LILY’S GHOSTS

Lily’s been dragged all over the country by her free-spirit mother. New boyfriend means new town. “Computer Geek,” Lily’s name for Mom’s most recent fling, dumped them, and Mom’s ancestral home in Cape May, New Jersey, is the only place left to go. Cape May, the house, and their family have a history, one that’s still alive—sort of. Lily and her new friend Vaz become involved in a family mystery; they become involved with the town’s plethora of ghosts; and finally they become involved with each other in this quite promising debut. The pace is swift but not breakneck. Lily’s problems are believable and compassionately presented even though they are nestled in a slightly spooky, romantic mystery. Her often funny story, peppered with ghostly interludes, is capped by that rarest of animals: a twist ending that is totally earned. This should be a movie just so ’tweens and teens will come ask for the book. Place it in their hands; they will likely thank you. (Fiction. 11-16)