Customer Reviews

Ginger High

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I happened upon this book while trolling another web site and wanted to put in my two cents.

I am taking into account the age of the author and saying WELL DONE! You have a very developed sense of imagination and creativity. I believe you could be a bestselling author if you keep working at it. This is an excellently constructed novel for someone your age.

I wish you great success,

Ellen C Maze
Bestselling author of unique vampire fiction

and coming soon to Amazon RABBIT: LEGACY

For most of this book, I had to reread passages several times and I still didn't have a clue. There were so many characters that I kept on getting confused on who was who and what exactly there purpose was in the book. Most characters were described by only there name and gender. Many of the character's little personalities changed randomly through out the book. I had no clue what was happening in the plot. I knew that there were murders and something to do with a high school. To me, it felt like it was just a ton of random events in one book. I did find the fantasy elements to be interesting, but the world wasn't described at all. I know that this book is written by the author when she was twelve-years-old. I don't think that she had much experience with writing. I think that this book needed a lot of work before it should have been published. There was a lack of plot and strong characters. This book needed a lot more development, too. I obviously don't recommend this book to anyone.

As I read this book I had to keep reminding myself of 2 things-1.This is the authors first book and 2. The author is only 14 years old. With that being said, this was on okay book for teens, but you could also tell that this was a first book and by a young adult. There were too many characters to get a real feel for any of them. The story skipped around with holes throughout the plot. But again this was a 14 year olds first book. At that age she has plenty of time to fix her writing and create a masterpiece. Kudos to the author for already having a book published at that age!!

Ginger High is for special students. These students have an array of talents that no normal person is bestowed. People with these talents descended from a parallel universe called Animist, although some are unaware that is truly where they are from. When unexplained deaths start occuring at Ginger High, two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta return to Ginger High to help solve the mysteries.

Daisy Fisher is a young student of Ginger High. She comes from another town, and was forced to go to Ginger High after her own school was burned down. She will have to learn the ropes at Ginger High, and understand what it means to have powers.

This was a really quick read, although it didn't have as much appeal for me as I expected it to. I was confused with how the story jumped around between narrators, and there was some gaps in the story. The actually idea for this story was a great idea, and that is why I kept on.

Halfway through this story I was wondering about the author, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Melissa Burmester is only 14 years old. This is when I realized the mistakes of the novel and lack of characterization came from. This is her first novel, and she has plenty of time left in life to expand and learn from her mistakes. I'm very curious to see where this series will go, and especially curious as to how the author will transform in her work.

Ginger High is an interesting and dialogue heavy book. I found the shifts from different time periods and from Earth to Animist a bit confusing, but it's a valiant first effort by Melissa Burmester. It's hard to believe that it is a work of a fourteen-year old.

Publisher: Infinity Publishing (May 15, 2009), 229 pages.
Review copy provided by the author and Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours.

Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special powers. Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist. The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.

First off, I would like to give major kudos to Miss Burmester for being a published author at the young age of 14. Ginger High was written at the age of 12 and the fact that she was able to have it published two years later is quite the accomplishment.

This was a very neat story ... with parallel universes, a school for kids with super powers, supernatural creatures, a war in the midst, students being mysteriously attacked, oh and, of course, a cute boy. I enjoyed the story line as well as I thought there were some great characters in the story. My only complaint would be with character definition. I really wish there would have been "more" to all the characters. I felt that I couldn't identify or relate with any them because there just wasn't enough substance. I also felt that the ending didn't wrap up and left a few loose ends - but that might be because I now read that Ginger High will be a series.

This is a fast moving story with plenty of twists and just enough action and adventure to keep the pages flowing. I believe this is geared toward young adults but I can definitely recommend to younger tweens as well. This is a wonderful debut for Miss Burmester and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for her future work.

After her high school was burned down by a student named Fredrick, freshman Daisy Fisher is sent to attend Ginger High. She soon learns Ginger High is not an ordinary school. Only kids with special powers are allowed to attend. These kids are descended from parents who long ago came to earth from the parallel universe of Animist. Ginger High is where they will learn what their powers are and train how to use them and it turns out Fredrick is a new student there too.

When unexplained murders start taking place at the school four men, Amanta, Matthias, Brian and Taeru are sent to the school from Animist to investigate. Amanta is a healer keeping a secret from his brother, Taeru. Brian is a Tribe king in Animist and Matthias is Amanta's best friend who has sworn to protect him.

Soon Daisy and her new friends are working with Amanta, Matthias to get to the bottom of the mysterious deaths while learning the truth about someone isn't who he claims to be.

What really amazes me about this book is that Melissa Burmester wrote it when she was only fourteen years old. When I was fourteen all I was worried about was not wearing the same outfit to school twice in one week.

The storyline is mystery with a hint of fantasy and paranormal. A little bit of it was confusing because there is no build up or back story on the parallel world and the characters but once you get to know who is who it all falls into place. The ending is tied up nicely but it seems like it was also left open for a series or sequel. I'm hoping there is because if Burmester writes this good as a teen I can only imagine what's next. This is a recommended read for teens and adults who like their books with just a hint of sci-fi & fantasy.

As a freshman in High school, Daisy Fisher was surprised to be paired with a senior during in-school detention. Befriending Fredrick Ramsey changed her life, first she witnessed his part in the school burning down, then she finds that he would be attending the same school as her. Mixed feelings and thoughts about him and many of her new friends at Ginger High are compounded with the new understanding that everyone at this new school has special powers. When several deaths occur shortly after her arrival at
school, a healer (Amanta) from the parallel universe of Animist arrives, between him and his best friend (Matthias) they are determined to help find the person responsible. The answers may not be as easy as they would like with Amanta in a weakened state and Matthias keeping secrets. Is anything what it appears to be?

I understand this was written by a 14 year-old, keeping that in mind, I really enjoyed the concept of the story. The parallel universe, the special powers that each of them possess has a bit of an original twist in it. The introduction of a similar situation from 1901 seemed a good way to start, even though some of it was unnecessary. There was a lot of familial characters and that did make it a little easier to follow. I would have liked to get to know the important characters a bit better. Daisy accepted thing way to easy and without question, Fredrick did things just because and seemingly without a second thought. While the little bit of back story for Amanta and Matthias was helpful in understanding these characters, there was still huge holes in the characters. I like to get attached to the characters and had trouble getting attached to any of these. There was also holes in the story, the conclusion only answered one of the dozen or so questions that came to my mind. There is several parts that I wondered how exactly they got to that position and would have liked more definition, action, conversation, description, history - something, just more of it. Decent first attempt at a novel - concept, story premise, even characters are great, the work needs to be done in the presentation of the story, the `painting of the picture' and getting the story to flow so that it comes through with fewer holes and dropped sub-plots.

Ginger High
BY: Melissa Burmester
PUBLISHED BY: Infinity Publishing.com
PUBLISHED IN: May 2009
ISBN: 0-7414-5363-0
Ages: teen & up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

Growing up in the 90's, I was a big fan of teen horror novels - Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine and Lois Duncan were some of my favorite authors. The teen horror/thriller trend has died down, except for the ones where vampires sparkle. I found Ginger High a breath of fresh air. Teen girls will easily connect with the main character, Daisy - a smart, strong young woman.

The novel begins in 1901 where a series of murders take place. All of the victims have bite marks on their necks. Could it be vampires? The story jumps forward to modern days and focuses on teen Daisy Fisher. After her school is burnt down, Daisy is sent to a new school in New York.. Ginger High is a private school for students with extraordinary powers and abilities. She befriends some of the students who can teleport, heal others, and create fire. She soon finds out that people came to Earth from a parallel world called the Kingdom of Animists.

A murder occurs at Ginger High, bringing the supernatural beings Amanta, Matthias, and Taeru from the parallel world. While they investigate the death, Daisy struggles with her supernatural powers, and with her mysterious new friend, Fredrick. Amanta must deal with a long time, buried family secret.

Fourteen year old, Melissa Burmester has written a fast paced debut novel; combining horror, mystery and fantasy. I love the cover of the book - it reminds me of the horror movie posters of the middle 80's. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. The author has a bright future in the world of writing.

Ginger High is a school unlike any other. The students are from another universe and possess powers beyond your wildest imaginations. Someone is using their powers for evil and this person is not afraid to kill. Several unexplained deaths cause some of the students to follow the clues and find out who is doing this before it's too late.

This is the author's first book and I'm so excited to see what she publishes next. The author is able to capture your attention and keep it page after page.