April 19, 2021
In 2002, 15-year-old Dani, who is transgender and white, worries about telling his best and only friend, Sarah—the sardonic ghost of a brown-skinned teenage murder victim, who distrusts men, having been killed by one—that he’s a boy. Abused by his now-estranged father, Dani has felt emboldened by Sarah’s righteous anger since their meeting four years back, and he doesn’t know how to cope with his trauma without her constant presence under his bed or possessing his Game Boy. As the two begin to rescue the ghosts of other female murder victims in their small Michigan town, and Dani develops a healthy friendship with Japanese American Seiji, he realizes that he and Sarah are keeping one another from finding peace. A few loose threads are left dangling and one significant plot point is underexplored, but Thomas (Because You’ll Never Meet Me) writes complex characters, all of whom have experienced trauma, with compassion, deftly exploring the ways in which codependency can obstruct healing. Early-2000s references create a memorable atmosphere and clever metaphors in this dark, thoughtful ghost story. Ages 14–up. (June)■
May 15, 2021
Grades 8-12 Moving to Rochdale is supposed to be a fresh start for Dani and his mom, but things take a turn when Dani becomes best friends with Sarah, a ghost who lives under his bed. When Dani comes across the ghost of a woman brutally murdered and left in the woods, Sarah convinces him that they should set up a refuge for victims and maybe even find a way to exorcise the ghosts of the victims' tormentors. But when Dani unexpectedly and repeatedly runs into old rival Seiji, the two form an unexpected bond that helps them both come to terms with past trauma, and also allows Dani to become more comfortable in his own skin. Sarah and Dani's friendship is tested when Dani tells her that he is trans. And although elements of Sarah and Dani's relationship feel underdeveloped, Thomas (Wild and Crooked, 2019) serves up a captivating novel, exploring themes of coming out, trans acceptance, toxic masculinity, histories of violence, and the complex impacts of trauma on relationships, friendships, and family.
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Starred review from June 1, 2021
Gr 9 Up-When your whole childhood has been lived around an abusive parent, a ghost turns out not to be so scary. In fact, that ghost might just become your best friend. That's exactly what happens when Dani finds Sarah haunting the space under the bed. As Dani gets older, their relationship becomes more entwined, and Dani is terrified to tell Sarah that he's trans. Sarah has good reason to distrust men, having been murdered by one, so Dani hides his true self. The two decide to start a shelter for the ghosts of murdered women, allowing Dani to work through the abuse he experienced from his father. But when a childhood rival, Seiji, comes back into the picture, Dani must reevaluate everything from his own memories to his relationship with Sarah. With lyrical writing, a gripping plot, and visceral emotion, there are many high points to this book. While the story includes Dani's self-realization and coming out, his trans identity is not presented as a hurdle or as the only important thing about him, creating a fully human character. Readers should be aware that this book contains depictions of suicide, physical and sexual violence, and anti-trans language. Dani and Sarah's ethnicities aren't stated, and Seiji is Japanese and white. VERDICT Give this to fans of ghost stories, magical realism, feminism, and complex characters. A first purchase for high school and public libraries.-Heather Waddell, Sargent Memorial Lib., Boxborough, MA
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Starred review from May 15, 2021
Fifteen-year-old Dani knows a few things for sure: He is a transgender boy, ghosts are real, and most victims are murdered by someone they know. After escaping Dani's abusive father, he and his mother move to Michigan. His only friend is Sarah, an angry teenage ghost who hates men and keeps the details of her murder a closely guarded secret. When they meet Patricia, another ghost, lying dazed in the woods, they decide they need to find a way to help the ghosts of murdered women. Meanwhile, Dani reluctantly begins to befriend taciturn classmate Seiji, who is also haunted by ghosts both real and metaphorical. Ghosts are not the scary things in this story, however. The characters, the living ones as well as the ghosts, explicitly and honestly deal with the traumas of physical and sexual abuse, rape, violence, abandonment, suicide, and murder. Some forgive, some hide, and some rage while others feel inexplicably drawn to return again and again to their abusers. The author evokes the setting of the late 1990s and early 2000s with plenty of pop-culture references, but the characters' knowledge and attitudes about transgender issues are often optimistically--but not impossibly--contemporary. Dani, Patricia, and other major characters seem to be White; Sarah has pale brown skin and black hair, and Seiji is White and Japanese. A haunting and hopeful story of self-discovery. (Paranormal. 14-18)
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