Scarlett Dedd

I have to admit, the cover alone intrigued me enough to want to read this novel. I was really excited when I found out the book doesn't follow the traditional format. It's part text with illustrations mixed throughout. I'm a huge sucker for unique twists on paranormal tales. Stories that aren't the typical I-see-dead-people always grab my interest.

Right off the bat I was hooked with the voice. I couldn't put this book down.

Scarlett Dedd hates her name. Kids tease her and it doesn't help that she just happened to help with a zombie movie. Her small group of friends say she had the 'right look'. Her family is kind of different too. The illustrations are very engaging and at times a mix of morbid and gross. This alone ups the appeal of this story.

Scarlett's attics are at times hilarious and also borderline morbid. Her idea to get out of a trip not only kills her but her family as well. Now they're all locked in a ghostly limbo. Scarlett misses her friends and comes up with a plan. The plan is devious. Here's where the illustrations really help readers grasp how morbid and twisted these ideas can be.

I really loved the voice of Scarlett. It's not whiny or precocious. Rather she's a typical albeit loner teen that just happened to get herself into a dire situation. I remember someone once telling me they don't get why some people wouldn't be excited to be able to see ghosts. Scarlett's family, instead of going to the Other side rather stay where they're at. This quirkiness adds kind of a charm to this story. The ghost vomit is kind of disgusting but so is her baby brother's fascination with how many ways he can tear his ghostly body apart.

I'd recommend this book to those who like unique twists on an almost over done premise. The illustrations are a huge plus with this novel. And the climax of this story is pretty great too.