THE LOWDOWN:
After Julie’s grandmother passes away, she is forced to move across town to the not-so-fancy end of Beverly Hills and start over at a new school. The only silver lining to the perpetual dark cloud that seems to be following her? Clark—a die-hard fan of Buffy and all things Joss Whedon, who is just as awkward and damaged as she is. Her kindred spiriat.

When the two try to contact Julie’s grandmother with a Ouija board, they make contact with a different spirit altogether. The real kind. And this ghost will do whatever it takes to come back to the world of the living.

FIRST IMPRESSION:
Until things started to fall apart, I had never questioned my desire to be alive. It wasn’t something I had to think about. Even though I didn’t have any close relationships at school and felt different from the other kids, even though I wasn’t always confident about how I looked or the things I could do, I never thought there was something really wrong with me; I was never very lonely or sad.
—Paperback ARC edition

SNAPSHOT:
Julie narrates this easy-to-read, well-paced story of death, connection, and moving on–with a supernatural twist. With her grandmother having passed on, Julie and her mother end up moving into a small apartment, where Julie meets Clark. Connecting over their shared geekery, Julie and Clark try to solve the mystery of Clark’s possession.

Clark is an enjoyable love interest; and his deceased brother, Grant, makes for a unique antagonist. Julie herself is smart, sensitive, and the right amounts of nerdy.

After the stellar tension from the beginning of their relationship, Julie and Clark’s finale would have benefited from a bit more drama and action. Likewise, some plot point will be easily predicted. Points for going against type in the love triangle though!

The Buffy, Whedon, and other references will either draw readers in or pull them out depending on how relevant they are in your own geek-sphere. It may quickly date the book–and it probably could have benefited from being set in the early 2000s or late 90s.

Appropriate for ages 15+. Some underage alcohol use, fatal drunk driving. No drug use. Mild sexual situations, emotionally intense situations, some violence.

Deals with family, identity, faith, responsibility, love, friendship and mental illness.

GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:

 If you…

• Love ghosts, possession, and psychic abilities

• Need a little geeky pop culture in your reading

• Would enjoy ELEANOR & PARK with a supernatural twist

• Have ever lost a loved one and wondered what was next

THE ESSENTIALS:

YA Paranormal

Hardcover & Ebook, 240pages

Published February 4, 2014 by HarperCollins (ISBN 0062008099 )

http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062008091/teen-spirit