Ghostgirl: Rest in Popularity

Hurley, Tonya. Ghostgirl: Rest in Popularity. Little Brown and Company: 2008. ISBN: 9780316113571

Plot Summary:
Charlotte Usher was going to have a better school year this year. She spent all summer working her 'Popular Plan' and now on the first day of school she was ready to 'rock it!' Charlotte was usually not noticed by her class mates, she felt invisible and unimportant. There was one class mate in particular that Charlotte wanted to notice her, Damen Dylan. As luck would have it, Damen was in her Physics class, but so was Petula, Damen's girlfriend. So far her plan was working, at least a bit, and Damen was just assigned as her lab partner. Ecstatic, Charlotte pops a gummy bear into her mouth as the bell rings and the students migrate into the hall to change classes. Suddenly the gummy bear lodges in Charlotte's throat and the course of the school year and much more changes. These new changes are not welcome to Charlotte. Accepting who we are and how to deal with unforeseen situations is what life and possibly in Charlotte's case, death is about.

Critical Evaluation:
The first book in a small series, Ghostgirl: Rest in Peace sets the stage for further paranormal adventures with Charlotte at Hawthorne High School. Her characters including the ghosts journey through self awareness and respect as the plot unfolds. An interesting aspect to this story is the convention that the ghosts go to high school in the same building as the living. They eat lunch in the cafeteria at the same time and follow the same class schedule with the bells. Charlotte's journey from invisibility to self esteem is not diminished in any way because she isn't among the living. The physical book is long and rectangular, not unlike a coffin. Each chapter begins with a silhouette, a poem and a brief didactic paragraph about Charlotte and her issues.

Reader's Annotation:
Charlotte is dying to be popular. Will she get her wish?

Information About the Author:
Tonya Hurley is the multi-talented author of the Ghostgirl series, creator, writer and producer of animated and live action television series, Mary Kate and Ashley in action; writer and director of independent films; writer and director of commercials for Playstation, Gameboy and Warner Home Video; and creator of videogames. She currently resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Curriculum Ties:
Relationships
Self-esteem

Reading Level/Interest Age:
9th +

Challenge Issues:
None

Why Book Included:
The black cover drew my attention.