Ghostgirl

Starred review from July 14, 2008
Hurley, an independent filmmaker, debuts with this glittering comedy, a prime exemplar of what might be called demento mori, a growing subgenre of satire about teens who will not or cannot die. Charlotte Usher's plan to catapult herself from the ranks of the invisible to the heights of popularity at Hawthorne High—no possibility for allusion goes unturned—hits a major snag on the first day of school when she chokes to death on a gummy bear. Sent to Deadiquette school along with other teen spirits, she skips out, still determined to woo her longtime heartthrob, never mind that “he doesn't even know I'm alive.” The jokes stay sharp, from the goth girl who gives her a “make-under” to throwaway lines (caught breaking some cardinal rules, Charlotte mutters to herself, “I'm dead”). Plotlines raise the stakes, putting Hurley's consistent wit to the service of classic themes about claiming identity. While the author has a built-in fan base from her ghostgirl Web sites, high-impact design will ensure attention from casual browsers as well. An elaborate die-cut with stamped acetate on the cover dares readers to laugh at a silhouette of a cartoon girl in an open casket, an effect heightened by the extra-tall trim size; inside, pink-and-black graphics liberally adorn the margins, epigraphs to chapter openings, etc. And given the polished dark-and-deadpan humor, it's a natural fit with Gen Y, too. Ages 12–up.

Parker Posey begins her narration in a soft, flat tone that perfectly matches the character of Charlotte Usher, who feels invisible in her high school before she flatlines from choking on a gummy bear. Still seeking popularity, the deceased Charlotte can't let go of her crush on Damen or face the reality that in a postmortem high school of dead teens she's STILL unpopular. Posey nurses the wry humor of the novel's stereotypes--from wannabe to super cool. Her voice strengthens and her pace quickens during the witty dialogue between Charlotte and various disdainful ghosts. Posey also dramatizes the heightened emotions during conversations between Charlotte and Scarlet, a living Goth girl who seeks the invisibility that comes naturally to her ghost friend. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine