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A Certain Slant of Light

by Laura Whitcomb

A Certain Slant of Light Cover

ISBN13: 9780618585328
ISBN10: 061858532x
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In the class of the high school English teacher she has been haunting, Helen feels them: for the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. They belong to a boy, a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. And Helen — terrified, but intrigued — is drawn to him. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this unlikely couple with their first challenge. But as the lovers struggle to find a way to be together, they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and of the young people they come to possess.

Review:

"First-time author Whitcomb infuses Gothic romance with modern-day drama to create a highly sensual, supernatural story of two spirits caught in purgatory. The body of Helen perished 130 years ago, but her soul still roams the Earth, cleaving to humans who share her love of literature. In all those years, Helen has never seen anyone else who is 'Light,' until she meets James, who has possessed the body of an 11th grade student. Knowing at once that they are meant to be together, Helen allows James to teach her how to enter the body of an 'empty' teenager, not knowing what complications lie ahead. Posing as Jennifer Ann, the daughter of fundamentalist Christians, Helen finds herself trapped in a sterile household void of art and literature with little chance to visit James, who lives in a run-down house with a violent older brother. Meticulously wrought descriptions of the ghosts' feelings and actions allow readers to experience the physical sensations of Helen and James as they rediscover the pleasures of taste and touch and re-experience the suffering that is part of every human experience. Sexually explicit scenes and not-so-gentle jabs at hypocritical Christians may raise some eyebrows, but the author's poetic prose, capturing the spirit and sorrow of the two unearthly protagonists, will likely have a mesmerizing effect on readers. Ages 14-up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"Whitcomb writes with a grace that befits Helen's more modulated world....In the subgenre of dead-narrator tales, this book shows the engaging possibilities of immortality — complete with a twist at the end that wholly satisfies." School Library Journal

Review:

"What should be a sure-fire ghost story/romance fails to ignite a spark....Unsurprising plot, under-developed characters and adequate prose doom this first novel." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"Whitcomb is generous with atmospheric detail...and she creatively pulls together a dramatic and compelling plot that cleverly grants rebellious teen romance a timeless grandeur." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
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About the Author

Laura Whitcomb grew up in Pasadena, California where she lived in a mildly haunted house for 12 years. She has taught English in California and Hawaii. The winner of three Kay Snow Writing Awards, she was once runner up in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction contest for the best first sentence of the worst science fiction novel never written. She is involved in community theater and volunteers backstage in various productions, plays a wench in the pirate re-enactment group BOOM, and sings madrigals with the Sherwood Renaissance Singers. She lives in Portland, Oregon. This is her first novel.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 8 comments:
mary munoz, January 1, 2011 (view all comments by mary munoz)
Amazing! I bought this when it was recommended by a friend (which is the way I buy most of my books, unless I can find them at the library. It blew my socks off. I read it in one night, stopping only to nurse my newborn. Then I thought about if for a few days, then read it again. Then I bought some as presents for my sister and a friend. PArt ghost story, party love story, one whole amazing novel. The writing is so facile that you don't notice anything but the story. The second reading I made an effort to pay attention to the words and was shocked by the utter originality of the phrases, the descriptions. I hate it when people call a book 'haunting', but in this case, it fits!
And the best part? She's a Portland author! She was just nominated for a prize for the German language edition and I haven't heard yet if she won...
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authorism423, January 3, 2010 (view all comments by authorism423)
One of the best books I've read in a while. It tells the story of two ghosts who are living in the bodies of modern teenagers, and falling in love with one another. They have to deal with both the issues they've been battling with since their deaths, as well as the issues their hosts left behind when they vacated their bodies. The book deals with problems many teenagers today are dealing with, like drugs and divorce, while giving it a fantastical twist, by telling it through a ghost story. The book is fun to read, and I have read it several times, myself.
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kellyduhhh, November 18, 2009 (view all comments by kellyduhhh)
I love this book! I love that the title is an allusion to an Emily Dickinson poem. Very interesting Ghost story. It's meant to be a young adult book (and I read it when I was a teenager) but I don't think it's just for young adults. Definitely recommended for anyone who likes a good ghost story.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780618585328
Author:
Whitcomb, Laura
Publisher:
Graphia
Location:
Boston
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General
Subject:
Horror & Ghost Stories
Subject:
Forgiveness
Subject:
Ghosts
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction
Subject:
Future life
Subject:
Love & Romance
Subject:
Children s-Scary Stories
Copyright:
2005
Edition Description:
Trade Paper
Publication Date:
September 21, 2005
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
from 7
Language:
English
Pages:
288
Dimensions:
8.02x5.32x.70 in. .61 lbs.
Age Level:
12-17
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Related Aisles

A Certain Slant of Light Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$4.95 In Stock
Product details 288 pages Graphia - English 9780618585328 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "First-time author Whitcomb infuses Gothic romance with modern-day drama to create a highly sensual, supernatural story of two spirits caught in purgatory. The body of Helen perished 130 years ago, but her soul still roams the Earth, cleaving to humans who share her love of literature. In all those years, Helen has never seen anyone else who is 'Light,' until she meets James, who has possessed the body of an 11th grade student. Knowing at once that they are meant to be together, Helen allows James to teach her how to enter the body of an 'empty' teenager, not knowing what complications lie ahead. Posing as Jennifer Ann, the daughter of fundamentalist Christians, Helen finds herself trapped in a sterile household void of art and literature with little chance to visit James, who lives in a run-down house with a violent older brother. Meticulously wrought descriptions of the ghosts' feelings and actions allow readers to experience the physical sensations of Helen and James as they rediscover the pleasures of taste and touch and re-experience the suffering that is part of every human experience. Sexually explicit scenes and not-so-gentle jabs at hypocritical Christians may raise some eyebrows, but the author's poetic prose, capturing the spirit and sorrow of the two unearthly protagonists, will likely have a mesmerizing effect on readers. Ages 14-up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "Whitcomb writes with a grace that befits Helen's more modulated world....In the subgenre of dead-narrator tales, this book shows the engaging possibilities of immortality — complete with a twist at the end that wholly satisfies."
"Review" by , "What should be a sure-fire ghost story/romance fails to ignite a spark....Unsurprising plot, under-developed characters and adequate prose doom this first novel."
"Review" by , "Whitcomb is generous with atmospheric detail...and she creatively pulls together a dramatic and compelling plot that cleverly grants rebellious teen romance a timeless grandeur."
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