Dead Rules

Gr 8—11—Jana's first day at her new school is unsettling. Not only does she have to try to fit in and figure out all the rules, but she also has to deal with the fact that she is dead. A freak bowling accident was the cause, and now she's riding the bus to Dead School. Her biggest issue with her current state is that she's left behind the Romeo to her Juliet, Michael. So she does what any theatrical girl would do to get her man back-she decides to kill him so that he too can attend Dead School. There's a hitch, though, and Michael may not be the Romeo she thinks he is. Just as in real school, there are cliques and nicknames, good kids (Risers) and bad kids (Sliders). Humor and wry wordplay make this ghostly romance stand out from the pack. Russell's storytelling is engaging, and his integration of place and creation of the Dead School work together for an entertaining read. Recommend it to fans of Tonya Hurley's Ghostgirl (2008) or Lisi Harrison's Monster High (2010, both Little, Brown).—Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada