Vibes

Kristi can read peoples minds. She knows what they are thinking. It all started in middle school. No one knows except her Aunt Ann and her ex-best friend Hildie. Now Kristis in high school. Shes matured physically&shes not as skinny as she used to be and shes big breasted to boot. She makes her own clothes out of discarded material such as umbrellas and quilting found in dumpsters. She wears three layers of eyeliner. She listens to opera. Shes a loner.

As she walks through the school hall she hears gorgeous Gusty Peterson think sick as he passes her. No way a guy who looks that good would be interested in a girl who looks like Kristi, but does he have to be so mean? Even her friend Jacob seems to think incessantly about her ginormous gazungas. Then theres beautiful, anorexic Eva Kearns-Tate, aka Evil Incarnate, who hates Kristi and makes it known that she likes Gusty.

Enter new student Mallory. Definitely cool and he seems to like Kristi. He wouldnt be so bad, except for his case of terminal acne. Ugh!!! But, he likes Kristi and thats good.

Rounding out Kristis world is her mother, a surgeon, who spends most of her time at the hospital, leaving Kristi to her own devices, and her father, also a surgeon, who ran away to Africa two years ago, ostensibly to do some good after being sued for malpractice. Since his departure, Hildie hasnt spoken to Kristi. Good best friend, huh? So, its just Kristi and Minnie Mouse, her cat who her mother doesnt know about and if she did, would be allergic to.

So Kristis life is basically: go to school and listen to opera, pine away for unobtainable Gusty, fear Mallory likes her more than she likes him, diss Evil Incarnate, go home and cuddle with Minnie and eat junk food until her mother comes home.

This is all about to change. Kristis mother becomes Chief of Surgery working normal hours. Her father decides to pay a visit after two years. And shes partnered with Gusty for the schools self improvement Character Education Project.

Theres so much to like above Vibes, Amy Kathleen Ryans second novel. First theres Kristi. Shes confused about life but she is soooooooooo likeable. As a matter of fact, every character is likeable, even Evil Incarnate and the gorgeous, should be self-centered Gusty, though you really dont want to like him in the beginning. Kristi is unique&her own self. I am drawn to characters like that. The story is just plain fun, although a little serious at times. The writing is good&very readable. Its one of those books you can tell the author enjoyed writing. The only way to describe Vibes is: It is a feel good book. Youll go away smiling. Ive got good vibes about Amy Kathleen Ryan and cant wait to read her first book, Shadow Falls.