The Dead and Buried

Gr 9 Up—Jade Kelley, 17, and her family have just moved into the home of her dreams, but their timing couldn't be worse. She is starting her senior year in a new school with no friends. When her five-year-old half brother, Colby, starts talking about seeing a glimmering girl in his room, she gets her first hint that her new house is not as perfect as it seems. She discovers that a popular girl, Kayla, died there just months ago, and everyone believes that she was murdered, but the police have no suspects. Kayla's best friend, Faye, asks Jade to throw a party, and, thinking it would be a good way to make friends, she agrees, not knowing that Faye wants to contact Kayla's ghost. They make a connection, but Kayla's angry spirit explodes light bulbs and possesses Colby's body, demanding that Jade find out who the killer is. With the help of Kayla's old boyfriend, Donovan, Jade starts to investigate, discovering along the way that almost everyone in school had a motive to murder the cruel, status-conscious girl. In this well-paced book, readers slowly learn about the characters and the events that led up to the crime. A little romance and tumultuous family relationships add depth to the story. Mystery fans will definitely enjoy this title.—Erik Carlson, White Plains Public Library, NY