Harrington, Kim. The Dead and Buried.

Harrington, Kim.  The Dead and Buried.  Scholastic Press/Point    2012  297p  $17.99  ISBN 978-0-545-33302-3      jr/sr   Supernatural, Mystery   E-BN 

From the moment you open the book, this story captures your imagination. Jade is not thrilled to have to go to a new high school, and she can’t help but wonder how her family is able to afford their new house. Then her little brother tells her that he is seeing the ghost of a girl with black hair.

At school Jade begins making friends, and at first everything seems all right, until she tells them where she lives. Their reaction is surprising, and finally one girl tells her to check the real estate pages. Jade is shocked when she reads that a teenage girl fell down the stairs of her house and died just a few months ago.  The ghost of the girl is not happy, and wants her murder to be solved, and this places Jade in the position of doing the detective work, whether she likes it or not. Everyone is a suspect and everyone has a motive, but the most important clue is to be found in the diary of the murdered girl. Jade realizes that if she can find the diary, the killer will be revealed.

This excellent story will keep readers guessing up to the very end. A cute romance is thrown in to help lighten up the story.           

Haunted houses, Ghosts, Romance   --Magna Diaz

Perception: A Clarity Novel

Harrington, Kim   Perception: A Clarity Novel    

Scholastic/Grolier/Childrens Press/Watts  2012  275p  $16.99  978-0-545-23053-7  VG   ms/hs       Mystery/Detective

Clare is a loner at school because of her psychic ability.  In this, the second book in the Clarity series, Clare once again must use her this ability to determine what happened to a high-school girl who has recently disappeared.  Readers unfamiliar with the series will be put off by all the references to the first book.  Many characters populate this novel, some of whom appeared in the first book as well, and some who are new.  The popular Barbie brigade befriends Clare even though Clare has nothing in common with them.  Clare in her turn befriends a female loner, much to the disappointment of the Barbie brigade.  Typical high-school friendships, with friends turning on friends, propel much of the action.  Adding romantic interest are two boys who want Clare to be their homecoming date.  When Clare becomes aware that someone is following her, photographing her, and leaving the photos for her to find, along with notes and flowers, she becomes apprehensive and seeks to determine who the secret admirer is before something terrible happens.  Should she trust her new friend Mallory?  Which boy should she give her heart to?  Who is the mysterious stalker?  

Oh, the drama! This is a beach read of a mystery tinged with psychic powers that will entertain readers, but not leave a lasting impression on most.

VG    Lois McNicol      Psychic ability, High school stories, Romance, 

Friendship