WHEREVER YOU GO

This ghost story gently delivers growing emotional power as it explores the thoughts of three teens, including the ghost.

Holly still mourns her dead boyfriend, Rob, killed in a car crash months ago. Rob’s shy friend Jason secretly adores Holly and hopes for a romance with her, but he feels awkward about approaching her. Rob himself knows he’s a ghost and can’t understand why he doesn’t go into "the light." Is he trapped on Earth forever? He watches Holly and Jason stumble into love and can’t let go, becoming angry and jealous. As Holly substitutes for her overburdened mom, caring for her little sister and Alzheimer's-afflicted grandfather, Rob discovers a way to communicate: Holly’s grandfather can see and speak with him. But will anyone believe the old man? Davis creates some suspense through misunderstandings, but mostly she watches the teens mature and develops the sweet romance between Holly and Jason. The clever device of ghostly communications with a man suffering from dementia seems almost plausible, and it helps to slowly reveal the real cause of Rob’s extended time among the living. Although the narrative moves far more slowly than most teen fare, the time spent is well worth it, as the story really becomes a character study of all three teens, finally revealing their hidden strengths.