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Give Up the Ghost
Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.
But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.
As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance….
241 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2009
About the author
Megan Crewe
24 books832 followersLike many authors, Megan Crewe finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and son (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she's spent the last six years studying kung fu, so you should probably be nice to her. She has been making up stories about magic and spirits and other what ifs since before she knew how to write words on paper. These days the stories are just a lot longer.
Megan's first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST, was shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Her second, THE WAY WE FALL, was nominated for the White Pine Award and made the International Reading Association Young Adults' Choices List. Her Fallen World trilogy (THE WAY WE FALL, THE LIVES WE LOST, THE WORLDS WE MAKE) is now complete and she has a new trilogy forthcoming in October 2014, beginning with EARTH & SKY. Her books have been published in translation in several countries around the world. She has also published short stories in magazines such as On Spec and Brutarian Quarterly.
Megan's first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST, was shortlisted for the Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Her second, THE WAY WE FALL, was nominated for the White Pine Award and made the International Reading Association Young Adults' Choices List. Her Fallen World trilogy (THE WAY WE FALL, THE LIVES WE LOST, THE WORLDS WE MAKE) is now complete and she has a new trilogy forthcoming in October 2014, beginning with EARTH & SKY. Her books have been published in translation in several countries around the world. She has also published short stories in magazines such as On Spec and Brutarian Quarterly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
October 18, 2021
Seit vor vier Jahren ihre Schwester Paige ertrunken ist, kann die jetzt 16-jährige Cassie Geister sehen. Nachdem sie von ihren früheren Freundinnen gemobbt wurde, sind nun Geister Cassies einzige Freunde. Doch dann tritt Tim in ihr Leben. Er bittet sie, mit seiner toten Mutter Kontakt aufzunehmen...
* Meine Meinung *
Dieses Jugendbuch richtet sich hauptsächlich an Mädchen im Alter von 12 bis 15 Jahren. Es ist in einer angemessenen Jugendsprache geschrieben und flüssig zu lesen. Themen wie "Freundschaft" und "Trauer und Verlust" werden in altersgerechter Form angesprochen.
Es ist kein oberflächliches Buch, auch wenn es hier nebenbei auch um die wohl typischen Teenie-Themen wie Mode, Kosmetik und Partys geht. Es beinhaltet einfach eine gelungene Mischung, so dass das Buch für junge Mädchen interessant wird.
Nicht gefallen hat mir an einigen Stellen Cassies Charakter. Ich kann verstehen, dass sie nach den Mobbing-Erfahrungen kein Vertrauen mehr zu ihren Mitschülern fassen kann, aber manchmal kam sie selbst mir auch sehr unfair vor. Positiv ist somit ihre Entwicklung, die sie im Verlaufe dieser Geschichte durchmacht, zu erwähnen. Von einem harten Mädchen, das sich scheinbar nichts mehr aus den Gefühlen ihrer Mitschüler macht und das nur auf Rache aus ist, entwickelt sie sich wieder zu einem mitfühlenden Mädchen.
Ein schönes Buch, das ich gerne gelesen habe!
* Meine Meinung *
Dieses Jugendbuch richtet sich hauptsächlich an Mädchen im Alter von 12 bis 15 Jahren. Es ist in einer angemessenen Jugendsprache geschrieben und flüssig zu lesen. Themen wie "Freundschaft" und "Trauer und Verlust" werden in altersgerechter Form angesprochen.
Es ist kein oberflächliches Buch, auch wenn es hier nebenbei auch um die wohl typischen Teenie-Themen wie Mode, Kosmetik und Partys geht. Es beinhaltet einfach eine gelungene Mischung, so dass das Buch für junge Mädchen interessant wird.
Nicht gefallen hat mir an einigen Stellen Cassies Charakter. Ich kann verstehen, dass sie nach den Mobbing-Erfahrungen kein Vertrauen mehr zu ihren Mitschülern fassen kann, aber manchmal kam sie selbst mir auch sehr unfair vor. Positiv ist somit ihre Entwicklung, die sie im Verlaufe dieser Geschichte durchmacht, zu erwähnen. Von einem harten Mädchen, das sich scheinbar nichts mehr aus den Gefühlen ihrer Mitschüler macht und das nur auf Rache aus ist, entwickelt sie sich wieder zu einem mitfühlenden Mädchen.
Ein schönes Buch, das ich gerne gelesen habe!
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October 4, 2017My book! :) You can get it free here if you'd like: http://www.subscribepage.com/GiveUpTh...
October 27, 2017
The dead, maybe because they have nothing to lose, are always honest.
Cass McKenna can see ghosts. She listens and talks to the souls of the dead who haven't yet moved on to the afterlife. Basically, she's a walking Ouija board. And she's so sick of people betraying her and walking out on her. Ever since Cass was suddenly given this power, she's been on a mission to dig up all the dirty secrets at her school, dead set on bringing every lier and backstabber to justice. But when the vice president of the student council Tim gets a bit too close to her own little secret, Cass's vigilante days may come to an end. As Cass tries to help Tim be at peace with his mother's recent death and stop him from making any decisions he may end up regretting, she realizes that she may need to give the living a second chance.
I liked how Cass and Tim didn't have a standard, cliché relationship -- there were a lot more than just a few speed bumps in their conversations. The characters, in general, had great development over the course of the book. I could really see how Cass, Tim and even secondary characters like Danielle grew through their experiences and became more mature.
One thing that actually really bothered me was how many times lists popped up in this book.
1. Exactly
2. Like
3. This
I'm thinking it happened at least four times. The first list was really clever because it made me feel like I was riffling through Cass's "mental files," but by the third time, I was wondering why Megan Crewe couldn't come up with another way of emphasizing Cass's thoughts. I know, I know -- it's a minor detail. But it seriously bothered me.
Also, the plot was just a bit too mundane and unexplained for me. I thought Cass's ability and how she used it to basically blackmail the whole school was really interesting. But whenever she was asked about the technicalities of ghosts or her power, she would just say it's because the dead make no sense... (BUT WHY?) And I felt like the plot wasn't deep enough or developed enough to really stand out. Tim's issues and all the school drama just wasn't enough.
Overall, Give Up the Ghost was a good book, just not great. 3.25
Cass McKenna can see ghosts. She listens and talks to the souls of the dead who haven't yet moved on to the afterlife. Basically, she's a walking Ouija board. And she's so sick of people betraying her and walking out on her. Ever since Cass was suddenly given this power, she's been on a mission to dig up all the dirty secrets at her school, dead set on bringing every lier and backstabber to justice. But when the vice president of the student council Tim gets a bit too close to her own little secret, Cass's vigilante days may come to an end. As Cass tries to help Tim be at peace with his mother's recent death and stop him from making any decisions he may end up regretting, she realizes that she may need to give the living a second chance.
I liked how Cass and Tim didn't have a standard, cliché relationship -- there were a lot more than just a few speed bumps in their conversations. The characters, in general, had great development over the course of the book. I could really see how Cass, Tim and even secondary characters like Danielle grew through their experiences and became more mature.
One thing that actually really bothered me was how many times lists popped up in this book.
1. Exactly
2. Like
3. This
I'm thinking it happened at least four times. The first list was really clever because it made me feel like I was riffling through Cass's "mental files," but by the third time, I was wondering why Megan Crewe couldn't come up with another way of emphasizing Cass's thoughts. I know, I know -- it's a minor detail. But it seriously bothered me.
Also, the plot was just a bit too mundane and unexplained for me. I thought Cass's ability and how she used it to basically blackmail the whole school was really interesting. But whenever she was asked about the technicalities of ghosts or her power, she would just say it's because the dead make no sense... (BUT WHY?) And I felt like the plot wasn't deep enough or developed enough to really stand out. Tim's issues and all the school drama just wasn't enough.
Overall, Give Up the Ghost was a good book, just not great. 3.25
July 18, 2011
The premise of this book was really interesting, but it ended up just being another cliché- and angst-filled young adult novel. I would give it 2 1/2 stars if I could but I decided to round down because it's not quite a 3 star book.
Cass can see and talk to ghosts. Just before she got this ability she had a huge falling out with her best friend. The best friend, the most popular girl in the school, turned the entire student body of not one, but two schools, against Cass. Now that Cass has a few ghost friends at the school that spy on everyone for her, she has all the dirt on everyone. So she's not picked on or bullied anymore and now everyone pretty much ignores her. Then one of the popular boys, Tim, asks for Cass's help in talking to his recently deceased mother. She decides to help him and slowly beings to form a friendship with someone who's actually alive.
The problem I had with this book was that the main idea seemed fresh but the execution, not so much. The fact that Cass only uses the ghosts to be vindictive and further alienate herself from her classmates is both unimaginative and petty. I understand that she's a teenager and that's how they think, but really, she's just being a jerk. Cass gets excited when she finds out that her ex-best friend is being cheated on and you start to agree with everyone else that Cass is a creepy bitch.
So obviously, I had a hard time connecting with Cass. But then again, any time I read a book about a socially awkward teen outcast I have a hard time connecting so that could just be a problem with me. I don't understand the mentality of being bullied and not standing up for yourself. Cass has no friends and no ambition in life and basically her only goal is to make everyone as miserable as she is, and I just can't fathom putting that much energy into something so negative.
Another big thing that really bothered me; why do so many teen books have to end at the prom? It's just so overdone.
I wish this book had centered more around Cass's ability and her ghosts and less about her petty vindictiveness. Thankfully, she did grow up a little toward the end, but if the author writes a sequel I don't think I'll bother with it.
Cass can see and talk to ghosts. Just before she got this ability she had a huge falling out with her best friend. The best friend, the most popular girl in the school, turned the entire student body of not one, but two schools, against Cass. Now that Cass has a few ghost friends at the school that spy on everyone for her, she has all the dirt on everyone. So she's not picked on or bullied anymore and now everyone pretty much ignores her. Then one of the popular boys, Tim, asks for Cass's help in talking to his recently deceased mother. She decides to help him and slowly beings to form a friendship with someone who's actually alive.
The problem I had with this book was that the main idea seemed fresh but the execution, not so much. The fact that Cass only uses the ghosts to be vindictive and further alienate herself from her classmates is both unimaginative and petty. I understand that she's a teenager and that's how they think, but really, she's just being a jerk. Cass gets excited when she finds out that her ex-best friend is being cheated on and you start to agree with everyone else that Cass is a creepy bitch.
So obviously, I had a hard time connecting with Cass. But then again, any time I read a book about a socially awkward teen outcast I have a hard time connecting so that could just be a problem with me. I don't understand the mentality of being bullied and not standing up for yourself. Cass has no friends and no ambition in life and basically her only goal is to make everyone as miserable as she is, and I just can't fathom putting that much energy into something so negative.
Another big thing that really bothered me; why do so many teen books have to end at the prom? It's just so overdone.
I wish this book had centered more around Cass's ability and her ghosts and less about her petty vindictiveness. Thankfully, she did grow up a little toward the end, but if the author writes a sequel I don't think I'll bother with it.
September 16, 2009
So lately i think i've been reading a lot of books involving ghost. I actually enjoyed Give Up the Ghost a lot more than I thought I would. Love the cover too :P
I liked Give up Ghost because it isn't your normal ghost story, it wasn't scary, the ghost weren't all like BOO!! I loved the characters.Cass, she is so brave and does this whole i'm cleaning out your closet thing.I mean she knows every bodies secrets( like cheating on BF & GF's,things you hope nobody would find out) thanks to her friendly ghost.In High school she literally lives in freakdom. The students stare and her, make fun of her, she is exiled from her peers due to her "BFF's" jealously drama from 7th grade, i mean come dude, 7th grade? The ghosts were funny, i loved their ghost gossip(secret telling hehe)As for Tim, he is so cute and adorable even though he's depressed, I don't know how i could move on if i lost my mom.
There's many twists within the plot.The story is real and contemporary and drew me in from the first sentence. It deals with so many relateable teen and human issues in a unique way.It wasn't the Happily Ever After i wanted but I can see more stories with Cass and Tim in the future and more of her sister Paige.Megan did an awesome job writing Give Up the Ghost.LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!! :D
I liked Give up Ghost because it isn't your normal ghost story, it wasn't scary, the ghost weren't all like BOO!! I loved the characters.Cass, she is so brave and does this whole i'm cleaning out your closet thing.I mean she knows every bodies secrets( like cheating on BF & GF's,things you hope nobody would find out) thanks to her friendly ghost.In High school she literally lives in freakdom. The students stare and her, make fun of her, she is exiled from her peers due to her "BFF's" jealously drama from 7th grade, i mean come dude, 7th grade? The ghosts were funny, i loved their ghost gossip(secret telling hehe)As for Tim, he is so cute and adorable even though he's depressed, I don't know how i could move on if i lost my mom.
There's many twists within the plot.The story is real and contemporary and drew me in from the first sentence. It deals with so many relateable teen and human issues in a unique way.It wasn't the Happily Ever After i wanted but I can see more stories with Cass and Tim in the future and more of her sister Paige.Megan did an awesome job writing Give Up the Ghost.LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!! :D
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November 27, 2015I didn't just read this book, I inhaled it.
From the very first line--"You would think it'd be easy to get along with a person after she's dead."--I was hooked. In so many respects, seventeen-year-old Cassie was me--angry, isolated, at the bottom of the high school pecking order--only I did not have a dead sister hanging around, who only I could see.
Cassie can see ghosts. She doesn't know why. The first she ever sees is her sister Paige, the night of the prom, just after Paige drowned. Cassie was twelve then, and already antagonistic toward a sister who seemed to be mom's pet, as Paige was pretty, popular, and outgoing. But four years later Cassie is a year older than Paige, and the only person Paige can see and talk to.
Cassie can see other ghosts, like Norris and Bitzy, who hang around the high school. Unseen by anyone else, the ghosts listen to faculty as well as student body chatter and give Cassie the dirt on the mean popular kids, which Cassie uses to keep them at a distance. Yep. Cassie's hated, but at least she's no longer picked on. And she's totally fine with that, because human beings are basically crap.
Enter the student body V.P., Tim, who Cassie thinks a first class hypocrite, the way he turns his sad smile on all the suck-up freshmen girls, just because his mom recently died.
Then someone throws her life in a spin by leaving her a note, saying he knows her secret and wants to talk to her.
The reader will probably guess that the note involves contacting ghosts, but how, why, the relationship between Tim and Cassie, the changing relationship between Cassie and the other kids, between her and her family, spins out resonant with emotional truth. Fascinating ghosts, a great voice, and an unexpected moment of profound numinosity made me love this book.
From the very first line--"You would think it'd be easy to get along with a person after she's dead."--I was hooked. In so many respects, seventeen-year-old Cassie was me--angry, isolated, at the bottom of the high school pecking order--only I did not have a dead sister hanging around, who only I could see.
Cassie can see ghosts. She doesn't know why. The first she ever sees is her sister Paige, the night of the prom, just after Paige drowned. Cassie was twelve then, and already antagonistic toward a sister who seemed to be mom's pet, as Paige was pretty, popular, and outgoing. But four years later Cassie is a year older than Paige, and the only person Paige can see and talk to.
Cassie can see other ghosts, like Norris and Bitzy, who hang around the high school. Unseen by anyone else, the ghosts listen to faculty as well as student body chatter and give Cassie the dirt on the mean popular kids, which Cassie uses to keep them at a distance. Yep. Cassie's hated, but at least she's no longer picked on. And she's totally fine with that, because human beings are basically crap.
Enter the student body V.P., Tim, who Cassie thinks a first class hypocrite, the way he turns his sad smile on all the suck-up freshmen girls, just because his mom recently died.
Then someone throws her life in a spin by leaving her a note, saying he knows her secret and wants to talk to her.
The reader will probably guess that the note involves contacting ghosts, but how, why, the relationship between Tim and Cassie, the changing relationship between Cassie and the other kids, between her and her family, spins out resonant with emotional truth. Fascinating ghosts, a great voice, and an unexpected moment of profound numinosity made me love this book.
September 18, 2009
Another fantastic debut novel! Give Up the Ghost had a more serious tone that I had initially anticipated. Which wasn't a bad thing, but it took me a while to switch gears. That's why you should never have a predisposition about a book! I wasn’t expecting the prominent role that death played in this novel, I mean sure it’s about ghosts, but I was thinking more along the lines of happy times with Casper the friendly ghost, something more light-hearted. Anyhow, once I switched myself over to a more serious mood, I immensely enjoyed the book. I mean not that is was scary or extremely serious by any means, but it wasn't fluffy. However, there were several humorous moments that really added to the story.
Megan has a great writing style, it flows nicely, it’s not overdone. The characters are well developed. And even though I thought Cass was a bit of a hypocrite, I can see why she did what she did. I would have liked to have gotten more back story about Cass and her ability. I needed more of an explanation than she just developed it one day.
It was definitely something different. Loved the fresh aspects of redemption, and hope.
Megan has a great writing style, it flows nicely, it’s not overdone. The characters are well developed. And even though I thought Cass was a bit of a hypocrite, I can see why she did what she did. I would have liked to have gotten more back story about Cass and her ability. I needed more of an explanation than she just developed it one day.
It was definitely something different. Loved the fresh aspects of redemption, and hope.
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May 21, 2017DNF
Mini review:
I had heard about this book when I was much younger. I think I was in grade 8? I remembered it again through an email I got from another author. It was a freebie so I decided to give it go. Unfortunately it was not for me.
To be honest I think the subject doesn't really interest me. I feel like I way too old to be reading about a girl who has the help of ghosts exposing the bad things people do in her school. Well more like I'm way too old for how it was executed. It felt juvenile.
But I did like the relationships with MC had with those around her. Including her family.
All in all it wasn't for me. Still recommend.
Mini review:
I had heard about this book when I was much younger. I think I was in grade 8? I remembered it again through an email I got from another author. It was a freebie so I decided to give it go. Unfortunately it was not for me.
To be honest I think the subject doesn't really interest me. I feel like I way too old to be reading about a girl who has the help of ghosts exposing the bad things people do in her school. Well more like I'm way too old for how it was executed. It felt juvenile.
But I did like the relationships with MC had with those around her. Including her family.
All in all it wasn't for me. Still recommend.
July 5, 2017
2.25 stars.
Plot was really interesting but I did not enjoy reading the book much. This was just: meh
Highschool drama *groans*
I felt something was lacking. Maybe because it was too short? Idk. It could've been better.
There were, um, maybe just two parts that I liked.
Plot was really interesting but I did not enjoy reading the book much. This was just: meh
Highschool drama *groans*
I felt something was lacking. Maybe because it was too short? Idk. It could've been better.
There were, um, maybe just two parts that I liked.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
If there's one sentence that could sum up Cass McKenna's life, it would probably be that infamous line from the movie The Sixth Sense: "I see dead people."
Ever since Cass's big sister, Paige, drowned the night of her Junior Prom, Cass has had the gift - or curse - of being able to see ghosts. Or, to be technical, to see, hear, and communicate with spirits who haven't moved on to wherever spirits go after people die. The morning after her sister's death, Cass made the mistake of mentioning to her parents that Paige couldn't be dead, since she was crying upstairs in her bedroom. One therapist later, Cass has realized that telling people about her little "secret" of communicating with the dead isn't a good idea.
Cass has learned to use her ghost-seeing powers to great effect. Never all that popular to begin with, she's made a lot of enemies at Frazer Collegiate by using the information that her spirit friends provide for her. Cheating on your girlfriend? Cass probably knows about it. Posting nasty things on a blog about the girl who does your homework for you? Cass probably knows about it. Passing along information to keep one of your best friends off the Athlete of the Year list? Cass knows about that, too.
It's not hard to see why Norris and Bitzy, the two resident school ghosts, are Cass's only friends.
But then enters Tim Reed, Student Council Vice President, who somehow manages to find out Cass's secret. Tim wants Cass's help in contacting his dead mother. Cass reluctantly agrees, planning to use Tim's popularity status to get dirt on the one person she needs to knock down the most - her ex-best friend, Danielle.
It all sounds like a good plan, except that Cass doesn't know that doing so will put her in a very strange position - that of learning to care about someone else, and finding out that revenge isn't always as sweet as you think it will be.
It's hard to believe that GIVE UP THE GHOST is Megan Crewe's debut novel. It's wonderfully written, has characters who are easy to relate to, and contains pitch-perfect dialogue. It deals with feelings of abandonment and loneliness, with bullying and depression, and even alcohol abuse and suicidal thoughts with true emotion and feeling. Nothing ever comes off as heavy-handed, but I appreciated the fact that Ms. Crewe showed the darker side of being a teen within the context of what could have been just a fun, frothy paranormal read.
The story comes to a not quite happily-ever-after conclusion, but I could easily envision more stories featuring Cass and Tim in the future. GIVE UP THE GHOST is a winner!
If there's one sentence that could sum up Cass McKenna's life, it would probably be that infamous line from the movie The Sixth Sense: "I see dead people."
Ever since Cass's big sister, Paige, drowned the night of her Junior Prom, Cass has had the gift - or curse - of being able to see ghosts. Or, to be technical, to see, hear, and communicate with spirits who haven't moved on to wherever spirits go after people die. The morning after her sister's death, Cass made the mistake of mentioning to her parents that Paige couldn't be dead, since she was crying upstairs in her bedroom. One therapist later, Cass has realized that telling people about her little "secret" of communicating with the dead isn't a good idea.
Cass has learned to use her ghost-seeing powers to great effect. Never all that popular to begin with, she's made a lot of enemies at Frazer Collegiate by using the information that her spirit friends provide for her. Cheating on your girlfriend? Cass probably knows about it. Posting nasty things on a blog about the girl who does your homework for you? Cass probably knows about it. Passing along information to keep one of your best friends off the Athlete of the Year list? Cass knows about that, too.
It's not hard to see why Norris and Bitzy, the two resident school ghosts, are Cass's only friends.
But then enters Tim Reed, Student Council Vice President, who somehow manages to find out Cass's secret. Tim wants Cass's help in contacting his dead mother. Cass reluctantly agrees, planning to use Tim's popularity status to get dirt on the one person she needs to knock down the most - her ex-best friend, Danielle.
It all sounds like a good plan, except that Cass doesn't know that doing so will put her in a very strange position - that of learning to care about someone else, and finding out that revenge isn't always as sweet as you think it will be.
It's hard to believe that GIVE UP THE GHOST is Megan Crewe's debut novel. It's wonderfully written, has characters who are easy to relate to, and contains pitch-perfect dialogue. It deals with feelings of abandonment and loneliness, with bullying and depression, and even alcohol abuse and suicidal thoughts with true emotion and feeling. Nothing ever comes off as heavy-handed, but I appreciated the fact that Ms. Crewe showed the darker side of being a teen within the context of what could have been just a fun, frothy paranormal read.
The story comes to a not quite happily-ever-after conclusion, but I could easily envision more stories featuring Cass and Tim in the future. GIVE UP THE GHOST is a winner!
October 9, 2009
GIVE UP THE GHOST is a fantastic debut by author Megan Crewe. Not only is it a ghost story, but it is also an angsty coming of age story. Fans of the supernatural will apprectiate it as well those who lean towards the humans. This book is about fitting in and letting go of grudges and grief. It shows that sometimes people and things go away and we have to learn to accept this and move on with our lives and keep living them. If we don't we will constantly be haunted by the past and never be able to move forward into the future.
Cass used to have friends that were living, but after a fallling out she became an outsider. She is mocked and harassed by some and ignored by the rest of her classsmates. It's only fitting that the only people she talks to now are ghosts, especially since she has practically become one socially. It all began with the death of her sister Paige. Paige showed herself to Cass and ever since she's been a regular ghost magnet. This doesn't bother her at all because lately the ghosts are the only ones she feels comfortable around. Besides, nobody else can see them so she's been using them to snoop on her classsmates and teachers to find out all of their dirty little secrets. As far as Cass is concerned, they all deserve to be taken down or at least blackmailed into submission. Now that she's armed with all this information, people will finally leave her alone. Too bad Cass can't hide forever.
One day, as Cass is using some of her dirt to call someone out, she attracts the attention of Tim, the class VP. He figures out her secret and begs for her help in contacting his recently deceased mother. Cass doesn't know how to handle a real, live person. She surely doesn't want people to know about her, so she gives in hoping that Tim will go away once she helps him out. The only problem is that she discovers that Tim may need more than just a little help and a seance wont solve his problems. For some reason she can't just walk away from him. As they get to know each other Cass begins to realize that she hasn't been living and perhaps she should let go of her own bitterness and join the world again. If only she could give up the ghosts of her past as well as the "real" ones she's been spending her time with in the present.
Cass used to have friends that were living, but after a fallling out she became an outsider. She is mocked and harassed by some and ignored by the rest of her classsmates. It's only fitting that the only people she talks to now are ghosts, especially since she has practically become one socially. It all began with the death of her sister Paige. Paige showed herself to Cass and ever since she's been a regular ghost magnet. This doesn't bother her at all because lately the ghosts are the only ones she feels comfortable around. Besides, nobody else can see them so she's been using them to snoop on her classsmates and teachers to find out all of their dirty little secrets. As far as Cass is concerned, they all deserve to be taken down or at least blackmailed into submission. Now that she's armed with all this information, people will finally leave her alone. Too bad Cass can't hide forever.
One day, as Cass is using some of her dirt to call someone out, she attracts the attention of Tim, the class VP. He figures out her secret and begs for her help in contacting his recently deceased mother. Cass doesn't know how to handle a real, live person. She surely doesn't want people to know about her, so she gives in hoping that Tim will go away once she helps him out. The only problem is that she discovers that Tim may need more than just a little help and a seance wont solve his problems. For some reason she can't just walk away from him. As they get to know each other Cass begins to realize that she hasn't been living and perhaps she should let go of her own bitterness and join the world again. If only she could give up the ghosts of her past as well as the "real" ones she's been spending her time with in the present.
April 17, 2012
Cass McKenna este o liceană de 16 ani, ai cărei singuri prieteni sunt fantomele. După părerea ei, acestea sunt singurele în care poate avea încredere: fantomele nu au gânduri, ele spun cu voce tare tot ce gândesc. Cu ajutorul fantomelor de la școală, ea știe mizeriile tuturor celor de la școală, îi are la mână, așa că este lăsată în pace. Însă, într-o zi, Tim, vicepreședintele consiliului de elevi, a cărui mamă murise de curând, bănuiește că ea ar putea să-l ajute într-un fel să ia legătura cu mama lui. Cass realizează că nu toți oamenii sunt chiar atât de răi și încearcă să-l ajute pe Tim să își revină din depresie.
Mai las-o moale cu fantomele pare la început un roman care nu are nimic de spus, însă cu toții avem ceva de învățat din această poveste. Este romanul de debut al lui Megan Crewe, și e cu adevărat drăguț.
Mai las-o moale cu fantomele pare la început un roman care nu are nimic de spus, însă cu toții avem ceva de învățat din această poveste. Este romanul de debut al lui Megan Crewe, și e cu adevărat drăguț.
April 8, 2009
I just finished putting this book down and my heart is aching with a mixed feeling of happiness at the ending, and sorrow that I am done reading it.
It's a truly delicious story about an outsider in high school, thanks to cruel tantrum-like revenge of an ex best friend. Cass deals the best she can with the help of the dead people she just happens to be able to see and talk to, including her older sister.
Despite the paranormal elements of the book, the story is real and contemporary and drew me in from the very first sentence. It deals with so many relateable teen and human isssues in a unique and thought provoking way.
I really loved this book and the only bad thing is that it's not available to purchase until September! You'll hear more about it....trust...
It's a truly delicious story about an outsider in high school, thanks to cruel tantrum-like revenge of an ex best friend. Cass deals the best she can with the help of the dead people she just happens to be able to see and talk to, including her older sister.
Despite the paranormal elements of the book, the story is real and contemporary and drew me in from the very first sentence. It deals with so many relateable teen and human isssues in a unique and thought provoking way.
I really loved this book and the only bad thing is that it's not available to purchase until September! You'll hear more about it....trust...
November 17, 2018
I enjoyed Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe. This in my opinion is aimed at a much younger audience than myself, but it was still a lovely read. I don't really want to post any spoilers so i will just say that Cass Mckenna sees ghosts, and due to a certain set of circumstances has become the strange loner at school. Along comes a certain young man who has recently lost his mother and suspects that there is something not quite right about our lovely Cass, what forms is a friendship forged in shared experience and grief and you will have to read the book to see what occurs, a sweet angst filled clean teen read that i read in one sitting.
February 16, 2016
Actual rating - 2.5
This was a pretty slow read, and as there wasn't really that much going on, it dragged for me. It wasn't an awful read though.
This was a pretty slow read, and as there wasn't really that much going on, it dragged for me. It wasn't an awful read though.
Shelved as 'tbr-own-ebook'
April 8, 2017
September 22, 2009
GIVE UP THE GHOST by Megan Crewe was a slightly different book than the one I was expecting. I thought the story would be fairly juvenile, but the premise still looked very interesting. I’m happy to say, however, that GIVE UP THE GHOST was really a great read. The story was complex and engaging with enough material to keep the reader entertained the whole way through. I would recommend this book to both young adults and adults alike.
GIVE UP THE GHOST is the story of Cass, a seventeen year old girl with more than her grades to worry about. Being in high school, we already know that life is going to be tough for our heroine. Combine that with the fact that she’s constantly receiving fashion advice from her dead sister and digging up the dirt on everyone at school, and you’ve got one busy young woman!
We journey through the story with Cass as she uses her abilities to talk with the dead to save the more unfortunate souls at the school. Everyone has secrets they’d rather keep hidden, but if they’re going to discuss them or do them in the open where any dead guy could see, well, they’re just asking for trouble. With a little romantic twist in the book and a full plot, Crewe gives us quite a bit to chew on and think about.
One of my favorite aspects of GIVE UP THE GHOST is Cass herself. In order for me to really fall in love with a book, I need to see some good character development. A story can be phenomenal, but if it has dead characters (no pun intended) then the story just kind of withers and fades away for me. Crewe did an excellent job, however, of breathing life into Cass and the other characters. I actually bookmarked the page where I knew that GIVE UP THE GHOST was going to be fantastic – page 28. That early into the book and I knew that this was a great story. I attribute this largely to the way Crewe rounded Cass out. We get to learn about her wants and dreams, her background, her future, and everything that makes her up. The characters in Crewe’s book aren’t just machines to keep the story going; instead they are vessels of knowledge and emotion. Like I said - fantastic character development.
I think the other part that really sold GIVE UP THE GHOST for me was the story itself. As I mentioned, I was expecting something a little younger out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story, while still catering to young adults, was full of enough depth to satisfy a reader of any age. GIVE UP THE GHOST held a darker picture than one would originally think. I figured that Cass’s ghosts would run around doing silly pranks and generally causing a fun bit of chaos, but instead the ghosts help us look into the true side of people. The theme of truth seems to reign in GIVE UP THE GHOST and sometimes that truth isn’t pretty.
Overall I would have to give GIVE UP THE GHOST high marks. This was a wonderful story and one that made me an instant fan of Crewe’s. I’m excited to keep my eye out for this wonderful author and see what else she has hidden up her sleeve.
GIVE UP THE GHOST is the story of Cass, a seventeen year old girl with more than her grades to worry about. Being in high school, we already know that life is going to be tough for our heroine. Combine that with the fact that she’s constantly receiving fashion advice from her dead sister and digging up the dirt on everyone at school, and you’ve got one busy young woman!
We journey through the story with Cass as she uses her abilities to talk with the dead to save the more unfortunate souls at the school. Everyone has secrets they’d rather keep hidden, but if they’re going to discuss them or do them in the open where any dead guy could see, well, they’re just asking for trouble. With a little romantic twist in the book and a full plot, Crewe gives us quite a bit to chew on and think about.
One of my favorite aspects of GIVE UP THE GHOST is Cass herself. In order for me to really fall in love with a book, I need to see some good character development. A story can be phenomenal, but if it has dead characters (no pun intended) then the story just kind of withers and fades away for me. Crewe did an excellent job, however, of breathing life into Cass and the other characters. I actually bookmarked the page where I knew that GIVE UP THE GHOST was going to be fantastic – page 28. That early into the book and I knew that this was a great story. I attribute this largely to the way Crewe rounded Cass out. We get to learn about her wants and dreams, her background, her future, and everything that makes her up. The characters in Crewe’s book aren’t just machines to keep the story going; instead they are vessels of knowledge and emotion. Like I said - fantastic character development.
I think the other part that really sold GIVE UP THE GHOST for me was the story itself. As I mentioned, I was expecting something a little younger out of this book, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story, while still catering to young adults, was full of enough depth to satisfy a reader of any age. GIVE UP THE GHOST held a darker picture than one would originally think. I figured that Cass’s ghosts would run around doing silly pranks and generally causing a fun bit of chaos, but instead the ghosts help us look into the true side of people. The theme of truth seems to reign in GIVE UP THE GHOST and sometimes that truth isn’t pretty.
Overall I would have to give GIVE UP THE GHOST high marks. This was a wonderful story and one that made me an instant fan of Crewe’s. I’m excited to keep my eye out for this wonderful author and see what else she has hidden up her sleeve.
September 15, 2009
I'm not really into ghost stories, unless they're funny or there's a lot of romance in it. Give Up The Ghost has either of these qualities I look for, so why did I enjoy it so much? Simple, because the book is heartfelt and truly honest.
The very first thing that sucked me right into the story was that the appearance of the ghosts were very different. They did not scare the hell out of anyone, they did not look or smell creepy and most of them didn't seem to suffer from any kind of tiredness for sticking around so long. They, for a matter of fact, were friendly and helpful to Cass, as if being creatures from two separate worlds didn't mean a thing to their relationship. And guess what I liked the most about them? The ghosts spied on people, trying to get their secrets, and then, taking delight when everything was spilled in front of the victims. Mean, wasn't it? Still, it felt so entertaining reading those parts. Megan Crewe's voice created a mysteriousness all over the story, making things interestingly misty. The ghosts' own stories, Cass's history, her current life, all seemed vague but became clearer and clearer as word trailed after word. Readers will find themselves unconsciously pay their full focus to every page to find out what was really happening in the story.
I heart each and every of the characters. Not just Cash or Tim but also Norris, Paige, Cass's parents. All of them played a significant part of building the whole story into a solid and real one. How they were before the death, ways they took to go through it, changes they had to adapt to move on - with these Megan sent a beautiful message of life to the readers. I loved the way the emotions were portrayed, especially the sadness and loneliness; it made me feel cold and empty at some point. You know what was brilliant about the book? That it didn't have to force romance in between everything to feel like a complete one. Instead of making two characters fall deeply in love with each other at rocket speed, the author chose to grow a silent understanding between them, leading them both to open their hearts and souls to people they never knew before, just to end up being good friends who helped one another to live better and happier.
The ending was perfect. No rush, no awkwardness. It just flew naturally. If I was to complain, it was because I thought Danielle the backstabber should have been punished more than that. She was so so so horrible I didn't know where to begin.
Recommended to everyone whether you like ghosts or not. Better if read on a gloomy/rainy days. Trust me, the effects were great in my case :)
The very first thing that sucked me right into the story was that the appearance of the ghosts were very different. They did not scare the hell out of anyone, they did not look or smell creepy and most of them didn't seem to suffer from any kind of tiredness for sticking around so long. They, for a matter of fact, were friendly and helpful to Cass, as if being creatures from two separate worlds didn't mean a thing to their relationship. And guess what I liked the most about them? The ghosts spied on people, trying to get their secrets, and then, taking delight when everything was spilled in front of the victims. Mean, wasn't it? Still, it felt so entertaining reading those parts. Megan Crewe's voice created a mysteriousness all over the story, making things interestingly misty. The ghosts' own stories, Cass's history, her current life, all seemed vague but became clearer and clearer as word trailed after word. Readers will find themselves unconsciously pay their full focus to every page to find out what was really happening in the story.
I heart each and every of the characters. Not just Cash or Tim but also Norris, Paige, Cass's parents. All of them played a significant part of building the whole story into a solid and real one. How they were before the death, ways they took to go through it, changes they had to adapt to move on - with these Megan sent a beautiful message of life to the readers. I loved the way the emotions were portrayed, especially the sadness and loneliness; it made me feel cold and empty at some point. You know what was brilliant about the book? That it didn't have to force romance in between everything to feel like a complete one. Instead of making two characters fall deeply in love with each other at rocket speed, the author chose to grow a silent understanding between them, leading them both to open their hearts and souls to people they never knew before, just to end up being good friends who helped one another to live better and happier.
The ending was perfect. No rush, no awkwardness. It just flew naturally. If I was to complain, it was because I thought Danielle the backstabber should have been punished more than that. She was so so so horrible I didn't know where to begin.
Recommended to everyone whether you like ghosts or not. Better if read on a gloomy/rainy days. Trust me, the effects were great in my case :)
September 13, 2009
Oooh did I like this book! It was serious but funny and sad but exciting! It had a little bit of everything and gave me a lot to think about!
Right off the bat I loved the main character, Cass, she was relatable and likable and I totally would have been friends with her (even if I am a breather!) She's the outsider that used to be an insider until her best friend turned on her out of jealously. So now she lives her life chatting with her friends that no one else can see, ghosts.
I really like the first ghost we meet, and I'm not going to spoil who that is because I didn't know about them until I picked up the book and I was pleasantly surprised. Besides that unnamed ghost we have the two ghosts that "haunt" Cass's high school, Norris and Bitzy. They report back to Cass about the naughty going-ons of the students and staff of the high school and she basically throws it into their face that she knows what they are up to. We see a lot more of Norris than Bitzy, I'm not really sure why but I would have liked to have seen more of Bitzy, they are good friends to Cass.
Another character we meet is Tim the student council vice president, and in the same group as Cass's old best friend, which makes him instantly the enemy. But when Tim needs Cass's help he doesn't take no for an answer and it opens up a whole new world for Cass. I thought that Cass and Tim played off each other beautifully and I loved watching their friendship group.
Ok enough about the characters, Give Up the Ghost had a great sense of humor about it. The way Cass describes people or the comments she made, it definitely had me laughing! And while the book was really funny it was also sad (in a good way) at parts. And that balance made me love the book that much more, it covers all the bases.
Numerous times I've talked about my relationship with paranormal books and how I'm still testing the waters with books that have fantastical elements in them, and this is another one that is right up my alley. My own personal type of paranormal book, I'd definitely recommend this one!
Right off the bat I loved the main character, Cass, she was relatable and likable and I totally would have been friends with her (even if I am a breather!) She's the outsider that used to be an insider until her best friend turned on her out of jealously. So now she lives her life chatting with her friends that no one else can see, ghosts.
I really like the first ghost we meet, and I'm not going to spoil who that is because I didn't know about them until I picked up the book and I was pleasantly surprised. Besides that unnamed ghost we have the two ghosts that "haunt" Cass's high school, Norris and Bitzy. They report back to Cass about the naughty going-ons of the students and staff of the high school and she basically throws it into their face that she knows what they are up to. We see a lot more of Norris than Bitzy, I'm not really sure why but I would have liked to have seen more of Bitzy, they are good friends to Cass.
Another character we meet is Tim the student council vice president, and in the same group as Cass's old best friend, which makes him instantly the enemy. But when Tim needs Cass's help he doesn't take no for an answer and it opens up a whole new world for Cass. I thought that Cass and Tim played off each other beautifully and I loved watching their friendship group.
Ok enough about the characters, Give Up the Ghost had a great sense of humor about it. The way Cass describes people or the comments she made, it definitely had me laughing! And while the book was really funny it was also sad (in a good way) at parts. And that balance made me love the book that much more, it covers all the bases.
Numerous times I've talked about my relationship with paranormal books and how I'm still testing the waters with books that have fantastical elements in them, and this is another one that is right up my alley. My own personal type of paranormal book, I'd definitely recommend this one!
November 3, 2009
My Thoughts: I picked this book up after it had been sitting in my TBR a while. I'm sorry I waited so long! I thoroughly enjoyed the story! We are introduced to Cass who sees ghosts, she is termed weird by all the other students at her school. Nobody wants to talk to her, or be seen with her. She has a few friends who are ghosts so she doesn't mind it too much, she always has "someone" to talk too. She discovered she could talk to ghosts after her sister's death. Yes, her sister stuck around and now talks to her. I love her "friends" and how they tell her all the gossip on everyone! They are always there to hear the best stuff! We than meet Tim who is the guy who is popular. He starts to bug Cass about helping him with "something." I won't say much more, spoilers!
I really liked this book. It flowed together well! The story fit, the characters fit. It did remind me a little bit of the tv show Ghost Whisperer, but in my opinion that is wonderful since I love that show! But it has its own complete story and its a wonderful novel. I really felt like I was getting to know Cass and was really enjoying having Tim around. Tim was going through a lot in in his life and I could relate to the both of them very much. There wasn't much romance in the book but enough to make it worthy. It was a great first novel for Megan Crewe!!
Overall: I really enjoyed Give Up The Ghost. If it had been longer, I would have been happy to keep reading! It does end at a good point though! It is a quick light read. Go Read it Now! (reviewed by Princess bookie)
I really liked this book. It flowed together well! The story fit, the characters fit. It did remind me a little bit of the tv show Ghost Whisperer, but in my opinion that is wonderful since I love that show! But it has its own complete story and its a wonderful novel. I really felt like I was getting to know Cass and was really enjoying having Tim around. Tim was going through a lot in in his life and I could relate to the both of them very much. There wasn't much romance in the book but enough to make it worthy. It was a great first novel for Megan Crewe!!
Overall: I really enjoyed Give Up The Ghost. If it had been longer, I would have been happy to keep reading! It does end at a good point though! It is a quick light read. Go Read it Now! (reviewed by Princess bookie)
April 18, 2017
From Megan Crewe comes Give up the Ghost, an unusual tale that sees young Cassie able to interact with spirits. Both sarcastic and brave, Cassie seeks to help out an unlikely friend, to act as a bridge of communication between worlds.
The author had me hooked from the first sentence, making me question the nature of Cassie's life and abilities. Hers is a deeply personal journey that touched my heart in many ways. I could feel every stitch of Cassie's heartache and adored her awkward, yet brutally honest personality.
'Every person is like a fascinating story you've never read before.'
I couldn't agree more with this and loved every moment of Cassie's story.
Rated 5 stars. A recommended read for lovers of Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, and the Paranormal.
The author had me hooked from the first sentence, making me question the nature of Cassie's life and abilities. Hers is a deeply personal journey that touched my heart in many ways. I could feel every stitch of Cassie's heartache and adored her awkward, yet brutally honest personality.
'Every person is like a fascinating story you've never read before.'
I couldn't agree more with this and loved every moment of Cassie's story.
Rated 5 stars. A recommended read for lovers of Urban Fantasy, Young Adult, and the Paranormal.
November 11, 2012
Cass McKenna from Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe has the dirt on everyone, she knows everybody's dirty little secrets. How? Well, she can interact with ghosts, who see everything. However, there is one little problem, some has discovered Cass's secret and now she must decide the value of interacting with humans for a change.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
April 24, 2009
This book is worth 4.5 stars. I really, really, REALLY liked it. The story was different, but done amazingly well. I was hesitant at first, mainly because it sounded like any other ghost story. However, this was one of the ghost stories done well. I recommend it for everyone :]
September 26, 2014
A book that demonstrated us as boys and girls can be just friends.
July 9, 2017
This was a really solid paranormal YA entry.
Ghosts, in the non-scary sense, not shifters etc., and the romance is very believable teen stuff; light, awkward attraction that doesn't really go too far too fast and involves believable interactions. I found the MC's voice a little rough at the start, but came to appreciate how prickly and challenging she was.
It covers some tough territory, with family deaths, bullying, adults not coping well, secrets and backstabbing, substance abuse and suicidal depression, but feels clever, sarcastic and ultimately has some real heart to it, instead of just being bleak, grim, or miserable. The slow, tentative change arcs were unusually authentic; this plot felt like it reflects life better than most, but since it doesn't follow genre conventions and rigid plot structure so completely, it takes a little more work from the reader to appreciate.
Not just throwaway entertainment, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. Great quality; no issues with the editing or proofreading at all, which is refreshing. Bonus points for Canadian author! Will certainly look up her other books.
Ghosts, in the non-scary sense, not shifters etc., and the romance is very believable teen stuff; light, awkward attraction that doesn't really go too far too fast and involves believable interactions. I found the MC's voice a little rough at the start, but came to appreciate how prickly and challenging she was.
It covers some tough territory, with family deaths, bullying, adults not coping well, secrets and backstabbing, substance abuse and suicidal depression, but feels clever, sarcastic and ultimately has some real heart to it, instead of just being bleak, grim, or miserable. The slow, tentative change arcs were unusually authentic; this plot felt like it reflects life better than most, but since it doesn't follow genre conventions and rigid plot structure so completely, it takes a little more work from the reader to appreciate.
Not just throwaway entertainment, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. Great quality; no issues with the editing or proofreading at all, which is refreshing. Bonus points for Canadian author! Will certainly look up her other books.
September 13, 2009
With Megan Crewe's brilliant debut Give up the Ghost, one has to give up one's preconceived notions about YA ghost stories of the modern age. Because this one? It blows them straight out of the water.
The overall vibe and connotation of Give up the Ghost is "[bright:] like a Chinese lantern" (Crewe 2). The concept of ghosts isn't new, but Crewe sets them up in a way that's entirely her own, and it's always intriguing to see new spins on old ideas. The main thread that the story follows makes for a very interesting plot - in short, a page-turner that grips the audience and does not let go, charging them to walk the pages of the book like ghosts walk the places they once inhabited.
Give up the Ghost definitely has very interesting characterization. For one thing, Cass McKenna's "mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school" is a trait of someone who's not your average preppy teenage girl. She's gritty, she's raw, but most importantly, Cass is real. Crewe isn't afraid to show Cass's flaws, and that's what endears her the audience. It's also nice to see a strong protagonist, to see a role reversal on the whole damsel-in-distress motif.
And as for Tim? Tim's definitely a very interesting male lead, and for good reason too. Again, his flaws make him more credible. It's also very refreshing to get a YA lit boy who isn't described as perfect - physically or otherwise. Crewe has also done a brilliant job of using her characters and plot as conduits to explore the theme of appearances vs. reality. Although Give up the Ghost may seem like just a ghost story on the surface, it's so much more. It's got elements of paranormal, of contemporary, of edgy YA - and this is what breathes life into the story. For the most part, the minor characters as well were nicely done, whether they were ghosts or "breathers". Personally I found it a little hard to connect with her parents, but then again, as it is from Cass's POV and she doesn't have a great relationship with them, it's understandable.
What really impressed me was Crewe's portrayal of high school. Perhaps it's not entirely what my school is like, or what your school is like - but it doesn't matter. The evocative connotations Crewe brought to life, the aura she conjured - basically, it all added up to make the setting seem credible and real. A few quirks here and there, but for the most part, the dialogue and teen voice was relatively well done. The phrase "shoot the breeze" was new though; I hadn't heard that before. I guess you learn something new with every book.
A few things would've been nice to get a little more clarification on, in terms of background information, but it works as is too. It's a combination of characters, of writing, etc., but the plot is also part of what keeps the audience hurtling towards the ending, breathless and anticipating what's to come. Crewe definitely pushed the envelope with Give up the Ghost, and although it may be unexpected where the story goes, now it's hard to imagine it going any other way.
In short, Give up the Ghost is masterfully done. Megan Crewe has created an engrossing, illuminating, and captivating tale - a very welcome debut to the YA community.
The overall vibe and connotation of Give up the Ghost is "[bright:] like a Chinese lantern" (Crewe 2). The concept of ghosts isn't new, but Crewe sets them up in a way that's entirely her own, and it's always intriguing to see new spins on old ideas. The main thread that the story follows makes for a very interesting plot - in short, a page-turner that grips the audience and does not let go, charging them to walk the pages of the book like ghosts walk the places they once inhabited.
Give up the Ghost definitely has very interesting characterization. For one thing, Cass McKenna's "mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school" is a trait of someone who's not your average preppy teenage girl. She's gritty, she's raw, but most importantly, Cass is real. Crewe isn't afraid to show Cass's flaws, and that's what endears her the audience. It's also nice to see a strong protagonist, to see a role reversal on the whole damsel-in-distress motif.
And as for Tim? Tim's definitely a very interesting male lead, and for good reason too. Again, his flaws make him more credible. It's also very refreshing to get a YA lit boy who isn't described as perfect - physically or otherwise. Crewe has also done a brilliant job of using her characters and plot as conduits to explore the theme of appearances vs. reality. Although Give up the Ghost may seem like just a ghost story on the surface, it's so much more. It's got elements of paranormal, of contemporary, of edgy YA - and this is what breathes life into the story. For the most part, the minor characters as well were nicely done, whether they were ghosts or "breathers". Personally I found it a little hard to connect with her parents, but then again, as it is from Cass's POV and she doesn't have a great relationship with them, it's understandable.
What really impressed me was Crewe's portrayal of high school. Perhaps it's not entirely what my school is like, or what your school is like - but it doesn't matter. The evocative connotations Crewe brought to life, the aura she conjured - basically, it all added up to make the setting seem credible and real. A few quirks here and there, but for the most part, the dialogue and teen voice was relatively well done. The phrase "shoot the breeze" was new though; I hadn't heard that before. I guess you learn something new with every book.
A few things would've been nice to get a little more clarification on, in terms of background information, but it works as is too. It's a combination of characters, of writing, etc., but the plot is also part of what keeps the audience hurtling towards the ending, breathless and anticipating what's to come. Crewe definitely pushed the envelope with Give up the Ghost, and although it may be unexpected where the story goes, now it's hard to imagine it going any other way.
In short, Give up the Ghost is masterfully done. Megan Crewe has created an engrossing, illuminating, and captivating tale - a very welcome debut to the YA community.
January 30, 2011
Cass McKenna is one angry girl. Ever since she parted ways with her childhood best friend, she's been absolutely mean-spirited. Instead of trying to move on with her life, Cass is on a mission to tear down and make fools of her fellow classmates. Cass knows things about them that she definitely didn't witness first hand because she's able to communicate with ghosts. There are 3 ghosts that hang around her school and spy on her classmates for her. Anything they find out, Cass uses against them to bring them down and to make herself feel better.
Then someone suspects what Cass can do, and coaxes her into helping him make contact with his recently dead mother. Tim is the VP of the Student Council, and Cass loathes him because he is friends with her ex best friend Danielle. Though she doesn't want to admit it at first, she's becoming friends with him. The more time that Tim spends with her, the more he is able to see through the shallowness of the people he calls friends. Whether they want to admit it, Cass and Tim need each other, and Cass is going to have to let go of her prejudices if she's going to keep Tim from joining his mom on the other side.
This wasn't at all what I was hoping for with this book, and by the time I made it all the way through I was pretty disappointed. Maybe I should have read more reviews, tried a chapter or two before buying it so I knew more of what I was getting myself into. I wanted more ghosty stuff, but the ghosts are merely part of the device to get Cass and Tim talking to one another. I wish that Crewe had developed that aspect of this novel more, maybe let us know how exactly Cass is able to communicate with ghosts. All we know is that she couldn't see ghosts, but then her sister drowned and became a ghost, and now she sees them everywhere. But why?
I was also hoping for a little romance between Cass and Tim, even though I didn't really like either of them all that much. I totally get why Cass would be miserable. I've been through being bullied and tormented in school, and there were definitely times when I wanted revenge. But Cass has been hanging on to all of this baggage for far too long. I couldn't sympathize with her at all. I actually found myself siding with Danielle when she tells Cass that she needs to get over herself.
And what is with the adults in this book? They are just so...absent. Tim's father can't see that Tim is totally about to go over the edge. Cass's parents don't even begin to see that something is totally up with her. How can they be so completely clueless? This didn't feel realistic to me at all.
I wanted so much more out of this book, and think I will probably shy away from reading any future novels from this author.
Then someone suspects what Cass can do, and coaxes her into helping him make contact with his recently dead mother. Tim is the VP of the Student Council, and Cass loathes him because he is friends with her ex best friend Danielle. Though she doesn't want to admit it at first, she's becoming friends with him. The more time that Tim spends with her, the more he is able to see through the shallowness of the people he calls friends. Whether they want to admit it, Cass and Tim need each other, and Cass is going to have to let go of her prejudices if she's going to keep Tim from joining his mom on the other side.
This wasn't at all what I was hoping for with this book, and by the time I made it all the way through I was pretty disappointed. Maybe I should have read more reviews, tried a chapter or two before buying it so I knew more of what I was getting myself into. I wanted more ghosty stuff, but the ghosts are merely part of the device to get Cass and Tim talking to one another. I wish that Crewe had developed that aspect of this novel more, maybe let us know how exactly Cass is able to communicate with ghosts. All we know is that she couldn't see ghosts, but then her sister drowned and became a ghost, and now she sees them everywhere. But why?
I was also hoping for a little romance between Cass and Tim, even though I didn't really like either of them all that much. I totally get why Cass would be miserable. I've been through being bullied and tormented in school, and there were definitely times when I wanted revenge. But Cass has been hanging on to all of this baggage for far too long. I couldn't sympathize with her at all. I actually found myself siding with Danielle when she tells Cass that she needs to get over herself.
And what is with the adults in this book? They are just so...absent. Tim's father can't see that Tim is totally about to go over the edge. Cass's parents don't even begin to see that something is totally up with her. How can they be so completely clueless? This didn't feel realistic to me at all.
I wanted so much more out of this book, and think I will probably shy away from reading any future novels from this author.
February 19, 2012
GIVE UP THE BOOK!!!!!
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A la mitad del libro pienso...
Más fantasmas =P , luego de "Ana vstida en sagre" ( me encantó,6 castillos de 7) ... que puedo decir sin parecer completamente loca...¡me encantan los libros de fantasmas, aun cuando sean de chicas un poco resentidas, chismosas y simpáticas en su último año de highschool!
Esta afición a los fantasmas tiene una historia detrás, pero no lo comentaré a vista y paciencia de todo el mundo =P.
Y adoro las historias ambientadas en los colegias,incluso en las pelis, por muy intrascendentes que sean. Total, no las quiero para que cambien mi vida =P
Hasta ahora bastante bueno (voy a la mitad), nada para enloquecer, pero entretiene bastante. Livianita , obvia y con cierto aire a la PÉSIMA Evermore, por lo de la hermana que es ¿Adivinan?...y apostaría mi biblioteca a que ella descubre que su misión en la vida es hacer que los fantasma encuentren la paz...¬¬
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Luego de terminar el libro ¬¬
NO LO LEAN A MENOS QUE NO TENGAN NADA MAS A 90 KM DE DISTANCIA
UFFF!!!
Lo dije al fin...que descanso...¬¬
Mi decepción resumida: luego de la mitad del libro todo se resume a chica-con-poderes-paranormales se convierte en novia de Chico-popular-a morir-con-una-tragedia-en-su-alma...con el típico final del baile de PROM. ¡¡¡OMG!!! . Nada de "encuentra tu camino a la luz querido fantasma" o " mi don sirve de algo" o "mi hermana fantasma encuentra la paz" ¬¬ , sólo "aprendo a vestirme espectacular, me reconcilio con mamá que amaba a mi hermana más que a mi, porque era bonita y popular, consigo una vida normal y perdono a mi traicionera mejor amiga de la nada" PUAJJJJ!!! DOBLE PUAJJJJ!!!
Este es el tipo de libro que no se debe leer porque gastas tus ojos para nada.
Lo peor es que te seduce para luego dejarte caer en un precipicio de cursilerías idiotas con un final de soap opera gringa o serie a lo O.C. o la que esté de moda. ¿Que pensaba la autora cuando escribió estos? ¡que los lectores somo estúpidos?
¿Estrellitas y Castillos? 1/5 porque no puedo darle menos y 1/7 castillos que significa en mi mundo "¡¡¡ALEJATE!!!"
DIOS!!! QUE QUE PERDIDA DE TIEMPO!!! COMO PUDE ENCONTRARLO ENTRETENIDO AGRADABLE POR TANTAS HOJAS
***************************************************************************************************
A la mitad del libro pienso...
Más fantasmas =P , luego de "Ana vstida en sagre" ( me encantó,6 castillos de 7) ... que puedo decir sin parecer completamente loca...¡me encantan los libros de fantasmas, aun cuando sean de chicas un poco resentidas, chismosas y simpáticas en su último año de highschool!
Esta afición a los fantasmas tiene una historia detrás, pero no lo comentaré a vista y paciencia de todo el mundo =P.
Y adoro las historias ambientadas en los colegias,incluso en las pelis, por muy intrascendentes que sean. Total, no las quiero para que cambien mi vida =P
Hasta ahora bastante bueno (voy a la mitad), nada para enloquecer, pero entretiene bastante. Livianita , obvia y con cierto aire a la PÉSIMA Evermore, por lo de la hermana que es ¿Adivinan?...y apostaría mi biblioteca a que ella descubre que su misión en la vida es hacer que los fantasma encuentren la paz...¬¬
**************************************************************************************************
Luego de terminar el libro ¬¬
NO LO LEAN A MENOS QUE NO TENGAN NADA MAS A 90 KM DE DISTANCIA
UFFF!!!
Lo dije al fin...que descanso...¬¬
Mi decepción resumida: luego de la mitad del libro todo se resume a chica-con-poderes-paranormales se convierte en novia de Chico-popular-a morir-con-una-tragedia-en-su-alma...con el típico final del baile de PROM. ¡¡¡OMG!!! . Nada de "encuentra tu camino a la luz querido fantasma" o " mi don sirve de algo" o "mi hermana fantasma encuentra la paz" ¬¬ , sólo "aprendo a vestirme espectacular, me reconcilio con mamá que amaba a mi hermana más que a mi, porque era bonita y popular, consigo una vida normal y perdono a mi traicionera mejor amiga de la nada" PUAJJJJ!!! DOBLE PUAJJJJ!!!
Este es el tipo de libro que no se debe leer porque gastas tus ojos para nada.
Lo peor es que te seduce para luego dejarte caer en un precipicio de cursilerías idiotas con un final de soap opera gringa o serie a lo O.C. o la que esté de moda. ¿Que pensaba la autora cuando escribió estos? ¡que los lectores somo estúpidos?
¿Estrellitas y Castillos? 1/5 porque no puedo darle menos y 1/7 castillos que significa en mi mundo "¡¡¡ALEJATE!!!"
DIOS!!! QUE QUE PERDIDA DE TIEMPO!!! COMO PUDE ENCONTRARLO ENTRETENIDO AGRADABLE POR TANTAS HOJAS
November 9, 2009
I adored this book, to put it mildly. It pulled me in right from the beginning and refused to let me go!
The entire book was wonderfully written and imagined. Cass was a girl that I found extremely easy to relate to - especially her sarcasm. I loved that the author showed Cass' tough side as well as her softer, more vulnerable side that she usually keeps hidden from her peers.
I often find that authors add unneeded details to the plot - just to make it more interesting, but Megan Crewe not only had reason for every detail, everything was wrapped up at the end. I was left completely satisfied when I finished this book - which never happens! Cass' bullying, her family life, her new relationship with Tim - all wrapped up perfectly.
I really enjoyed the ghosts of the story. Paige was a wonderful older sister, even in death, even if she didn't know she was - or was in ways that she didn't even mean to be. Another favorite was Norris... I had fun trying to imagine him while he was living - he was such a colorful character. I have to mention that I love this book's dust jacket! On the cover you can see a ghost whispering in Cass' ear and Norris leaning against the lockers on the back cover. I think it fits the novel perfectly!
There is even a dash of romance, but it borders on being only a friendship. Even though I ususally like books with a romantic plot line, and this book's is minimal, I still was kept interested throughout the novel.
Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10/NA
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)
Read this book! I was fortunate enough to win a copy, but if I hadn't I definitely would have bought this book! It is remarkable that this is Megan's Crewe's debut novel - it is AMAZING!
The entire book was wonderfully written and imagined. Cass was a girl that I found extremely easy to relate to - especially her sarcasm. I loved that the author showed Cass' tough side as well as her softer, more vulnerable side that she usually keeps hidden from her peers.
I often find that authors add unneeded details to the plot - just to make it more interesting, but Megan Crewe not only had reason for every detail, everything was wrapped up at the end. I was left completely satisfied when I finished this book - which never happens! Cass' bullying, her family life, her new relationship with Tim - all wrapped up perfectly.
I really enjoyed the ghosts of the story. Paige was a wonderful older sister, even in death, even if she didn't know she was - or was in ways that she didn't even mean to be. Another favorite was Norris... I had fun trying to imagine him while he was living - he was such a colorful character. I have to mention that I love this book's dust jacket! On the cover you can see a ghost whispering in Cass' ear and Norris leaning against the lockers on the back cover. I think it fits the novel perfectly!
There is even a dash of romance, but it borders on being only a friendship. Even though I ususally like books with a romantic plot line, and this book's is minimal, I still was kept interested throughout the novel.
Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10/NA
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)
Read this book! I was fortunate enough to win a copy, but if I hadn't I definitely would have bought this book! It is remarkable that this is Megan's Crewe's debut novel - it is AMAZING!
May 16, 2009
With the interesting premise ( Ghost Whisper meets High School, anyone?) and awesome cover Give Up The Ghost had, I knew that I was in for one superb treat.
Give Up The Ghost was a new and fresh take on the whole ghost seeing subject. I liked how the ghosts Cass saw such as Norris and Bitzy were a key part of the story and two of Cass's closest friends. Also, it was interesting to see Cass and Paige's, her dead sister, relationship. Since, it provided for some drama and was overall a cute part of the book.
While Cass was a funny and heartwarming character, she could get on my nerves at times, because of her awkwardness around her classmates. Though, at the same time, I admired her no crap attitude. Tom was another likable character that had many layers to him. Since, at first glance you would think he would be an annoying full of himself jock, but at heart he was a normal teenage boy dealing with the loss of a loved one.
The plot was well developed and always kept me on my toes, with the different revelations that occurred. Such as, what happened in middle school to Cass to why did Paige die?
Lastly, I have to say, Megan Crewe is another great add to the YA Market. Her writing was well done while still having a feel that the novel was being told from a true teenager's mouth. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
Overall, Give Up The Ghost is a fantastic debut that I suggest to all! I can't wait to see what others think about it.
Grade: A+
Give Up The Ghost was a new and fresh take on the whole ghost seeing subject. I liked how the ghosts Cass saw such as Norris and Bitzy were a key part of the story and two of Cass's closest friends. Also, it was interesting to see Cass and Paige's, her dead sister, relationship. Since, it provided for some drama and was overall a cute part of the book.
While Cass was a funny and heartwarming character, she could get on my nerves at times, because of her awkwardness around her classmates. Though, at the same time, I admired her no crap attitude. Tom was another likable character that had many layers to him. Since, at first glance you would think he would be an annoying full of himself jock, but at heart he was a normal teenage boy dealing with the loss of a loved one.
The plot was well developed and always kept me on my toes, with the different revelations that occurred. Such as, what happened in middle school to Cass to why did Paige die?
Lastly, I have to say, Megan Crewe is another great add to the YA Market. Her writing was well done while still having a feel that the novel was being told from a true teenager's mouth. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
Overall, Give Up The Ghost is a fantastic debut that I suggest to all! I can't wait to see what others think about it.
Grade: A+
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