THE NIGHT TOURIST
by Katherine Marsh
“It was just after dusk when the accident happened.” This alluring first sentence grabs readers’ attention, and the compelling story line will hold that interest. Marsh’s story focuses on ninth-grader Jack Perdu, a prodigy of classic mythology. Absorbed in a book, Jack fails to see the car that knocks him down. He’s physically okay, but after the accident he sees ghostly beings. In New York City’s subway, he meets Euri, a spectral girl who leads him eight stories below Grand Central Station, and together they enter the residence of hundreds of ghosts. The spirits, several dead for more than 200 years, are suspicious of Jack, because to them he appears to be alive. Is Jack actually dead? If so, will he be able to locate his mother who disappeared years before? Both Jack and readers will simultaneously unravel the mystery surrounding the author’s surreal setting as he learns how to enter and exit this supernatural world. Teenagers knowledgeable about mythology and appreciative of sophisticated wordplay will especially enjoy this intricate read. (Fiction. 12-15)