Ghosting completely changed my opinion of Edith Pattou, and it will change yours as well. Prior to reading Ghosting, Edith Pattou was just a YA author to me. However, now Edith Pattou is “that phenomenal author who wrote an entire book in verse and in nine points of view.” Impressed yet? Even though the only possible answer is a resounding “yes,” I’ll entertain those who dare to answer “no.” Ghosting is impressive simply because it’s an ambitious novel. It’s a story about guns, weed, alcohol, and bad choices. It’s a novel that explores the complexity of family, adolescence, and relationships. It’s a masterpiece that will be challenged, feared, and ultimately, revered.
In 392 pages, Ghosting explores the lives of nine teens. From Felix, who is dealing with his mom’s depression and his dad’s addiction to getting high, to Anil, whose parents want him to be a doctor, Pattou exposes what it’s really like to be a teen. Unlike many writers these days, she understands that adolescents are not adults with different clothes. She truly gets the uncertainties, the awkwardness, and the yearning for independence. Real teens have real problems, yet Pattou has no problem pointing that out to the readers.
Writing a book from multiple perspectives has been done before. What’s unique about Ghosting is that each character has their own voice. In other words, they’re not all secretly the same person. Although Max (legally Maxine, but she hates that) seems to bond with the other eight, I had no trouble following any of them. Ghosting takes a while to get accustomed to, but the wait is worth it. You’ll remember each character before you know it, and you’ll understand their actions. Pattou gives every teen an opportunity to voice themselves, creating a deep, thought-provoking novel about the consequences of seemingly unimportant events.
Ghosting follows a “before and after” structure. About half of the book focuses on the nine teens’ lives before the incident, building relationships and letting the reader adjust to the number of viewpoints. Then Pattou writes about the incident, which only takes a few pages. IMHO, the passage about the incident could be lengthened, but it’s also fine the way it is. Finally, the second half of the book focuses on the aftermath. Ghosting is organized well; each half is necessary to maximize the impact of the story.
Ghosting isn’t a lighthearted story, and because of that, I’m not going to recommend this book to everyone. If you think you’re mature enough to read Ghosting, go for it, but I would recommend this book to those fourteen or older. Here’s to Edith Pattou. It’s been a while since I read a book that made me feel this much.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Publisher: Skyscape (August 19th, 2014)
ISBN #: 9781477847749
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Source: Netgalley
Length: 392 pages (Hardcover)
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