New Kid on the Paranormal Teen Block

Girl Vs. Ghost:  Misdirected Magic, Book One by Kate McMurry and Marie August
(Adolescents and Up)

These are just the kinds of books I like—feisty female main character, just enough supernatural to keep things spooky and a storyline with a mystery I can really sink my teeth into.  Too often, though, many of these books make big promises and then fall short-undeveloped characters, unbelievable plot, trite or rehashed storylines.  This one, however, was a delightful surprise.  Right from the start, I really liked the main character, Isabel, and was drawn into the story right away.

Isabel is a reluctant participant in her friend Tripp’s hobbies, especially the newest one involving magic.  When a sleepover turned séance goes dreadfully wrong, Isabel is shocked when a young boy falls from her ceiling.  That shock turns to horror when she discovers the boy is actually a ghost.  After that, things goes from bad to worse as Isabel learns he is somehow tied to her and the only way she can get rid of him is to help him discover the circumstances surrounding his death.

Isabel was funny with just the right amount of sass—I had no trouble believing in her or her motivations or actions.  I felt as if I were living the story through her and would have reacted the exact same way.  The other characters in the book were just as believable and delightful.  Tripp, Isabel’s bff, is just the kind of person I would want to hang out with—funny, interesting and doesn’t back down from a challenge.  I hope she plays more of a role in another book.  Tripp is strong enough to carry her own story.

What I liked most of all about the story was the storyline.  This genre of paranormal and paranormal romance has some real duds with most books just rehashing the same old plot over and over again.  This one had something new and that’s what kept me going, kept me interested until the last page.  I really didn’t know and couldn’t predict what was going to happen next.  I loved the humor; felt the frustrations; liked the flirting; and was disappointed when the story ended!

Overall, a great read and a series I intend to follow.