The Ghost of Us

Gr 10 Up–Sutter’s newest novel is set in the same world as his Darkhearts and focuses on Cara, a ghost-hunting 18-year-old who is trying to find a way out of her small town after not getting into college. After inadvertently attaching herself to the ghost of a teenage boy who died the year before, she wants to use him to prove that ghosts are real. He is willing, but on one condition: Cara takes his little sister to prom. Cara and her parents are quirky and fun. Aiden, the teenage ghost, is authentic as a know-it-all and guy who likes to be in charge. Meredith, the love interest, and Holly, Cara’s BFF, stand out as likable characters, as they push Cara to acknowledge her flaws. Aiden does not feature as prominently as readers may anticipate and all but disappears during Cara and Meredith’s budding romance. The characters’ voices are engaging, but the Gen-Z/Gen-A slang will quickly date the book. The overuse of italics to emphasize words is distracting and will pull readers out of the story. The ending wraps up quickly, with character growth on the part of Cara that doesn't feel believable.