The Ghost in the Hollows by Patricia Komar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
With bullying such a common issue among young adults these days, Patricia Komar has found a unique way to present the problem. “The Ghost in the Hollows” is much more than a young adult mystery. This is a tale of a young girl’s maturation and how she and others deal with being “different” and not fitting in. Faith not only has to deal with her parents’ divorce but she has to also adjust to living in a new house, attending a new school, and trying to make new friends. Having been bullied at her previous school she knows this could happen again. As she bonds with the three boys (Finn, Dalton, and Oliver) who are also somewhat outcast she learns that bullying isn’t a new issue at her school. I found it interesting that the author chose to team Faith up with three boys and I liked that. What I did have a problem with is the dialogue. Although the book is geared toward youth the language is awkward and choppy. While it is apparent the kids are all extremely intelligent the conversations are not natural. Having spent a lot of time with pre-teens and teens this was a little distracting for me. Otherwise this is a great book and I would highly recommend it to young adults who enjoy mysteries and may be dealing with feeling bullied or unpopular. The story shows there is a group for everyone in middle school; you just have to keep an open mind.
Between the Beats 