Review: The Dead and Buried

Goodreads Summary:  Jade loves the house she’s just moved into with her family. She doesn’t even mind being the new girl at the high school: It’s a fresh start, and there’s that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade’s little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade’s jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn’t.

    

 Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who’s seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade’s school — until her untimely death last year. It’s up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

My Thoughts: When I was younger, I went through a phase of reading horror books by Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. I loved the thrill of feeling terror at the thought that someone or something was threatening the lives of the characters. I devoured those books and loved the thrill of them. While reading The Dead and Buried, I felt that same thrill. This book is a well-done horror story that kept me up until the wee small hours of the morning. The ghost haunting Jade was just scary enough to keep me turning the pages to find out what would happen.

What I liked about this book was the really well-developed characters. I loved Jade and wanted her to succeed in ridding her house of this ghost that was bothering her little brother. Jade and Donovan are great characters who care deeply about people and want to see the best in everyone. I felt for Jade when she was having a hard time communicating with her step-mom and could feel the pain she must have felt at not being trusted. This story is a believable story (if you believe in ghosts) with a great mystery included.

I would absolutely recommend this book to teens and I will be seeking out a copy to add to my class library.