The Blue Girl

ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2005
New York Public Library Best Book for Teen Age 2005

A captivating novel from the award-winning Charles de Lint.

When Imogene, her mother, and her brother move to Newford, she decides to reinvent herself — this time she won't go looking for trouble. She quickly gets to know two very different people. Maxine is a "good girl," following a strict life plan. Imogene helps Maxine loosen up and break a few rules, and in turn Maxine keeps her on the straight and narrow.

Imogene's other new friend is a little more unusual. His name is Adrian. He is a ghost. Adrian was killed when he jumped off the high school roof in 1998, and hasn't left since. He has a huge crush on her — so much so that he wants her to see the fairies that also haunt the school. The fairies invade Imogene's dreams, blurring the line between the unreal and the real. When her imaginary childhood friend Pelly actually manifests, Imogene knows something is terribly wrong. With Maxine, Adrian, and Pelly's help, Imogene challenges the dark forces of Faery.

This compelling novel from Charles de Lint, the acknowledged founder of the "urban fantasy" genre, is set in the city of Newford, home to some of his best stories. After reading it, you will want to live in Newford, too.

"De Lint (Moonheart) tackles magic and the afterlife in a suburban high school setting in this inventive if somewhat convoluted tale. Imogene Yeck is new to Redding High, and with her piercings and goth clothes, she immediately gets branded ('Yuck,' a play on her last name). She quickly befriends an outsider of another sort, geeky and thoughtful Maxine. Imogene begins seeing a 'pale, nerdy guy — sort of like a tall Harry Potter... but gawkier and with a narrower face,' called Ghost, according to the school's legend. Imogene and Maxine learn that this is the ghost of Adrian, a bullied kid who 'either jumped or fell off the roof' some years before. Adrian, who admires Imogene (for standing up to the bullying football quarterback), inadvertently attracts the attention of 'the darkness,' also called 'ghost- or soul-eaters.' She learns of this in part from her childhood imaginary friend Pelly, now an ominous figure who is appearing in her dreams. Fairies factor into the story, as does a roving angel who tries to convince Adrian to give up his hold on the world and 'move on.' The book feels a bit strained, packed with one mythology too many. It may also be challenging to some readers at first: the early clever reparte between Imogene and Maxime gives way to three different first-person narratives (Imogene's, Maxine's and Adrian's), told at two different periods in time ('Then' and 'Now'). Fantasy-minded goth kids, though, will likely find it worth the effort. Ages 12-up." Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Readers always know what to expect in a de Lint fantasy: supple, sinuous writing in a contemporary setting laced with fantasy neatly hardwired in place....And yes, the tattooed and pierced Imogene does turn spectacularly blue in one of the many page-turning plot points." Kirkus Reviews

"De Lint's strong characters and riveting plot lines will work for even the most skeptical reader, and Imogene and Maxine are wonderful examples of strong young women faced with a variety of problems that appear to defy solutions..." Booklist

"This complicated story is made more intricate by the now/then time shifts between chapters. The two popular bullies are stereotypically flat, but the remaining characters are well drawn and delightful." School Library Journal

"Imogene and Maxine are fully-drawn characters, and the plot builds steadily toward the end." Children's Literature

When Imogene and her family move to Newford, she quickly gets to know two very different people. Maxine is a "good girl" following a strict life plan. Adrian is a bit more unusual — he's a ghost who has a huge crush on Imogene.

New at her high school, Imogene enlists the help of her introverted friend Maxine and the ghost of a boy who haunts the school after receiving warnings through her dreams that soul-eaters are threatening her life.