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"If Edward Scissorhands and Kim (Winona Ryder's character in that movie) had a baby it would be ghostgirl."

ghostgirl: homecoming

*SPOILER ALERT: If you have not yet read the fantastical ghostgirl, and don't want to know how the first one ends (and really, why would you want to ruin the awesome experience of reading the book?), please don't read the review for the sequel. If anything, trust me and just go and buy them both.*

Tonya Hurley's ghostgirl: homecoming has Charlotte Usher in the next level of the afterlife. Yet again, however, she finds it sorely lacking in pearly gates. But her newly matured understanding, which she gained by the end of ghostgirl, helps her deal with the fact that she and her classmates are now interns.

That's right. Interns. Interns at a call center. A call center that helps teens who need guidance.

Yeah, not exactly what she was expecting.

But, apparently, there are more levels to immortality than you'd guess. Plus, with her new roommate Maddy the only fellow deceased sticking around to talk to her, she can't help but wonder if maybe "graduating" wasn't all it seemed cracked up to be.

Meanwhile, among the living, Scarlet finds herself becoming more insecure than she's comfortable with since Damen's been at college and seemingly more and more distant. And he still hasn't said the three small words she wants to hear. But things get a lot worse for her and her sister Petula before many chapters fly by.

And they DO fly by. If you thought Charlotte found her happy ending at the end of ghostgirl, be happy it's not true, because this sequel is just as good, if not BETTER!!!

What does ghostgirl: homecoming bring to the table? A whole new level of the afterlife, complete with jobs and apartments (kinda prison issue) and creepy forests. There are more mysterious characters, the return of the characters we love, just as much humor, and every ounce of sweet-without-being-nauseous moments as the first novel.

And, again, I applaud whoever comes up with these awesome covers. Love it. Just as cool as the book itself. How often does that happen?

I don't want to give away too much, so I'll just say this: Go out and read the sequel on July 1st. By the end, you'll be hoping that there are a lot more volumes to come.

JUN 19, 2009

Ghostgirl Homecoming by Tonya Hurley

Young Adult Fiction - Gothic
Release Date: June 30, 2009
285 pgs
Little, Brown, & Co.

*Look for interview with the author coming soon!

Charlotte Usher has finally found the peace she needs to move on. Sort of. After graduating Dead Ed in the first novel she finds herself...working at a teen help line call center??? Not only is the great beyond a call center, but Charlotte never gets any calls. She also doesn't get reunited with her loved ones like all of her classmates. Feeling as lonely and isolated as she did while among the living, Charlotte makes a new friend Maddy who seems to be the only one that cares about her. But then Petula becomes seriously ill and Scarlet "calls" Charlotte for help. But helping Scarlet (and Petula) might mean risking everything, but when your Charlotte Usher a.k.a. Ghostgirl, what have you got to lose?

The Ghostgirl novels have to be some of the most unique books I've ever read. Ms. Hurley uses the same framing in the second novel that I loved in the first. The quotes and "epitaphs" are both classic and modern, abstract and detailed, but most importantly they are relevant. In the second novel readers see more of Scarlet and Damen's relationship as well as Charlotte's unselfish side. Charlotte's journey to help her friends also helps her to reach her final destination so to speak. Readers who complained that Charlotte was annoyingly self-centered in the first novel will appreciate her personal growth in Ghostgirl Homecoming.

What impressed me the most was the author's ability to tell multiple intricately woven stories at once. I found I was just involved in and attached to Scarlet's , Damen's, and Petula's stories as I was Charlotte's. I am excited about offering these books in my classroom because I think readers who aren't as interested in romantic comedies or love stories (with or without vampires) will enjoy these unique novels.

ghostgirl

Tonya Hurley offers up a very unique YA novel inghostgirl.

Charlotte has always been invisible and ignored throughout her life - so the first day of school is her opportunity to insert herself, however forcibly, into the popular crowd and into the heart of her dream guy, Damen.

Or so she hopes.

But just as things are looking her way (Damen is partnered up with Charlotte as lab partners and asks for her to tutor him), she dies.

By way of choking on a gummy bear.

And seeing her hopes and dreams disappear isn't even the worst of it. There aren't any pearly gates waiting for her. No, she still has to go to "school" and "graduate". There is an afterlife, and it includes "Dead Ed".

But as much as her fellow deceased school mates urge her to let go of her old life, Charlotte just isn't made that way. She made plans to get what she wanted this year, and death isn't a big enough barrier to keep her from making it happen.

Ghostgirl is one of those novels that is so insanely fun and different that you just can't put it down. The whole plot is completely cliche-free and the cast of characters are vivid in their personalities. The third person voice was strange to me at first, but before the third chapter was over, I was over any doubts and fully inserted into the story, turning pages quickly.

There's a certain grounded feel to the writing. Charlotte becomes increasingly sympathetic and three dimensional. You can't help but root for her.

I have to applaud Tonya for creating a whole new world to read and reread about. It was equal parts hilarious, poignant, romantic, ghostly, and just plain entertaining.

And the book itself is gorgeous, with a shape as unique as the story itself and details adorning it in a way that you almost never see on other hardcovers. Honestly, I love the cover so much, I wanted to mention it.

Anyway, this book is definitely worth picking up - I am personally thrilled that there's a sequel, ghostgirl: homecoming, coming out in July. Charlotte is definitely a character I'd follow for many books, discovering all the many layers of the afterlife.

http://bibliophilesupportgroup.blogspot.com/2009/06/ghostgirl.html

Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley was a great book. Although, I didn't read the first book, I still could understand it and now I want to read the first book. The book has some dark themes, such as death, ghosts, the afterlife, but it manages to be a happy book. The book deals with Charlotte's reunion with her best friend, who is alive but not really, and her quest to save her sister, whom she always hated. It lets me think about how curiously human nature is. It also contains quotes and various "blurbs" revolving around the title of the chapters, which I find are thought provoking.  In all, Ghostgirl: Homecoming is a book I would recommend to my friends.

-Jessica, 13

 In my opinion the book ghostgirl: Homecoming was a pretty awesome book. I had not read the first one and am now starting it. (I sometimes read books in a mixed up order...) I do have to give props to Tonya Hurley because it helped me catch up even though I knew about 2% of what was going on before I had read the first 4 chapters. She really helped me understand what was going on and what the characters were like. Another thing I really liked was the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. IMO, they are really clever and have some nice dark humor in them.

Now the things I think could be improved. Unless Tonya is going to write another book she should shorten up the ending. (In fact I think she should write another book. I really enjoyed this one and she left us on a thread talking about Charlotte meeting her parents.) Another thing is that I think could be improved is that on occasion she kind of repeats herself. A couple words to describe this book: Funny, Dark, Lots of Friendship, and One of the Best Books I've read in a Long Time.

-Tawny, 13

 ghostgirl: Homecoming is quite an amazing journey. The main character, Charlotte, goes from whiny and needy to confident, witty and selfless in the course of 200-some pages, and crucial lessons are learned amidst a tense and stunning plot. Overall: a very worthwhile read and superb follow-up to ghostgirl.

-Allie, 15

 I totally loved this book. It has all the sarcasm, with, and humor that the first book had, and I loved reading more adventures of Charlotte and the Dead Heads. I hope there is a 3rd book.

-Greg, 17

 I absolutely loved Ghostgirl: Homecoming. In this fabulous sequel by Tonya Hurley, Charlotte moves on in death from Dead Ed classes, to work at a hotline. Unfortunately, she never gets any calls, while her friends are bombarded with calls from teenagers seeking their help. She is left almost alone and missing her best friend, Scarlet. I loved this book so much that I can’t wait to tell my friends about it and share the magic of the afterlife with them. I love how honest Hurley is in her books. Her characters never deviate from who they are. This book, like the first Ghostgirl, has quotes at the beginning of each chapter and a little preface relating the quote to the story. I love this! I have begun to use some of the quotes in everyday life. I highly suggest that if you haven’t read Ghostgirl, you get it quick.

-Laura, 18

 I read Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley. This was a very interesting book. I was a little skeptical because I had not read the first book, but I was pleasantly surprised. This book kept me hooked from beginning to end. I never wanted to put it down, I was always wondering what would happen next! The characters were so likable, you couldn't help laughing and crying along with them. It was funny enough to be enjoyable, but serious enough to be fascinating. I would recommend this book to all my friends and I find myself really eager to read the first book in the series.

-Cayla, 14

 A lesson on not only in helping those in need, but, ultimately, helping yourself. I really enjoyed reading the quotes and Charlotte's little lessons on life in her quest to find herself and to take control. 

-Laurie, 17

Ghostgirl: Homecoming is a fun read, sporting hilarious, yet seriously twisted humor.  It  managed to make me laugh throughout, though sometimes you feel a little guilty after you’ve laughed.  Guilt settles in after you’ve realized that you are laughing at some very dark and depressing subjects. But even so, it’s impossible not to find it funny. It probably will appeal to the Hot Topic crowd, but the jokes really worked on me as well.  (I can’t go in that store without the music driving me nuts!)

Other than its laugh-factor, when a genuinely serious subject was coming up, the humor would let off, and the writing would flow naturally into a style that was nothing other than touching.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ghostgirl:  Homecoming and have every intention of going to the book store and buying its predecessor. Really, how did I miss this hilarious series for so long?

-Katie, 17

 I received ghostgirl: Homecoming and I LOVED the book.  The characters were as engaging, the story was able to keep my attention and the book was fun!  I read it quickly and have already told many people about it so they can read it.  I now have to get the first one and I am going to watch for more.  What a wonderful story about friends and family.

-Candace, 15

 The book was good. I didn't read the first one but it still is a good read as a standalone. There are a few parts that are a little hard to follow without reading the first, but it was still great.

-Noelle, 21

 Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley is a really cute read. The reader can get attached to the characters, especially Charlotte, It's full of action and some really funny, endearing moments.Ghostgirl is a little like Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, except for younger readers, as both novels deal with the trials of the dead through the eyes of girls who have passed on. It's a great read for young teenage girl fantasy enthusiasts. 

-Chloe, 17

 I absolutely loved ghostgirl: Homecoming. Tonya Hurley does an excellent job of weaving a tale about discovering yourself worth. The reader will see Charlotte's transformation from a shy wallflower to a two-time hero. Charlotte only wants to feel like she belongs with everyone else, something that every teen, boy or girl can connect to.  The novel also sends a great positive message about believing in yourself. Charlotte followed her gut, which helped save her and surprising new friend. Even if readers haven't read the first novel, they will most definitely enjoy this heartwarming and supernatural novel!

-Megan, 15

Tonya Hurley's book, ghostgirl: Homecoming, is an original and unique read. Her sequel presents afterlife in a new light with a plot combined with death, love, friendship, and some twists and turns. Who knew afterlife could be so complicated after readingghostgirl: Homecoming? Hurley's ghostgirl: Homecoming is not like every other book on the teen fiction bookshelves; it's not the typical love story, and does not have the typical characters, when the majority of them are dead. ghostgirl: Homecoming will have readers wondering what's going to happen next, and discover things are always as they seem to be.

-Cassie, 17

I have never read the first ghostgirl installment by Tonya Hurley, but the sequel is just as good as I imagine the first to be.  I enjoyed the fact that the story is about Charlotte's death and afterlife.  Teen books of today are mostly focused around fantasy topics such as vampires (namely vampires, actually).  Many other teen literature, however, focuses on awakening our sympathetic nature by using topics about death within a family, many times using cancer or other illnesses.  It was refreshing that ghostgirl: Homecoming read not to claim the reader's sympathy, but to cheer for Charlotte's success in her afterlife.  I felt bad not because she had died, but because her afterlife was more disappointing and friendless than her life.  I liked at the end how everything came together, but still allowed for another installment.  ghostgirl: Homecoming had a definite ending, pulling all the elements of surprise and expectancy together, and ended with a "fairytale ending" feel (her meeting her parents for the first time), but still has a misleading question.  Is it "The end?" for ghostgirl.  I think (and hope ;)) not.

-Lexi, 16

I didn't get a chance to read the original Ghostgirl, but Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley allowed me to get deep into Charlotte's world even without the complete back story. Ghostgirl: Homecoming playfully explores some of the worst parts of teenagerdom - feeling alone and insecure - in an entertaining way. Charlotte Usher has to learn certain lessons to pass on to the other side; through her, readers take an insightful and amusing crash course in Dead Ed and real life as well. 

-Jessica, 15