A Certain Slant of Light (Light #1)

Reader reviewed by T.T.A

An overall good read. This book has an interesting take on ghost stories and love stories. Beautifully written but the plot is alright. The book is very different but it could've been much better in my opinion. This novel was still intriguing and a good read. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a book with a fresh perspective on ghost and love stories. 

Reader reviewed by Misty

A Certain Slant of Light is the story of a ghost who attaches herself
to human hosts to avoid going to what she assumes is hell, for a crime
she does not remember. While attached to her current host -- a high
school english teacher -- she realizes that a boy in the classroom can
see her. She eventually learns he too was once a ghost, and is now
inhabiting the body of an overdose victim. This begins their romance
and her realization of herself.
I liked this book for its breezy style and interesting premise,
which was handled nicely and thoughtfully. I wasnt too pleased with the
heavy-handedness of the religious aspect at the end, but overall would
recommend this as a fun, somewhat thought provoking read, with the
caution to parents that there is sexuality in the book, and a not
always pleasant view on religion (for those of you whom that concerns).

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

Helen died many years ago as a young woman, yet she was unable to enter Heaven because of a certian guilt she carried with her through death. She clings to people so she can stay on Earth and enter a place she can't stand; No one can see her, until one day she senses someone looking straight at her. The boy ends up to be James and he is just like her, but inhabitating a body. Helen, herself, finds a body to live in, and she develops a relationship with James. I recommend this book for highschoolers only for it has parts in the book which aren't suitable for young readers!

Reader reviewed by Teddy

This is a pretty good fantasy novel. I finished it in 2 days and thought the ending was clever. The main character is dead, yet still on earth. she meets another "spirit" and they inhabit 2 teens that are mentally not there. they are in love and want to be together, yet they can't see each other. recommended to young adults.

Reader reviewed by Jessica

I read this book in two days, that's how great it was. I thought the beginning was a little bit slow, but after I got past the initial starting point, I fell in love. The writing was very well done and the idea was one that I have never seen before. Highly imaginative and unbelievable. This is a story that I believe all teens can relate to in one way or another. Whether it be through one of the main characters or through the message that all of us want to fit in with someone somehow, this book is wonderful and a quick read.

Reader reviewed by Kayla (Midnight Twilight)

Helen is a ghost. She clings to hosts so she won't go back to her hell--icy water and mud pulling her into the ground. One day while she was with her host--a teacher-- a student in his class looked at her. Not through her like most humans do, he somehow saw her. She begins to be drawn to him and finds out that he is a ghost (or in her words Light) that implanted himself in an empty human body. They feel drawn to each other and begin to look for a body for her.


Warning: this book contains slightly graphic sex scenes, don't read it if you don't want to read them. Other than that little part this book was amazing!
The way the ghosts were portrayed was very original, she wasn't haunting her hosts, she was saved by them. They were the only things keeping her from her hell. So she helped them with their writing (they all wrote stories, or poems, or plays), she was their muse.
I didn't like how it seemed all that there was between Helen and James was lust, not love. The only way they were connected, or even new each other, was that they were both ghosts.
I did feel that the book pulled me in and compelled me to read more. It was very well written and it had all the things that make a supernatural book good: intrigue, a wonderful plot with lots of twists, romance (although there was a little too much for my taste), and unique look on the supernatural aspect (in this case ghosts).
I would have given this book five stars if it wasn't for the questionable lust.

Reader reviewed by Amanda D.

I loved this book so much that I read it twice in a row. Being a romantic, I loved James and Helen's story. Laura Whitcomb keeps how they do things youthful, yet adult, which was hard to do considering they were in their 20s in a teenager's body. This book is very thought provoking and lovely. I couldn't wait to see if James and Helen ended up together!