A Girl, a Ghost, and the Hollywood Hills

Gr 8 Up—Holly comes home from boarding school knowing that her dad is now dating her aunt. Her deceased mom, who had inherited Goldmeyer Productions from her father, didn't get along with her sister, and Holly dislikes and distrusts the woman. When her mother's ghost appears, telling Holly that she was murdered by Aunt Claudia, the teen becomes consumed with planning her revenge. In the midst of all of this, Holly meets and falls for Ollie, a cute marine biology student at UCLA, and has a lot of escapades with her best friend, Felicia. This Hamlet-like story will appeal to avid and reluctant readers alike. With a Hollywood setting complete with shopping on Rodeo Drive, posh parties, and Porsches, the book reads like an episode of 90210. Holly is a strong character faced with tough decisions on how to handle this new family dynamic and a strange stepmom-to-be, along with juggling a newfound relationship with a guy she's crazy about. While the arrival of Holly's cousins is a bit silly and contrived, it is the catalyst for the re-enactment movie that brings everything to a head. Overall, this is a fun read that will appeal to fans of ghost stories as well as those who love a good problem or romance novel.—Gina Bowling, South Gibson County High School, Medina, TN