Losing Logan

Gr 9 Up—Zoe hasn't been close with her friend Logan for many years, but ever since he died they've been inseparable. As the only person who can see or hear him, she feels compelled to discover the person responsible for his untimely death. Losing Logan is a mystery at heart, concealed within a paranormal romance. Ficklin is adept at nailing the banter and mannerisms of high school students, but the transformation of the secretly beautiful, acid-tongued female protagonist into a generous social butterfly is nothing new in the genre. The contrast between Zoe's search to uncover Logan's killer and her life amid the living is well-drawn and compelling. The author provides solid pacing and enough detail for readers to be invested in the story without dragging down the narrative. Despite its dark subject matter, the book is mainly a sea of teenage drama, navigated by a ghost and his gal Friday. Occasionally flawed, but entertaining.—Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter's Prep, Jersey City, NJ