Review Detail

Jo O'Connor has led a strange life, though it never really bothered her until her senior year. She and her dad have moved constantly (she attended 14 different elementary schools) and she's used to it. In fact, she never actually unpacks.

She's never questioned why her dad has moved them from place to place. That's just the way it has always been until they move to Seattle during her senior year.

Against her better judgement, Jo makes friends. Not only that, she actually falls for a guy. What's a girl to do when her dad drops a bombshell on her and announces that not only do they have to move again, they also have to fake their own deaths because he's a witness in a murder investigation that's about to go to trial?

Jo does what she has to, but she can't resist going back one last time to see Alex. That's when things start to get a little weird. Alex thinks he's seen a ghost and the whole school starts ghost hunting.

Meanwhile, Jo has new complications in her new school. There's an annoying but handsome new guy named Mark that won't leave her alone. There's a journalism exchange program where she winds up back at her old school. There's her best friend Elaine, who finds out her secret. There's a lot going on in Jo's life.

This is a funny and entertaining book. It's a light read that the publisher bills as a contemporary romantic comedy. I recommend this book primarily for girls 14 and up, but those as young as 12 would likely enjoy it as well.

The story is told from Jo's point of view, which gives it a nice vibe. Cameron Dokey created a character with an engaging voice and she keeps you involved in the story from start to finish. There were some elements that were rather predictable and a few plot points that you see coming way ahead of time, but all in all, this is a fun read.