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All those broken angels

by Peter Adam Salomon

Publishers Weekly "The random shrieks, the constant burning, the occasional fainting. Just another day in the life of me." Such has been the lot of 16-year-old Richard Anderson in the 10 years since his friend Melanie disappeared while they were playing hide-and-seek. Melanie was eventually declared dead, her parents moved away, and a ghost, whom Richard believes to be Melanie, became his only friend. At Savannah Arts Academy, Richard has been ostracized for his distant behavior and morbid artwork. When a new student arrives, claiming to be his long-lost friend, the ghost, an unpredictable, shadowlike presence, becomes angry and envious, even taking control of Richard's body to insist that "I am Melanie." Meanwhile, local girls are beginning to disappear, causing Richard to question the ghost's identity and unfinished business. Richard's pained first-person narration is occasionally interrupted by dispatches from an unnamed captive as Salomon (Henry Franks) creates the sensation of slipping between the worlds of the living and the dead. A complex, intense mystery that surprises and chills. Ages 12-up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

School Library Journal Gr 8 Up-An eclectic mix of paranormal and horror/suspense. Readers meet Richard Anderson, age six, when he loses his best friend while playing hide-and-seek. Melanie is declared dead even though her body is not found. So when Richard encounters a presence that feels like Melanie, he accepts it as her. Fast forward 10 years into the future, and a new girl starts at Richard's high school. It's Melanie, not dead, but hiding from her abusive father and back in town now that her mother has died. Richard is shattered and confused. If Melanie never died, then who is this presence that has been his sole companion for 10 years? And why are little girls that resemble Melanie suddenly disappearing? The central premise is a solid one and the plot is intriguingly woven. However, there are some flaws. The police and press presence seems included solely for dramatic effect and the encounters don't ring completely true as a result. Readers may find the twist ending less surprising and more confusing. Other vengeful ghost tales, such as Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood (TOR, 2011), are a better choice.-Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.