Give Up the Ghost [Hardcover]

Megan Crewe (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 15, 2009

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….

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8–10—A supernatural twist on the "Mean Girls" plot provides page-turning action. Cass McKenna sees ghosts. Her first spotting was her sister Paige, who failed to pass on to the afterlife following a drowning accident. Unfortunately for Cass, Paige and the ghosts that inhabit her school are her only friends. A junior-high bullying incident left her jaded and angry, and as revenge, she uses her supernatural informants to spill her classmates' juiciest secrets. When the student council VP discovers her covert ability, Cass unwillingly helps him contact his dead mother, leading to changes in her social status. Cass isn't the most lovable of protagonists, but her resentment is well developed and convincingly sustained throughout. Mysterious plot elements and the budding relationship between Cass and the VP will quickly engage reluctant readers.—Lindsay Cesari, Baldwinsville School District, NY END

Review

“Crewe’s first effort will make readers wonder what else she’s got up her sleeve.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This coming-of-age novel avoids unrealistically neat moments of closure—it will make readers hurt, and maybe even believe.”—Publishers Weekly

 

“A supernatural twist on the “Mean Girls” plot provides page-turning action. … Mysterious plot elements and the budding relationship between Cass and the VP will quickly engage reluctant readers.”—School Library Journal

“A school-dynamics story with a great original hook.”—BCCB

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805089306
• ISBN-13: 978-0805089301
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Book September 15, 2009

By Saundra Mitchell

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

That Cass is grieving is more than evident, from her inwardly turned ways and her broken family- and oh yes, the regular visitation of her late sister. In fact, Cass sees a lot of dead people these days, and she takes advantage of this rare gift to collect gossip on her schoolmates.

She uses the details provided by her ethereal cohorts as a sword and shield- keeping everyone at bay, and now that she has dirt on the ex-best friend who's made her miserable since junior high, she might finally have a chance for revenge.

But when Tim, a popular student abandoned by his father after his mother dies, asks Cass for help, she has to decide whether to stay hidden in her own grief, or to finally let a painful past go.

This book is deceptive- a fast read, you'll plow through it the first time in a single afternoon, engaged by the characters and the quick-moving events. But you'll want to come back again and again to enjoy the details- the finely turned out phrases and the delicate metaphors at play. Crewe has crafted a debut novel that's both a pleasure to read and to savor.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! January 22, 2010

By Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

Format:Hardcover

With the interesting premise ( Ghost Whisper meets High School, anyone?) and awesome cover Give Up The Ghost had, I knew that I was in for one superb treat.

Give Up The Ghost was a new and fresh take on the whole ghost seeing subject. I liked how the ghosts Cass saw such as Norris and Bitzy were a key part of the story and two of Cass's closest friends. Also, it was interesting to see Cass and Paige's, her dead sister, relationship. Since, it provided for some drama and was a cute part of the book.

While Cass was a funny and heartwarming character, she could get on my nerves at times, because of her awkwardness around her classmates. Though, at the same time, I admired her no crap attitude. Tom was another likable character that had many layers to him. Since, at first glance you would think he would be an annoying full of himself jock, but at heart he was a normal teenage boy dealing with the loss of a loved one.

The plot was well developed and always kept me on my toes, with the different revelations that occurred. Such as, what happened in middle school to Cass to why did Paige die?

Lastly, I have to say, Megan Crewe is another great add to the YA Market. Her writing was well done while still having a feel that the novel was being told from a true teenager's mouth. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her in the future.

Overall, Give Up The Ghost is a fantastic debut that I suggest to all! I can't wait to see what others think about it.

Grade: A+

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book! October 11, 2009

By Mint910 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Oooh did I like this book! It was serious but funny and sad but exciting! It had a little bit of everything and gave me a lot to think about!

Right off the bat I loved the main character, Cass, she was relatable and likable and I totally would have been friends with her (even if I am a breather!) She's the outsider that used to be an insider until her best friend turned on her out of jealously. So now she lives her life chatting with her friends that no one else can see, ghosts.

I really like the first ghost we meet, and I'm not going to spoil who that is because I didn't know about them until I picked up the book and I was pleasantly surprised. Besides that unnamed ghost we have the two ghosts that "haunt" Cass's high school, Norris and Bitzy. They report back to Cass about the naughty going-ons of the students and staff of the high school and she basically throws it into their face that she knows what they are up to. We see a lot more of Norris than Bitzy, I'm not really sure why but I would have liked to have seen more of Bitzy, they are good friends to Cass.

Another character we meet is Tim the student council vice president, and in the same group as Cass's old best friend, which makes him instantly the enemy. But when Tim needs Cass's help he doesn't take no for an answer and it opens up a whole new world for Cass. I thought that Cass and Tim played off each other beautifully and I loved watching their friendship group.

Ok enough about the characters, Give Up the Ghost had a great sense of humor about it. The way Cass describes people or the comments she made, it definitely had me laughing! And while the book was really funny it was also sad (in a good way) at parts. And that balance made me love the book that much more, it covers all the bases.

Numerous times I've talked about my relationship with paranormal books and how I'm still testing the waters with books that have fantastical elements in them, and this is another one that is right up my alley. My own personal type of paranormal book, I'd definitely recommend this one!