The Dark World

Gr 9 Up—Talking to ghosts is the least of Paige Kelly's worries when demons from another dimension show up at her high school, alongside charming demon slayer Logan Bradley. These demons want to rule the Dark World, and they need Paige, a Traveler, to open a portal back to their paranormal realm. At times the pacing lags, especially when readers are introduced to Paige's 1950s ghost friend Dottie, but eventually the slow sections give way to a page-turning romance. The writing is sometimes awkward: the protagonist's description of horrific events, such as the death of a classmate at the hands of a vicious demon, that should shock or surprise her, come off as removed and impersonal (e.g., "This wasn't the quiet, sometimes shy boy from the back of the class" is Paige's understated reaction to seemingly-normal Logan storming into a demon fight with his magical sword drawn). The occasionally forced, yet swoon-inducing love story takes center stage over the action, with the titular world not appearing until late in the novel. Paige's wry humor, sarcastic voice, and determination to defend herself make her a likable main character for fans of paranormal romances.—Hannah Farmer, Austin Public Library, TX