Review Detail

A (Dead) Thing Like Me by E. G. Young is a YA paranormal book that blends teenage grief with supernatural elements.

The story begins with “Hot Dog,” a teenage ghost who haunts a hot dog cart in New York City—until a Ouija board summons her to a house in Florida. There, she meets another teen named Logan, who is grieving the death of her best friend and was hoping the Ouija board would connect her to her bestie, Avery. “Hot Dog” is thrilled that Logan can see her and thinks this is finally her opportunity to have a normal teenage friendship. As the story develops, she learns her real identity and what it takes to fight off an evil force that threatens them both.

What I Liked: This book brings the creepy vibes! Young builds an eerie atmosphere with demons and hidden rooms. As a reader, I felt a lot of nervous anticipation when Hot Dog heard scratching from a hidden room and I wasn’t sure what it was. It was just the right amount of tension to keep me hooked.

The mystery of Hot Dog’s life before becoming a ghost is a major storyline that propels the book forward. At first, I found it frustrating that we knew so little about her, including her own name, but I quickly realized that discovering her identity and how she died was pivotal to the plot.

This isn’t just a story about a ghost haunting the living; it’s about wanting to belong and be seen for who you are. When Hot Dog realizes Logan can see her, she is ecstatic. That longing to be seen by someone is so relatable and gives the story a really human element.

Readers who enjoy spooky and mysterious books will love A (Dead) Thing Like Me.