Fifteen-year-old Ash wants nothing more than to blend in with the crowd. But he has the unusual problem of being hunted by shadows. Not to mention the too-real dreams about his murder. Then his long-lost aunt shows up and promises to explain everything. Instead, she leaves him with a warning to avoid the shadows and a mysterious history book that allows him to travel back in time.
On his first trip to the past, Ash discovers a few things. The most obvious is that he’s a ghost. And even more disturbing, the same evil that is hunting him on this side of the veil is stalking his ancestors in the past. Now Ash has a choice to make: He can hover in the background unseen, or he can take action and protect his family.
In Diary of a Part-Time Ghost, Vered Ehsani creates a world where the biggest dangers can’t be seen. I love the cover art. The ominous shadows blocking the face on the cover give the impression of mysterious danger, a theme carried throughout the book. My favorite part of the story is the unusual spin on ghosts. Ash does not have to die to become a ghost, he just leaves his body on one side of time, while traveling in another.
My biggest complaint about the book deals with the formatting. Ash relays his experiences through a series of diary entries, but the book is divided into chapters. I found this disorienting at times. The story would flow better if the book was divided into separate journal entries, instead of chapters. There were also a few holes in the plot. But the end of the book lends itself to a sequel, so the plot could easily be expanded in a second book. Overall, I wish that the plot line was a little more in-depth, but if you’re looking for an easy read with a unique take on ghosts and history, this book may be for you.
About the Author:
Vered Ehsani has been a writer since she could hold pen to paper, which is a lot longer than she cares to admit. She lives in Kenya and occasionally wishes she could float through walls and do other cool things, and that’s probably why she wrote this story.
- This reviewer also blogs at www.1bookaddict.blogspot.com
- Publisher: CreateSpace
- Date of Publication: March 2011
- This book is available in print and by Kindle
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