Review: Chasing Brooklyn

Brooklyn's still getting over the death of her first love. It's been a year but she can't stop thinking about him or writing him letters. She lives in pain, but it's nothing compared to the pain she feels when his best friend dies of an overdose. They made a pact to be there for each other, to help each other through the tough days. She didn't hold up her end of the bargain. Now she sees him in her dreams. He haunts her - chasing her down hallways and forest paths. There are night when she doesn't want to sleep because of the nightmares.

Nico's also having haunting dreams - but it's his brother telling him to help Brooklyn. At first, he barely tries after Brooklyn shuts him out. But his brother's ghosts won't rest and Nico's forced to try harder. Soon Nico and Brooklyn are working out together and slowly becoming friends.

Brooklyn's not reading to share her inner most thoughts with Nico - including the ghost, but she's trying. Can Nico break through Brooklyn's barriers?


My Thoughts: I really loved this book - it's a beautiful amazingly emotional story. I loved the different points of view and hearing Nico's side and his haunting. I liked how Ava makes a brief, but important appearance.

Similar Read: Twenty Boy Summer


The Cover: I really like this cover, I feel a sense of lost (as in the character doesn't know what to feel or what to think) and emotional barriers - staring out the window in the rain. It really fits the food of the book.

Source: My library - I placed the book on hold as soon as I could (perk of being a librarian)

Reivew: The Ghosts of Lone Jack

Jared and his dad are spending the summer in Lone Jack, MI to be with Jared's grandfather. What starts out as a slow summer playing baseball and not having any friends, quickly picks up one afternoon in the baseball field. As Jared lets a fly ball soar over his head, he sees a ghost for the first time. She wants something from him, a key. Jared's not sure if she's real. When he talks to an old caretaker, he realizes that his vision might have been a ghost after all. There's residue left over from the Civil War battlefield in Lone Jack. As the summer moves on, Jared realizes that he's one the few who can see the ghosts. They're starting to become more existent. The townspeople could be in grave danger, and Jared must help solve the mystery of the key and help them find peace before it's too late.


I love the cover of this book. It's an interesting tween tale that will attract boys but reads like a YA novel at times. If Jared had been older, it could have been a crossover. I like the ghosts and the Civil War history.