert herself, however forcibly, into the popular crowd and into the heart of her dream guy, Damen.
Or so she hopes.
But just as things are looking her way (Damen is partnered up with Charlotte as lab partners and asks for her to tutor him), she dies.
By way of choking on a gummy bear.
And seeing her hopes and dreams disappear isn't even the worst of it. There aren't any pearly gates waiting for her. No, she still has to go to "school" and "graduate". There is an afterlife, and it includes "Dead Ed".
But as much as her fellow deceased school mates urge her to let go of her old life, Charlotte just isn't made that way. She made plans to get what she wanted this year, and death isn't a big enough barrier to keep her from making it happen.
Ghostgirl is one of those novels that is so insanely fun and different that you just can't put it down. The whole plot is completely cliche-free and the cast of characters are vivid in their personalities. The third person voice was strange to me at first, but before the third chapter was over, I was over any doubts and fully inserted into the story, turning pages quickly.
There's a certain grounded feel to the writing. Charlotte becomes increasingly sympathetic and three dimensional. You can't help but root for her.
I have to applaud Tonya for creating a whole new world to read and reread about. It was equal parts hilarious, poignant, romantic, ghostly, and just plain entertaining.
And the book itself is gorgeous, with a shape as unique as the story itself and details adorning it in a way that you almost never see on other hardcovers. Honestly, I love the cover so much, I wanted to mention it.
Anyway, this book is definitely worth picking up - I am personally thrilled that there's a sequel, ghostgirl: homecoming, coming out in July. Charlotte is definitely a character I'd follow for many books, discovering all the many layers of the afterlife.
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I'll be reviewing the next book very soon and maybe a little author interview with Tonya Hurley herself! So, stay tuned!