Not Just Young Adult discussion

What a difficult, beautiful and facinating book! It wasn't riveting or necessarily suspenseful, although it was filled with incredibly unique descriptions from a ghost's point of view, that if I didn't know any better, I would sincerely believe the author actually spent time as one.

Helen is a ghost and for the first time in 130 years, human eyes are looking at her. Those eyes belong to a boy who has not seemed remarkable until now. Helen is terrified and also unnerved by the fact that he can see her; but she also finds herself incredibly intrigued. She is immediately drawn to him and discovers his name is, James. The fact that he is in a body and she is not presents this preposterous couple with their first challenge. Now, the two of them struggle to find a way to be together as they begin to discover the secrets of their former lives and also of the young people they come to possess.

If you're reading the synopsis of this story or even describing it to someone, it actually sounds a little "hokey." However, it "works" and on so many different levels - and is a story of forgiveness and ultimate healing for the dead and the living. The author intertwines modern-day dysfunction with 130 year old history, to develop a surreal yet difficult to imagine kindredship amoungst her hero and heroine; all the while making it believeable. And let's face it, that isn't easy to accomplish! I did, however, wish Whitcomb had devoted more pages to the romance between Helen and James - but the time they did spend together was gently but fulfillingly written, which delighted me!

This is not a "feel-good" story - it's unapologetically "heavy" and attempts to send a message. It's left up to the reader to decipher what to keep and what to walk away with...
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