After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck here in spirit form with no sign of the big, bright light coming to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser/outcast type who hates the social elite. He alone can see and hear her, but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.
Can they get over their mutual distrust—and this weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist?
Indeed, Stacey Kade’s The Ghost and the Goth is one of the most charming books I’ve ever read. Similar to Suzanne Selfors’ Coffeehouse Angel, I found it very cute, funny, and vivacious (even if we’re dealing with the dead here). It is definitely a favorite; thus a five-star rating. I highly recommend it, not just because of the lovely cover but also because of the effervescence of the story. You can’t help but grin all throughout.
Unlike most books, the voices of the two protagonists, Will James Killian and Alona Dare are alternately heard in the story. It was perfect! The narratives flawlessly fit that you’d constantly have that titillating feeling because you get the chance to know what the one is thinking about the other.
The storyline highlights the progress in Will and Alona’s relationship, from strongly disliking each other to gradually getting to know each other to becoming friends and to something more intimate. It showed how they learned to accept each other by looking beyond what they show on the surface. They learned to trust each other through their simplest yet most significant acts. And, it brings the readers that cute, sweet, and touching feeling. Along the storyline, the emphasis moves from their relationship to Will and Alona’s finding answers to their questions. In this part, we now venture into the dark side of the story. The subplots which greatly involve the supporting characters like Joonie and the other ghosts become prominent. What seemed to be unrelated facts at first are revealed to be connected to one another. And, this is what makes the Ghost and the Goth a lot more impressive. Stacey Kade incorporated a unique and creative idea about the afterlife. The ending caught me wanting for more. It left me with so many questions that begged for answers.
Alona Dare– senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star. In other words, she is undeniably perfect, and perfectly fits the definition of a Queen Bee. She is very feminine, but not the traditional type because she has this certain boldness and confidence in her. She has candor and tenacity which make her loveable. Her being mean roots from the deceptive behavior she chose to assume to conceal the truth or her genuine feelings. Above it all, like any other person, Alona Dare has her own imperfections. She has hidden issues which she reveals only to Will.
Will James Killian– senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank, and a ghost-talker. Like Alona, Will is a loveable character. He is vulnerable. Branded as a school freak, all he ever wanted was to live a normal and peaceful life, without seeing and hearing ghosts. Will and Alona’s partnership is out of this world! Their journey to finding the light and the truth will drive you nuts as much as they drove each other crazy. You’ll surely love every single Will and Alona moments. Individually, they are admirable; together, they are amusing.
Overall, this book is not just cute and funny. You’ll learn so much from it. I definitely can’t wait for Queen of the Dead. I want more Will and Alona moments! I want to know what will come next in their progressive relationship.
