Book: Picture The Dead by Adele Griffin, Illustrated by Lisa Brown
Release date: May 1, 2010
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
From: Publisher
Summary:
Jennie’s connection with her twin brother, Toby, grew stronger after he died in 1864. Now Jennie must rely on her ability to communicate with the dead to find out what has happened to her beloved fiance, Will, while he was off at war. The army says he died honorably in battle. His brother confides that he became a violent criminal and died in a prison camp. Jennie begins to doubt that anyone is telling her the truth.
This intriguing combination of historical romance, paranormal thriller, and clever mystery is illustrated by bestselling artist Lisa Brown. The unique visuals originated from real Civil War daguerreotypes that were transformed into eerie mementos for Jennie’s scrapbook.
With the help of a spiritualist photographer, the spirit of her dead fiance, and the clues she discovers and keeps in her scrapbook, Jennie must put together the pieces of this mystery before she loses her home, her fortune, and possibly her life.
*****
I love ghost stories. They are something new to me and so they are still unique. I haven’t read very many but Picture The Dead ranks high among the ones that I have read and makes me very interested in reading more.
Jennie Lovell does not have an easy life. After being orphaned, she and her twin, Toby, are forced to live with their Aunt Clara and Uncle Henry. Things aren’t too terrible though because Will and Quinn are there. Things get even better when Jennie falls in love with Will and he ask her to marry him. All that changes though when all three boys join up and are sent to fight in the civil war. Quinn is the only one who makes it home alive. But Will is still there and his ghost is trying to tell Jennie something. Will she find out what it is before it’s too late?
Like I said, I haven’t read many ghost stories so I didn’t really know what to expect. At first it was kind of creepy but the ghosts were friendly so it got better. The mystery of what Will was trying to tell Jennie was what kept me reading. I never would have guessed it. The book was definitely a quick read and not just because of the plot. There were pictures and letters in the book that were very cool and they sped the book up a bit. It wasn’t just words like most YA books.
The characters were only okay to me. I liked Jennie but she was almost obsessed with the ghost which seemed to blind her to what was right in front of her. I did like that she wasn’t whiny or snotty though. She grew up in a wealthy household but she was friends with the servants and actually cared for them. It was nice. Quinn, on the other hand, confused me most of the book. I understood him more at the end.
Overall, Picture The Dead is just a really good book. If you are a fan of ghost stories, check it out. Well, even if you are not a fan, I recommend it. And who knows, maybe it will make you a fan! =]
First line: A ghost will find his way home.
Writing: 4
Characters: 4
Plot: 4
Ending: 4
Originality: 5
Overall: 21=B
Cover: 4=B-
