Grunge Gods and Graveyards

Part ghost story, part mystery, this atmospheric piece set in 1996 combines teen angst with small-town dynamics and a touch of urban legend. High school senior Lainey Bloom is in mourning for Danny Obregon, the boy she loved, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident over the summer. She’s also contending with bullies (including Danny’s ex), an unsympathetic school administration, and a perpetually busy widower father. While Lainey’s life spirals into confusion, Danny’s ghost appears, asking her to help figure out who killed him. As they investigate Danny’s death, romance continues to bloom between girl and ghost, and they discover that the truth is almost fatally complicated. Giarratano makes a solid debut, though she takes a kitchen sink approach to her plotting and worldbuilding: Lainey’s life takes on the qualities of a soap opera, with everything going wrong at home, at school, with her friends, and so on. What proves overwhelming for the protagonist risks feeling excessive for readers. Nevertheless, the mix of murder mystery and supernatural love story makes this an entertaining if unfocused read. Ages 14–up. (BookLife)