Ghostgirl (Ghostgirl #1) by Tonya Hurley

Book:  Ghostgirl (Ghostgirl #1)
Author:  Tonya Hurley
Published:  August 1, 2008 from Little,Brown
My edition/number of pages:  HC/328

Age group:  Young Adult
Source: Author
Series?:  Yes.  First book.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

And if I should die before I awake,

I pray the popular attend my wake.

Charlotte Usher feels practically invisible at school, and then one day she really is invisible. Even worse: she’s dead. And all because she choked on a gummy bear. But being dead doesn’t stop Charlotte from wanting to be popular; it just makes her more creative about achieving her goal.

If you thought high school was a matter of life or death, wait till you see just how true that is. In this satirical, yet heartfelt novel, Hurley explores the invisibility we all feel at some times and the lengths we’ll go to be seen.

Ghostgirl is an intriguing story.  I could tell from just looking at the book that it was going to be interesting but I had no idea how interesting until I read it.

Charlotte Usher knows this year is going to be different.  After a huge summer makeover she is determined to be noticed.  At first, things seem to be working.  Then she dies.  Literally.  Now she will never be popular and get to go to the dance with Damen Dylan.  Not only is she stuck here but she has to graduate from Dead Ed.  It doesn’t seem like things will ever go her way but then she realizes someone can see her.  Will she be able to fulfill what she believes to be her destiny or will she be stuck on earth forever?

Charlotte was pretty depressing.  She died without really living and then she couldn’t give up her life.  She couldn’t accept that she was dead and she caused a lot of problems with the other dead kids because of it.  I actually thought she was selfish and immature most of the book.  I felt she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and try to move on.

The plot of the book dragged for a while but it got much better towards the end.  There seemed to be a lot of build up and not enough action.  Now that all the characters have been introduced I feel like the next book will pick up faster.

Overall, Ghostgirl is a pretty good book and makes me very interested in the series.  It’s not your typical ghost story and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

First line:  Charlotte Usher headed purposefully across the parking lot to the front doors of Hawthorne High, repeating her positive mantra–“This year is different.  This is my year.”

Writing:  5

Characters:  3

Plot:  4

Ending:  4

Originality:  5

Overall:  21=B

Cover:  5=A++

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5 comments

  1. I agree with your review. I liked it, but it did drag a bit. There were times I wanted to yell at her to knock it off but I got that the book was about her dealing with her life an death. I want to read the other books in the series.

  2. I have always like the covers for this series. This book definitely sounds different and interesting. I might just have to check it out. Thanks so much for your great review, Katie! =)