Book Review: The Haunting of Pico by Patrick Kampman

Young adult ghostly mystery with a male protagonist

The Haunting of Pico by Patrick Kampman
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: December 4, 2011
Publisher: Dark Fiction
Pages: 290
Source: Kindle Owners' Lending Library for Amazon Prime Members
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry

Fifteen-year-old Chris and his beautiful, fourteen-year-old sister Eve are quite unhappy when their parents decide to move from laid-back urban life in California to the small town of Pico in Texas. Chris and Eve are non-biological siblings who were separately adopted by their parents from Korea, and at first Chris is worried that his Asian heritage will lead to prejudice against him and Eve in Pico. Fortunately, that does not happen, but he soon discovers that he has far greater problems than his social life. His parents have unknowingly purchased an old house for Chris's family that has been haunted for over 60 years by a previous owner of the house who was murdered on the property. The rage-filled ghost poses a serious threat to Chris and his sister, and he is determined to solve the mystery of what is holding the ghost to this world in order to send it on its way.

Both teens and adults who enjoy a paranormal mystery with a strong climax will be pleased with this story. It is also suitable for boys as much as girls, because it has a strong male protagonist, something that is much too infrequent in YA fiction. Chris is a sympathetic, compelling hero, and the coterie of friends he draws to himself are quite entertaining, as well.

While this novel has some excellent comic repartee scattered throughout, I would label the story primarily drama. And at certain moments it moves from mystery into suspense or downright thriller because of some truly creepy villains who crank up the action. (Note: I myself am not a fan of horror, and anyone who loves horror may not find this novel particularly scary. But for readers such as myself who don't read horror or can't stomach extreme violence, this story is plenty frightening, particularly in the ultimate resolution of the main plot.)

For fans of romantic triangles in YA, there is a quite unusual and interesting one in this book for you to enjoy.

I particularly recommend this fun, paranormal mystery to anyone who loves the Dead Is YA paranormal mystery series by Marlene Perez or enjoyed the male hero in Also Known as Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher.

For those concerned about the age appropriateness of this story: There are a few sexual situations (though discretely handled), a bit of underage drinking, and several scenes of strong violence. Because of these things, some parents may consider this story more appropriate for teens 16 and above.

Hero: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Villain: 5

Writing: 5

Mystery Plot: 5

Paranormal Subplot: 5


Overall: 5

Book Review: My Double Life by Janette Rallison

The Pop Princess and the Pauper

My Double Life by Janette Rallison
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: May 13, 2010
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 272
Source: Purchased
Reviewed By: Kate McMurry
A self-described "half-Latina" from a small-town, working-class family, Alexia Garcia is a dead ringer for twenty-something pop sensation, Kari Kingsley, who is also half-Latina. The amazing resemblance leads to a lucrative job offer to serve as the secret double for Kari at some of her public appearances so Kari can focus on completing an overdue album. Alexia's mom is strongly against the masquerade because, as she confesses for the first time in Alexia's 18 years, Alexia and Kari share the same father. He's pop legend, Alex Kingsley, the lead singer of The Journey Men--a fact that both Alex and Kari have been kept in the dark about as well. Alexia is furious at her mother for hiding this crucial information from her, knowing how much all her life Alexia has wanted to know about her father. Since Alexia is legally of age and doesn't need her mother's permission, she takes the job Kari's publicist is offering and heads for Los Angeles.
In adult romance novels, there is a classic story line called the "secret baby plot," in which the heroine had a baby years before that the hero never knew about. This is the first time I've ever personally heard of a novel where the "secret baby" is the heroine. What a great twist!
I am a huge fan of Janette Rallison and have read every one of her young adult novels. I must confess I was a bit disappointed initially on realizing that, other than a couple of scenes of comic relief, this story is light drama, not her usual laugh-out-loud comedy. But I quickly got into the book because, no matter what type of story she chooses to tell, Rallison is a great writer. All of the things I normally enjoy in a Rallison YA novel are here in spades: vividly three-dimensional characters, strong conflict, and compelling love stories, both familial and romantic.
Alexia is a dynamic and compassionate heroine, and her efforts to get to know her half-sister are emotionally moving. The complications created by Alexia's pretending to be her sister are both painful for Alexia and occasionally very funny for the reader. I particularly enjoyed Alexia's romance with teen heartthrob Grant. It is extremely well done, and I really liked Grant, who is not just gorgeous and sexy, but a thoroughly decent guy. One of Rallison's strengths has always been her ability to write a good romance plot, and as usual, she shines at that here.
Perhaps most moving of all is the growth in Alexia's relationship with her mother and the eventual outcome in Alexia's quest to know her father. The resolution of that portion of the book brought tears to my eyes. It was also a nice change to be able to experience YA-novel parents as caring nurturers. And not only that, but as deserving of a chance at achieving romantic happiness as well.

Heroine: 5

Subcharacters: 5

Writing: 5

Drama Plot: 5

Romantic Subplot: 5


Overall: 5