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AURACLE by Gina Rosati

AURACLE

by Gina Rosati

Pub Date: Aug. 7th, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-59643-710-4
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Anna has a clever talent: She can, somehow, rise out of her own body and travel about as a spirit.

This has always been an amusing gift, especially useful during boring classes, but when she witnesses an accidental death after her friend Seth fails to save an almost-stalker classmate, Taylor, from a lethal fall, the trick becomes perilous. Dead Taylor occupies Anna’s spiritless body, leaving the high school junior with no place to go. Fortunately, Anna and best friend—and almost boyfriend—Rei have such a spiritual connection that he’s able to detect her presence, and they find they can conveniently communicate by computer keyboard. Seth is accused of murder, but readers must seriously suspend disbelief; he’ll go on trial just days later because his crime is so “vicious,” leaving the two clever teens very little time to evict ruthless Taylor and convince the court that a spirit can serve as a witness. While not great literature, this fast-paced adventure is surprisingly engaging, as Anna, in an earnest first-person voice, and Rei navigate the pitfalls of their evolving relationship and try imaginative ploys to send away Taylor, who has taken over Anna’s body with an almost humorous vengeance (tats, piercings and the like).

Readers who enjoy more than a dash of the paranormal in their romance novels won’t be disappointed with this amusing albeit lightweight effort.

(Paranormal romance. 12 & up)