Gift

Gr 5–8—Supercharged with an electrical power so strong she can short out any electronic device in her vicinity, Daisy must maintain constant control over her "gift." Sent one day by her teacher to check on a classmate's failure to return from the bathroom, she discovers Vivi nearly passed out from an apparent suicide attempt, babbling about it being the only way to be with Patrick again. So begins a ghost story and a rocky alliance between Vivi, Daisy, and her friend Danielle. Through a series of shared dreams/nightmares, Daisy and Danielle discover that they and Vivi share a tragic past. Coinciding with the appearance of the dreams, Patrick, the spirit who Vivi believes has been her protector since she was little, begins to appear and communicate with Daisy and Danielle. From the dreams, ghostly visits, and a little historical research, they discover that Patrick was a serial killer from the girls' past lives. He is drawn by Daisy's gift and his previous relationship to her and plans to use her power to increase his own to possess one of the girls. Despite its promise as a super-girl vs. evil ghost thriller, the plot drags with unproductive dialogue and unnecessary additions. One clever twist at the end does little to make up for the predictable, fiery climax. Strictly an additional purchase.—Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA