The Dead and Buried (Book) Review
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Kim Harrington delights with a teen thriller about a mean girl who won’t go to the light, and her counterpart who must uncover the mystery of her murder to save her brother’s life. Jade is about to start the best year of her young life. She’s finally a senior in high school, and her dad […]
Kim Harrington delights with a teen thriller about a mean girl who won’t go to the light, and her counterpart who must uncover the mystery of her murder to save her brother’s life.
Jade is about to start the best year of her young life. She’s finally a senior in high school, and her dad and stepmom have just purchased her dream house. It’s in a great neighborhood with a cool new school, and even some cute boys to make the days pass quickly. But Jade soon figures out that everything is not as perfect as she thought. Everyone at school seems to know something she doesn’t, and weird things are happening at home as well. Her little brother keeps talking about a glowing girl being in his room, and little things seem to get moved around the house without explanation.
Jade must soon face the unbelievable fact that her house is haunted – and quite recently so. Jade has moved into the house – and life, really – of the queen of the school. The ghost girl was the same age as Jade, hung out with the same people, and had the entire school wrapped around her finger. Her untimely death was officially ruled an accident, but the ghost says otherwise. With her brother’s life on the life, Jade reluctantly takes on the unenviable task of uncovering a killer, faced with the uncomfortable truth that one of her new “friends” is surely a murderer.
The Dead and Buried is a book that is remarkably easy to read. The characters are well developed and quite likable (with the exception, of course, of the delightfully mean ghost). Jade’s story is relatable for kids of high school age – her struggles with her stepmom, trying to fit in at a new school, and navigating the dating world are a common thread for teens (even those without spectral visitors to worry about). Even the other kids at her school are a nice mix of the personalities you’ll likely find at any school, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story. While it can feel a bit predictable and even a little shallow at times, it all makes for a story that is easy to read without making you think to much – perfect for an afternoon at the beach.