Review: The Ghost and The Goth by Stacey Kade

Book: The Ghost and The Goth

Author: Stacey Kade
Edition:First Edition Hardcover
Pages: 281
Pub. Date: June 29, 2010
Rating: A-



Goodreads
"Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?"

__________

My Review

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I began The Ghost and The Goth. The synopsis tells us we are going to read in two point of views. POV 1: Alona Dare; once popular, now dead. POV 2: Will Killian; gifted outcast. Neither cares for the other, but, due to circumstances, they must find common ground.
The big question I know we all want to know before diving into this book is, will there be a romance? The synopsis' we read does give a little minuscule nudge, but other than that, you don't know for sure. All you need to know is there is a lot of... Hate? I don't know the right word. Maybe misunderstanding fits better.

Truthfully, I was terrified to read this. Scared that it wouldn't amount to anything and I would waste a few hours of my life.
That wasn't the case. No, this isn't an epic tale, but I loved it so much more because of that.
TGATG was a light, simple read. Don't let that fool you, though. There is still a good plot line. One that will carry on for a sequel, Queen Of The Dead. 
I really enjoyed reading from both perspectives. You got to see what it was like for the dead and the dead-talker.

Alona is a witch with a capital B! She made me mad a few times. I just wanted to shake her and yell, "Open your eyes! The world doesn't revolve around you!" But then I would remember she was dead... and a book character... I also sympathized with Alona at moments. She is stuck on Earth, not knowing when or if that white light will come for her. So she gets to see everything that was really going on around her. I'd hate to learn the things that she did.
She grows a lot from page one to page 281. A slight transformation begins and she sees life wasn't as perfect for her as she thought. And she realizes this with the help of Will.
My heart went out to Will. He has it rough. I don't know how I would cope with being able to see/talk/touch dead people and then no one believes me. Everyone thinks he is some psycho, but really he is just a misunderstood, extremely gifted, teen. Luckily, though, he does have a best friend. And she is there for him. Picks him up whenever all the craziness brings him down.
Together, Alona and Will learn about each other and themselves.
Back to my earlier question. Romance or no? I'll just say, if there is one, I am totally 100% okay with it!

Stacey Kade is an extremely talented writer.  She knows exactly how to describe in just enough detail. The plot flowed perfectly with a few "Aha!" moments. Be sure to keep your eyes open. You don't want to miss a moment.


The Ghost and The Goth is a fun, adorable, ghost and goth filled book. Looking for something to take you mind away for a few hours? Pick up TGATG.


Did you think I would stop without talking about the cover? Oh, heck no, techno!
As I have mentioned many of times before, I am in love with the cover! The colors. Alona and Will. It's perfect! I would love to have a poster, it's that awesome. (I'd stick it right beside my Sea and City of Glass posters!) And Queen of The Dead is just as awesome!