Ghost Week, Part 1

Yes, welcome to Ghost Week. I will be writing about ghostly tales and spooky stories all through hallows-week. Some of these books’ haunts may turn out to be fakes, but most will be very real. Some will be friendly, and some evil and dangerous. If you’re ready for the haunted book lineup, then read along. But, beware, not every ghost story has a happy ending.

Have you ever felt completely out of place where you live? Whether it’s in your family, your school, community or a whole city, nothing feels right. Well this is how Rebecca Brown feels when she’s plucked from the heart of new York City, to New Orleans to live with her Aunt Claudia and cousin. I am talking about­­­­ Paula Morris’s novel, Ruined. In this book, Rebecca learns that there are different sides to every story, and sometimes, the only one you can believe is the one from beyond the grave.

Rebecca first has to meet her Aunt and cousin. Aunt Claudia is a strange woman who seems to dabble in voodoo and other things that outcasts her from the town. Her cousin Aurelia is a perky girl who loves gossip and knows a lot about the town, and what goes on under the surface. She also meets Aurelia’s best friend, Lucy, who is just as neurotic as Aurelia, but this comes in handy later in the book when she sneaks out of the house.

At school, Rebecca is instantly out casted for being an ‘outsider’, especially be queen of mean, Helena Bowman, her minion Marianne Sutton and her twin, Toby Sutton. She also has power over the ‘coolest’ guy at St. Simeon’s School, Anton grey, who takes an unusual liking to Rebecca. He talks to her at the café and takes her on a tour of the town. Rebecca might actually like him, if it wasn’t for his mean friends and Marianne’s affection towards him. But for some reason, Claudia is telling Rebecca to stay away from Anton, Helena and their group, and she won’t tell why.

                The strangest thing in this book, though, is when Rebecca goes to the graveyard. She is accidentally locked in and a beautiful black girl shows her the way out. Rebecca doesn’t realize that she was a ghost until the next time they talk. She reveals that her name is Lisette Villieux, and she’s been dead for over 150 years. When Helena and her gang break into the cemetery, Lisette tells her to hold hands, and when she does, the other teens don’t even see her. That is when she realizes she’s a ghost, and that she’s the only one who can see her. Lisette seems friendly enough, but there are some things she is hiding. Some dangerous things.

                This book is really interesting so far. I love the concept of Lisette and how she came to be in the graveyard. I also like how she stays there, but she seems to be able to leave. Helena throws a party, a little later I the book, which brings some surprises. You won’t be surprised in who’s her date, but what happens between them, might be a shock. But most surprisingly, the fact that Rebecca is not the only one who can see Lisette brings up a lot of questions.

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