The Dead and Buried
by Kim Harrington
To be published by Scholastic Point
on January 1, 2013
Source: ARC swap with another blogger

My summary: Jade just moved from a small town to a fancy surburban neighborhood with her father, stepmother and younger brother. But when she walks into her new school, all she gets are stares and whispers. Donovan, the cute-yet-broody guy who is supposed to be her student tour guide, suddenly bolts. Jade learns that she's living in the murder house, the place where popular girl Kayla Sloane mysteriously died, and that Donovan is Jade's (presumably) grieving boyfriend. Things get even weirder when Jade's little brother tells her that he's seen the ghost of a girl in his room. Jade makes a deal with Kayla's ghost -- if she can solve Kayla's murder, Kayla will leave Jade's family in peace. But Donovan, the guy Jade's crushing on, is the prime suspect in Kayla's murder.
My take: There have been so many great, edgy YA ghost stories lately -- books like the Anna Dressed in Blood series by Kendare Blake, Velveteen by Daniel Marks, Break my Heart 1000 Times by Daniel Waters. If you love ghost stories as much as I do, you can check out my reviews of those books by clicking the links.
I've read and enjoyed Kim Harrington's Clarity series about a psychic teen sleuth, so I was excited to read The Dead and Buried. (This book is not part of the Clarity series, and I think it's a standalone.) Like Clarity, The Dead and the Buried definitely falls on the tamer side of YA ghost stories, a book that could be enjoyed by readers who are middle school age on up. (If you're looking for more great tween ghost books, you should also check out the fantastic Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator series by Jennifer Allison.)
As you may know, I'm also a huge fan of Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, so I was excited that The Dead and Buried also gives a nod to this classic tale of romantic suspense. Kayla, like Rebecca, was beautiful and manipulative. Jade, like the heroine of Rebecca, is living in Kayla's house. The Dead and Buried isn't a strict retelling, like New Girl by Paige Harbison, but the similarities are there and the book emphasizes them by also having Jade's class read Rebecca in school.
Jade's jewelry designer mother died when she was nine, and Jade is thus obsessed with gemstones and their properties. She's also a really nice character -- good to her much younger half-brother, kind to Alexa, the nerdy school overachiever, even so "let's all be friends" that she finds herself in a sort-of love triangle with two guys: Donovan, the broody ex-boyfriend of the dead Kayla, and Kane, a hunky jock who's trying to win a competitive scholarship. Though there are a number of suspects in Kayla's murder, I did not guess the person responsible, and was hoping for a killer more in the mwah-ha-ha vein. But The Dead and Buried did have a couple of good spooky moments that included a Ouija board scene and a creepy ghost-possession scene.
All in all, I found The Dead and Buried a fun and entertaining read. I would have absolutely loved it as a young teen -- it reminded me a lot of those fantastic Lois Duncan books that I used to read and re-read when I was younger. I think The Dead and Buried will appeal to fans of Rebecca and to readers who like their ghost stories mildly spooky without being truly scary.
by Kim Harrington
To be published by Scholastic Point
on January 1, 2013
Source: ARC swap with another blogger

My summary: Jade just moved from a small town to a fancy surburban neighborhood with her father, stepmother and younger brother. But when she walks into her new school, all she gets are stares and whispers. Donovan, the cute-yet-broody guy who is supposed to be her student tour guide, suddenly bolts. Jade learns that she's living in the murder house, the place where popular girl Kayla Sloane mysteriously died, and that Donovan is Jade's (presumably) grieving boyfriend. Things get even weirder when Jade's little brother tells her that he's seen the ghost of a girl in his room. Jade makes a deal with Kayla's ghost -- if she can solve Kayla's murder, Kayla will leave Jade's family in peace. But Donovan, the guy Jade's crushing on, is the prime suspect in Kayla's murder.
My take: There have been so many great, edgy YA ghost stories lately -- books like the Anna Dressed in Blood series by Kendare Blake, Velveteen by Daniel Marks, Break my Heart 1000 Times by Daniel Waters. If you love ghost stories as much as I do, you can check out my reviews of those books by clicking the links.
I've read and enjoyed Kim Harrington's Clarity series about a psychic teen sleuth, so I was excited to read The Dead and Buried. (This book is not part of the Clarity series, and I think it's a standalone.) Like Clarity, The Dead and the Buried definitely falls on the tamer side of YA ghost stories, a book that could be enjoyed by readers who are middle school age on up. (If you're looking for more great tween ghost books, you should also check out the fantastic Gilda Joyce Psychic Investigator series by Jennifer Allison.)
As you may know, I'm also a huge fan of Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, so I was excited that The Dead and Buried also gives a nod to this classic tale of romantic suspense. Kayla, like Rebecca, was beautiful and manipulative. Jade, like the heroine of Rebecca, is living in Kayla's house. The Dead and Buried isn't a strict retelling, like New Girl by Paige Harbison, but the similarities are there and the book emphasizes them by also having Jade's class read Rebecca in school.
Jade's jewelry designer mother died when she was nine, and Jade is thus obsessed with gemstones and their properties. She's also a really nice character -- good to her much younger half-brother, kind to Alexa, the nerdy school overachiever, even so "let's all be friends" that she finds herself in a sort-of love triangle with two guys: Donovan, the broody ex-boyfriend of the dead Kayla, and Kane, a hunky jock who's trying to win a competitive scholarship. Though there are a number of suspects in Kayla's murder, I did not guess the person responsible, and was hoping for a killer more in the mwah-ha-ha vein. But The Dead and Buried did have a couple of good spooky moments that included a Ouija board scene and a creepy ghost-possession scene.
All in all, I found The Dead and Buried a fun and entertaining read. I would have absolutely loved it as a young teen -- it reminded me a lot of those fantastic Lois Duncan books that I used to read and re-read when I was younger. I think The Dead and Buried will appeal to fans of Rebecca and to readers who like their ghost stories mildly spooky without being truly scary.
Ghosts.
ReplyDeleteLois Duncan.
Rebecca.
Sold!
I was just about to comment that this sounds like your kind of book. What is Rebecca?
DeleteThe Daphne DuMaurier romantic suspense novel from the 1930s. Hitchcock made a movie of it. Love book and movie :)
DeleteI love Rebecca (as does my sister) so I'm definitely going to check this out. I'm also a total wimp so this book appeals to me on multiple levels.
ReplyDeleteCurious to see what you think :)
DeleteI just read this one a few days ago and I enjoyed it. My review is going up next week. I really liked Jade's character and I thought the gemstone thing was cool since I collect them too. I don't know the meanings of them though. Kim Harrington is doing a signing in my area next week and I am hoping to go.
ReplyDeleteLucky! Did you read Clarity and Perception too?
DeleteI love ghosts and mysteries in a novel, always have. And I think sometimes it is nice to read something on the lighter side of it. I am looking forward to this one! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree!
DeleteYAY! Loved this story as well! I loved the mystery of finding out each clue and who murdered the girl. Awesome review :)
ReplyDeleteOH! You read this too! I absolutely LOVED it! And yes, it is a standalone (got a confirmation from the author :))
ReplyDeleteOoh, thanks for letting me know. Yay for standalones :)
DeleteI've been so curious about this book! It sounds really good. Great review, Jen. I think I will give this one a try, even though I like a lot of spooky. :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really great...except for the love triangle. I seriously get itchy when I see that phrase. BUT if this is a good book for many age groups, it's probably not one that I would fret over. I LOVE Rebecca as well, so I'm always curious about adaptations. I like the set up of this one, it sounds like it sticks to some of the themes. And it's interesting that it's a real ghost, instead of just the memory of someone haunting the people. I will also have to see what you say about NEW GIRL. I read mixed things so never picked it up.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a serious love triangle. She tells the one guy that she just wants to be friends while pining for the other one.
DeleteWell, I love scary ghost stories, but this sounds kinda intriguing. I love murder mysteries! :) But gah, a love triangle? I just hope it focuses more on the mystery and not on the romance! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of this one. Definitely worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I love Rebecca and the Lois Duncan novels so I may be on board with this, although I prefer the edgier ghost stories.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting and oh I totally loved Velveteen (see my top 10 YA Dec 31st)
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad that you enjoyed this one because I struggled immensely with it. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of this book (and I love Ghost Stories) but at the same time I'm not a huge fan of tame/young YA. I think will have to pick this one up from the library. Great review!
ReplyDelete