The Ghost and The Goth

Title: The Ghost and The Goth (The Ghost and The Goth #1)
Author: Stacey Kade
Year Published: 2011
Pages: 281
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Price: USD 8.92 (The Book Depository)

Alona Dare's life was perfect. She was a co-captain of her school's cheerleader squad. She had perfect boyfriend. She was a homecoming queen three times in a row. She was pretty. And graduation was so close to her. But then she was dead, hit by a school bus on one normal morning.

Alona now is a ghost, a clueless ghost. And she finds out that actually her friends don't really love her as much as she thought. Her boyfriend now is hanging out with her best friend. Alona is confused and angry until she finds out that this gothic guy in school named Will Killian can see and interact with ghosts.

Will Killian got this gift, to see and talk to dead people, from his deceased father. And he always hides it. People think he is schizophrenic and weird. His behavior is actually caused by so many ghosts surrounding him, telling him to pass their last messages to their beloved ones. One day, Alona coincidentally helps Killian from the other ghosts. For the payback, Alona then asked Killian to give her information she needs about death and how to find the lights. The interaction between the ghost and the goth begins.

So, what happens next? Will Alona find her lights? 

This book is such an entertaining read. I have to say that I fall in love with the two main characters quickly. Alona's character is hilarious. She's pretty and snob but also very smart and funny. Killian's character also has my heart. Alona was actually his crush when she was still alive. But also, the unreachable one. That's why, although from the surface he looks like annoyed by Alona's appearance, deep down inside he feels happy to be so close to Alona. What makes me love them more is that both of them have this awful past, related to their parents, which explains much about how they can be like they are currently.


Sadly, the conflict in this book doesn't get enough proportion. I mean, there are many parts where Alona's and Killian's monologues took too many pages. And until now, I still don't get the reason that made Principal Brewster hates Killian so much. I don't think it's relevant to the whole story either.

Well, since I don't want to spoil the story, this is all I can say about this book. It was not bad actually. It's quite entertaining and I also don't want to make a final judge since actually there are still 2 books out there about Alona and Killian. 

Recommended for the teen literature lovers and readers who are looking for light and quick read.