Texas Gothic
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CLEMENT-MOORE, Rosemary. Texas Gothic. 416p. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73693-0; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90636-4; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89810-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up—It's hard to picture a successful merging of Texas ranching culture with psychic ghost-hunting and witchcraft, but that's what Clement-Moore has achieved in this novel laced with great characters, a healthy dose of humor, and a nod to popular culture. When 18-year-old Amy Goodnight agrees to house-sit while her aunt takes a much-needed vacation, she has no idea that her first encounter with neighbor Ben McCulloch will be while she's engaged in chasing down a herd of goats and dressed in nothing but her underwear. This inauspicious beginning sets the stage for a budding romance between the most rational member of a witching family and the cranky young scion of a large cattle spread. But it's difficult to build a positive relationship when peculiar relatives, a mysterious ghost, and a construction zone filled with old bones are added to the mix. Teens looking for a rollicking adventure filled with paranormal events, dastardly evildoers, and laugh-out-loud moments as Amy and Ben argue and snipe their way to love will adore this book.—Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK
