shopping cart
Save up to 30% on our Staff Picks
Call us: 800-878-7323 HELP
McAfee SECURE helps keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams.
Original Essays | November 9, 2009

Jesse Bullington: IMG Abash'd the Devil Stood

0 comments By Jesse Bullington

I don't believe in evil. It's a word I use, certainly, because words are shortcuts and we all take the short way round from time to time, but that's... Continue »
  1. $10.49 Sale Trade Paper add to wish list

    The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart

    Jesse Bullington
Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$16.99
New Hardcover
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
Qty Store Section
25 Local Warehouse Children's Young Adult- Social Issue Fiction- General
25 Remote Warehouse Children's- Scary Stories

More copies of this ISBN:

Give Up the Ghost

by Megan Crewe

Give Up the Ghost Cover

ISBN13: 9780805089301
ISBN10: 0805089306
All Product Details

Synopses & Reviews

Review:

"Crewe's debut novel, despite its paranormal twist, is realistic and honest in its portrayal of an angry, struggling teenage girl. Four years after her older sister, Paige, accidentally drowns, 16-year-old Cassandra is embittered by rejection from her peers and estrangement from her grieving parents. Cass doesn't really miss her sister, though, because Paige is haunting her — lovingly but unrelentingly. The sisters are closer than ever because no one else can see Paige, and no one else will talk to Cass. Cass uses her ability to speak with ghosts to ferret out ugly secrets about her classmates, earning her a reputation as a psychic freak. After popular student Tim approaches Cass with an uncanny request, however, she begins to rethink her vengeful motives. But bad habits can't be overcome in an instant, and walking a narrative mile in Cass's shoes will leave readers wincing ('I haven't liked anyone who wasn't dead for four years,' she tells Tim after his life takes an especially dark turn). This coming-of-age novel avoids unrealistically neat moments of closure — it will make readers hurt, and maybe even believe. Ages 14 — up. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over breathers. Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody...and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance....

Synopsis:

Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts to breathers--and they know all the dirt on everybody. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of all the poseurs in school. Burt when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme lies in the balance.
back to top

What Our Readers Are Saying

Add a comment for a chance to win!
Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
prodhi, September 15, 2009 (view all comments by prodhi)
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t anticipated this book much—I was dying for it! So when it first landed on my lap, I literally squealed. So naturally, I had a lot to expect from this book. And believe me, I wasn’t disappointed.
Cass McKenna is a social pariah, made so by the overreaction and revenge taken by her ex-best friend just because Cass got a place in the debate team that she wanted by chance, and got to be around the guy that she liked. Now, this idea may seem inflated at first look, but it wasn’t. It was made to be a story that could happen to anyone and everyone. Neither is this book a typical “ghost story”. Even the ghosts have well-crafted characters, which serves as a fresh breath of air. Cass’ desire for revenge is human and not something that turns her into an abominable character. But we can’t help but notice how she also realizes that it wasn’t worth it after all. The trust issues that hold Cass back are very neatly justified, not like an essay in itself but gradually as the story progresses. That is exactly why when she hesitates from being a friend to Tim, her defiance does not annoy us—rather it makes us empathize with her. Tim is one heck of an adorable character. The death of his mother along with his realization that his “friends” aren’t exactly his true friends makes him miserable at best. He feels utterly lonely at this point, and the emotions that he feels are amazingly communicates with the reader. You can’t help but feel like going over and giving him a tight bear hug. I was really glad that Cass came around and offered her friendship and support—and the way their relationship wasn’t all mushy and all-over-the-place. The way Cass takes baby steps towards giving people a chance and not be so stereotyping and opinionated made me admire her. None of the characters are too clichéd or exaggerated. She also gradually but awkwardly comes to terms with the fact that she genuinely cares about Tim. Danielle, Cass’ ex-best friend, showed hopes of redemption near the ending and the fact that she was worried about Tim shows us that she’s not completely disloyal or uncompassionate. Imagery is very well done, as it succeeds in pulling the reader into the book’s own world.
The best parts of the book were the fresh outlook, the hope of redemption and healing that each and every character showed and the well-drawn reasoning behind the characters’ actions. The book certainly had a neat quality about it. What I felt could have been better were: 1.) the character development felt a little stagnant at times—however, all the characters did end up in their proper positions by the end of the book; 2.) The characters could have used a little more depth—especially Cass. I would’ve loved to know more about her. Same goes with Tim.
Everything put together and weighed out against each other, I would recommend this book as a good reader to any reader looking for a spanking new plotline and outlook. The book also has high entertainment value and should keep you occupied throughout the entire read.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
report this comment
back to top

Product Details

ISBN:
9780805089301
Author:
Crewe, Megan
Publisher:
Henry Holt & Company
Subject:
Horror & Ghost Stories
Subject:
Sisters
Subject:
Grief
Subject:
Social Issues - Friendship
Subject:
Visionary & metaphysical
Subject:
Family problems
Subject:
Social Issues - General
Edition Description:
Trade Cloth
Publication Date:
September 2009
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
- Up
Language:
English
Pages:
244
Dimensions:
7.92x5.30x.81 in. .75 lbs.
Age Level:
14-UP
back to top

Related Aisles

  • back to top

Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.