The Ghost and the Goth (The Ghost and the Goth, #1)

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The Ghost and the Goth (The Ghost and the Goth #1)

by Stacey Kade (Goodreads Author)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 8,395 ratings · 1,068 reviews

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…and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, es...more

Paperback, 304 pages

Published May 10th 2011 by Hyperion Book CH (first published June 29th 2010)

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May 20, 2011 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal, ghosts, romance

The Ghost and the Goth was a quick, light read. It's cute but incredibly shallow. The story has no real unpredictable plot lines. The writing isn't ground breaking -- don't get me wrong, some of it is very clever, but I don't think Kade challenged herself with this very formulaic story and these very formulaic characters. I think she has enough talent to do something a lot better than this, which isn't something I say often or lightly. I'd love to read another book by her unrelated to this serie...more The Ghost and the Goth was a quick, light read. It's cute but incredibly shallow. The story has no real unpredictable plot lines. The writing isn't ground breaking -- don't get me wrong, some of it is very clever, but I don't think Kade challenged herself with this very formulaic story and these very formulaic characters. I think she has enough talent to do something a lot better than this, which isn't something I say often or lightly. I'd love to read another book by her unrelated to this series and I think by the time she finishes this series the training wheels will be off. My big hope here is that she'll learn and grow instead of just getting stuck in this gear and turning out identical mediocre book after mediocre book like Maureen Johnson. This is a good start, but I think Kade's got more in her and I hope she digs it out.

The characters are fun and the dialogue is natural. Kade did an excellent job with Alona, so good in fact that I'm willing to guess the author was a fair bit like her in high school. Will was enjoyable enough if flat at times.

As you can guess by the cover Alona Dare is pretty, blonde, perfect, and very dead. When she was alive she worked at that perfection and her whole persona is defined by cheerleader, mean girl, and resident homecoming queen. Kade tries very hard to let you know that Alona's home life isn't as perfect as it looks and that she's mean because her life is hard. It's complicated and most definitely not perfect. *Shrugs* I wasn't really into this. I think most of the audience has enough empathy to know people have complicated lives and aren't just hair and a smile. It was weird to get treated like Alona having a life outside of cheerleading and homecoming queen was shocking. It felt more on par with younger kids, you know ten or eleven when they're shocked to see their teachers outside of school or something.

Will Killian is the goth, except he's not. He's just weird because he hears and sees ghosts. Again, I felt like the execution here was a bit off. Will didn't have a lot of evolved coping mechanisms for a condition he had most of his life. If you're born without the ability to walk then by the time you hit high school you've pretty much figured shit out. The whole thing read like the author figuring out what would work and then cramming it into a teenager rather than reading about a boy who has dealt with this all his life. It just wasn't really believable and since a huge portion of the book is about it I couldn't get into it.

Will copes by using an iPod. The principal takes the iPod away even though Will has a doctor's note for it... If I relied on a piece of machinery the way Will relied on that iPod I would have had four. Two on me at all times.

The iPod helps him ignore the ghosts, but again... eh? The ghosts don't know he can hear them so if a ghost is standing around talking to someone, like a really obvious ghost in a bloody prom dress, why can't you tune it out the way you'd tune out a conversation you're not involved in? I can understand him needing the iPod to ignore the ghosts if they knew about him, but since they didn't he should have been capable of pretending they weren't there without the additional help.

Meh. This book was okay, I liked it, but it was pretty cliche all over. I don't know if I'm reading the sequel. I might just meet up with Kade in two or three years when she's moved onto something else.(less)

24 likes · like · see review

Nov 05, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

I really enjoyed reading this one! There wasn't really all that much depth to the story, but I'm not saying that was a bad thing. It was a cutesy, fun... very quick read, and sometimes you just want to read that type of story! The Ghost and The Goth is told in alternating perspectives.... we have Alona... the newly dead, and then Will, the boy that can 'see dead people!'

Alona was definitely a different character..... usually I wouldn't be able to stand the shallow, miss perfect persona that she...more

8 likes · like · see review

Jun 01, 2012 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, all-time-favorites, ya-paranormal-romance, cracked-me-up, favorite-guys

Definetely a good start to a series. Alona and Will are probably one of my favorite fictional couples. They mesh so well and balance each other out. A loner who's supersweet boy deep inside + a sarcastic, egotistical cheerleader = CHAOS. But then again, a good kind of chaos! So much witty lines cracked me up and took me completely. I love their chemistry! They make me melt. THAT'S what I have always longed for in a book, every book that I read but only a very few authors seem to achieve that kin...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Lindsay by: Small Review

Shelves: all-time-favorites, books-i-own, cover-lust

This summer has officially been the BIGGEST READING SLUMP of my entire life! Its so sad because I have OVER 70 books on my tbr pile and I feel like I've hardly gone through any of them nor have I wanted to. Thank god their haven't been too many summer releases, otherwise I'd be buying books and letting them gather dust on my bookshelf.

Basically, I struggled all of June with reading. I'd either a) find a book I liked and read through it so incredibly slowly that I'd fall asleep while reading and be so incredibly bored or b) start and immediately abandon a book. So far, before this book, I had already abandoned three books said to be bestsellers and many others before that as well. I was seriously beginning to lose hope.

Thankfully, in a moment of sanity, I picked up The Ghost and the Goth off my bookshelf, which has been on my bookshelf since September. Sad I know. I just kept putting off this awesome read. And now I'm in love! Seriously, I absolutely LOVED this book.

What I truly like about Stacey Kade's writing style is how she managed to write in such a teenager's perspective without trying so hard to sound like a teenager herself. I know that may not make sense but I'll try to elaborate. A lot of times when writers write from the POV of teenagers, they write the characters very well. The only thing is, the characters they often write don't feel quite real. They're either really great or really awful but their voices sound more like adults trying to be teenagers and failing at it.

But Stacey Kade made these characters so real! Alona and Will were such a joy to read because they actually felt like teenagers nowadays. Yes, there were some aspects - okay a lot of aspects - of Alona's personality that were rather annoying and unbearable but her home life really explained it all. She was really a vulnerable girl on the inside, covered by years of malicious behavior, mainly someone who had been ripped apart by her parents. It's not so hard to relate for a lot of people. And god do I love Will. I feel like he's one of the ONLY guy characters in YA that sounds like an actual male teenager these days whose not a jerk but not unrealistic either. A lot of writers forget that yes, guys can be sweet but not to the point where they start sounding like a girl and Will was definitely - and thankfully not a girl.

Another major important fact: NO INSTA-LOVE ROMANCE!!! Hallelujah! Even though the relationship did happen quickly, it wasn't love at first sight. It was two people, who honestly did not like each other at first but were able to work through each others differences to see how possible it could be for them both to have a relationship. So great! Will will also be going on my Top Sexiest Guys I Would Like To ~~Fuc~~ Rape And Keep In My Closet Forever List.

Overall, I really loved this book. I haven't reviewed any books in such a long time so it feels good to finally write an opinion on something I loved as dearly as this. Although I absolutely love Alona and Will's relationship to death, it makes me sad that Alona is dead. I'm so excited for the sequel Queen of the Dead but I'm unsure of where the relationship can go...even though I love this couple dearly!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars(less)

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May 08, 2011 Melannie :) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone who wants a FUN read

Shelves: read-2011, to-re-read

I just finished this two minutes ago and I have THE BIGGEST grin on my face.

I don't know if I have a soft spot for ghosts (yeah, right) or for KICK-ASS characters,
but luckyly for me, this book happens to have both.

So imagine how happy I was all through this read.

I randomly found the book description here in goodreads and was blown away by how
similar it sounded to Shadowland my all time favorite YA series. And opposite to what others might do,
being all like 'Aw there's no way something can be as...more

21 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, i-own, i-love-to-death, favorites, death-grieve, paranormal-romance, romance

I just reread this today so I'll be able to start on the second book, Queen of the Dead since it's been a long time I've read The Ghost and the Goth. And as usual, I love this book so much. It makes every body happy just reading this over and over. ☺

...more I just reread this today so I'll be able to start on the second book, Queen of the Dead since it's been a long time I've read The Ghost and the Goth. And as usual, I love this book so much. It makes every body happy just reading this over and over. ☺

Regina George... How do I begin to explain Regina George?
Emma Gerber: Regina George is flawless.
Mathlete Tim Pak: I hear her hair's insured for $10,000.
Amber D'Alessio: I hear she does car commercials... in Japan.
Kristen Hadley: Her favorite movie is Varsity Blues.
Short Girl: One time she met John Stamos on a plane...
Jessica Lopez: - And he told her she was pretty.
Bethany Byrd: One time she punched me in the face... it was awesome.

I just love this movie :D

This book is told in both perspective so might as well tell my thoughts about the characters :)

Alona Dare, she is your typical popular girl in school, 3-years running prom queen, cheerleader co captain, and the jock girlfriend. Yep, pretty much sum up a cliché on the whole high school world. But despite all that title on her, it so not hard to love her! ♥ She had this attitude that doesn't even get on your nerves even if you want it to. She's fiery, classy and yeah you guessed it, beautiful. No wonder Will liked her since 6th grade. Haha. Along the story you may judge her as a perfect brat but once you go along it, you'll realize that she'd worked hard for who she "was"(before she died). And she has this best friend who ended up with her boyfriend just days after she died. Cool huh?

Will Killian, Will is your typical loser, geek, and just weird. But people got that wrong though because for me, he is just so *swoon*, 'nuff said. Okay, so he is weird but people(alive, I mean) didn't understand why he's acting out that way. He has this gift, course, or whatever he wanted it to be, thing in him. Well, basically he can see and talk to the dead and it is very hard for him because they keep on bugging him to do their unfinished stuffs when they died. And that was hard for him to deal with the Principal ready to strike him anytime. And he has this totally goth of a friend who is really twisted. And Will is not a goth, FYI, he just like dark clothes that's all. Anyway, Will is hot, yeah! :D (currently grinning while thinking about Will). I adore him. And now I can't wait to read the second book and to know what's in store for me. I love Will. They have this good chemistry together with Alona without even trying. ♥♥♥

This book, 5 out of 5. I love how light and sweet this is and how you got to love both characters. :) Everyone should read this.

Now I'm off to read

Queen of the Dead (The Ghost and the Goth, #2)

. ☺ Ciao. xx(less)

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Nov 04, 2010 Ariana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghost, series

I don't know what to say about this book because I don't really know if I liked it or not that much -2.5 stars.

The cover was great and this is the main reason I decided to give this book a try, and the characters were nice and entertaining (they had a voice of their own that i really got to enjoy - the sarcasm is definitely a plus) but the story seemed to miss something and it didn't kept my attention as much as I wanted.

I didn't notice any attraction between the main characters and I didn't ge...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Liliana ♥s Mythology rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ghosts-souls-spirits, supernatural-abilities, favorites, love-the-book-cover

Review also found here: http://lili-lost-in-a-book.blogspot.c...

This book was soo good that I finished it in 2 days! What was I supposed to do after that?! Oh thats right: wait for book two! :D too bad its going to take forever, because I really, really liked this book!

I really enjoyed this book, it was completely different from any other book I have read about ghosts. Having that it is also in the point of view of the ghost. Knowing what its like for a ghost being...well, a ghost, was very uniq...more

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Sep 21, 2010 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Ghost and the Goth isn't a book I would have normally picked up on my own. However, after seeing it around the blogosphere, and reading several good reviews, I decided to give it a shot. The author and publisher were nice enough to send me a copy for review, so a HUGE thanks go out to them.

The two main characters, Will and Alona, were so much fun! Their sarcastic interactions and begrudging affection for each other was fabulous. It didn't take me very long to grow fond of them, and that fon...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2011 Shera (Book Whispers) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-paranormal-uf, amazon-lists-ya, ebook-m, ghosts

Thank you to Good Golly Miss Holly for running this ACR Tour so I could get a chance to read this fun book!

Genre: Paranormal (UF) YA

Thoughts:

In general when faced with a book about ghosts and the people who can see them I don’t go in with high hopes. Ghost books are the easiest of the paranormal genre family to fall into the same over used plots and character steroe types. Which brings to question why I bother reading them? It’s simple I’m a huge fan of Meg Cabot’s Mediator series, and I secretl...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Axia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 2-česky, 4-ghosts

Umírání měl být nejhorší okamžik v životě. Pochopte, nechat se přejet školním autobusem plným šprtů, zatímco máte na sobě předepsané oblečení na tělocvik, což jsou červené silonové trenky a prakticky průhledné bílé tričko? Horší už to být nemůže. Nebo jsem si to aspoň myslela. (s. 9)

Královna místní školy Alona vždy přemýšlela nad svou budoucností. Určitě ji ale nikdy nenapadlo, že žádnou budoucnost mít nebude. Při hodině tělocviku se vyplíží ze školy – a skončí pod koly autobusu. Její smrt vzbu...more Umírání měl být nejhorší okamžik v životě. Pochopte, nechat se přejet školním autobusem plným šprtů, zatímco máte na sobě předepsané oblečení na tělocvik, což jsou červené silonové trenky a prakticky průhledné bílé tričko? Horší už to být nemůže. Nebo jsem si to aspoň myslela. (s. 9)

Královna místní školy Alona vždy přemýšlela nad svou budoucností. Určitě ji ale nikdy nenapadlo, že žádnou budoucnost mít nebude. Při hodině tělocviku se vyplíží ze školy – a skončí pod koly autobusu. Její smrt vzbuzuje mnoho otázek, proč se tak stalo, zda to byla sebevražda nebo náhoda. Nikdo z nich ovšem netuší, že Alona zůstala mezi nimi. Nepřišlo si pro ni bílé světlo, neodešla, kam duše odcházejí. Alona zůstala na tomto světě, neviděna, neslyšena nikým… kromě školního lůzra Willa. Společně musejí zjistit, co Alonu na tomto světě drží, aby se i ona mohla vydat vstříc světlu na konci tunelu.

Alona Dareová za svého života vždy získala, co chtěla. Dlouhovlasá, krásná blondýnka, vedoucí roztleskávaček, trojnásobná královna školních plesů byla vždy obklopená svými přáteli a chlapci jí leželi u nohou. Alona ovšem skrývá před svými spolužáky nejedno temné tajemství. O Willa Killiana by nikdy ani jedním okem nezavadila, dokud nejsou nuceni spolupracovat. Neoblíbený, ředitelem školy přímo nenáviděný podivín je svým okolím považovaný za schizofrenika, léta se rmoutí sebevraždou svého otce a skutečností, že po něm zdědil nezáviděníhodný dar – dokáže vidět a komunikovat s duchy, což mu život mnohokrát zkomplikovalo a nyní se jejich neustálé prosby a doteky snaží jen ignorovat.

Setkání s duchem, jak název napovídá, je duchařským románem pro mladé čtenáře, který především díky odlehčené a roztomile působící obálce slibuje nenáročný romantický příběh ze střední školy. A to také čtenář dostane. V Setkání s duchem se ovšem ukrývá mnohem více. V hloubce příběhu totiž debatuje nad palčivými tématy elitářství, pokrytectví, falešných přátelství, homosexuality, křesťanského fundamentalismu, a především ukazuje, že ne vše je tak, jak se může zdát, a že za každou tváří se ukrývají tajemství, strachy, problémy a těžkosti, o kterých se lidé nedokáží podělit ani se svými blízkými.

Příběh je psaný v ich-formě ze střídajících se úhlů pohledu Alony a Willa, aniž by se tyto pohledy překrývaly. Kde končí vyprávění jednoho, začíná vyprávění druhého. Příběh tak plyne velmi rychle, stránky se otáčejí samy.

Setkání s duchem nabízí velmi příjemně plynoucí příběh ze střední školy, v němž se toho skrývá více, než se na první pohled může zdát. Příběh na mě působil jako teenagerská verze Šestého smyslu, kterou se mi nechtělo odkládat, dokud ji nedočtu, což mě samotnou překvapilo. Ústřední postavy jsou sympatické a velmi realisticky vykreslené, děj plyne a nabízí nejedno překvapení. Setkání s duchem je jednohubkou, která neurazí a určitě pobaví a za sebe mohu říct, že už teď se těším na pokračování.

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Jul 15, 2011 (´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Alona Dare had everything she could ever wish for. Senior in high school, cheerleader, hot boyfriend and was voted homecoming Queen three years in a row. Her perfect life ended on the day she skipped gym class and walked in front of a bus! Now Alona is stuck in a half-life, watching over her friends and how they deal without her, but has no idea why she is still around or how to move on.

Will Killian is the only person that knows Alona has stuck around and she isn't very pleased about the fact....more Alona Dare had everything she could ever wish for. Senior in high school, cheerleader, hot boyfriend and was voted homecoming Queen three years in a row. Her perfect life ended on the day she skipped gym class and walked in front of a bus! Now Alona is stuck in a half-life, watching over her friends and how they deal without her, but has no idea why she is still around or how to move on.

Will Killian is the only person that knows Alona has stuck around and she isn't very pleased about the fact. Will is a social outcast at school, always listening to music with his hood up, shutting out everyone and everything. He's the only person who can tell Alona why she hasn't moved on but he really wants nothing to do with her after how she treats people while she was alive. If having Alona stalk him wasn't enough, there are many more ghosts hanging around the school with unfinished business and they are very persistent once they realise what Will can do.

I really enjoyed the fact that this was told from the point of view of both Alona and Will. Sometimes multiple POV's can be confusing at times but Stacey Kade gave each character their own distinct voice which was easy to follow. The fact that both characters were so different made me like each of them equally but for many different reasons. Alona was sassy and sarcastic but had many moments of clarity and wisdom from being able to see things from the outside. Although Will had obviously come to terms with his gift, he wasn't prepared to do anything with it and just wanted to coast smoothly though life and ignore everything that was going on around him.

Both characters develop a lot in quite a short space of time due to their interactions with the other. The way that Alona and Will change happens at a lovely and realistic pace. Nothing between them ever feels wrong or out of place and their reactions to each other were perfect considering that they were complete opposites when Alona was alive. I would have put the book down immediately if they had become so nice to each other instantly because I wouldn't have believed it at all.

There is some romance but not loads which was a good thing in my eyes. Quite a lot of YA books that I read mostly concentrate on the romance aspect of the story so this was a nice change. This romance wasn't the case of `I love you' in a matter of days and that was one of the biggest reasons why I liked this aspect so much. I will be looking forward to seeing how things develop in future books though as Alona and Will could have a lot to deal with.

While most of the story is quite light-hearted due to the banter between Alona and Will, there are some darker moments which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would have liked to have seen these parts expanded upon a bit more or had them happen more often but maybe that will happen in the second book in the series. There were quite a few times where I didn't really know where the story was heading because of the twists that kept coming. I like to be kept guessing with books and Stacey Kade definitely achieved this. The ending was wrapped up really well without many loose ends. Although The Ghost and The Goth is going to be a part of a series, I loved the fact that it worked so well as a stand-alone. I didn't feel like I was desperate to know more but I also knew that the story could go a lot further in many ways.

The Ghost and The Goth was a lovely story with many surprising aspects. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so funny and I definitely wasn't expecting the supernatural plot twists to give it a darker feel at times. Stacey Kade managed to mix the two really well to make this a very enjoyable read for me. I can’t wait for the sequel to find out what is going to happen next!
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Jun 22, 2010 Tynga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Ghost and The Goth was an amazing read: light, funny and somewhat ironic. This book is a page turner and you don’t want to miss out on this title!

Alona, Queen of the Elites goes from dead to worst when she discovers, a few days after her death, that her life isn’t what she thought it was. She comes to realize her fellow schoolmates didn’t really like her, and her former BFF is real quick on making sure her former boyfriend doesn’t feel lonely, in a very touchy, feely, public way. It’s in th...more The Ghost and The Goth was an amazing read: light, funny and somewhat ironic. This book is a page turner and you don’t want to miss out on this title!

Alona, Queen of the Elites goes from dead to worst when she discovers, a few days after her death, that her life isn’t what she thought it was. She comes to realize her fellow schoolmates didn’t really like her, and her former BFF is real quick on making sure her former boyfriend doesn’t feel lonely, in a very touchy, feely, public way. It’s in this exact moment of Alona’s Fall that Will, one of the losers not worth Alona’s time, looks at her straight in the eyes and laugh at her misery. His first mistake.

Will is known as a freak because he is acting so weird all the time, but wouldn’t you if you heard and saw the dead all day? He has always been trying to hide his abilities, but when you face the most stubborn ghost ever, and she knows you can see her, well you gotta deal with it. So that’s how Will and Alona ends up walking a very thin thread, both trying to reach their very different goals, which involves a few awkward situations and a fair share of disputes.

I really loved this first YA novel by Stacey Kade, it’s a great story with a good pace, the right amount of humor, everything adding up for success.

The characters are fantastic, you first picture them with those big stereotypes but as the story progress you discover more layers to their personalities, which takes the story to a whole new level. Also, the narration alternates between Alona and Will to give us better access to both characters thoughts and feelings.

I really liked Alona, even thought she’s the kind of girl I avoided in high school I came to love her personality and witty comments. She acts all superficial, ok maybe she is, but she’s also smart and develops an interest in other people eventually. It was nice to see her grow and I can’t wait to see what’s waiting for her in the second book.

Like I mentioned before, the book is written in a “light way”, but it also touches serious subjects like School Clics, sexual orientation, suicide, mental illnesses and alcoholism. It’s all handled perfectly to not weight down the story though, so kudos to Stacey.

I read this book in only a few hours and had a hard time putting it down. I liked the end even though I didn’t want it to end lol. I think everything wrapped up nicely and we get hints of what’s to come next. No major cliffhanger here.

I strongly recommend to all of you YA fantasy fans out there to get your hands on that book, you won’t regret it =)

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Jul 12, 2010 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of sweetness with a little saucy sarcasm thrown in

Shelves: covers-i-love, best-characters, humorous, couldn-t-stop-reading-it, 2010-reads, reviewed

I'm going to be honest right here and now: this book is not a monumental read that will change your life nor is it one that will challenge you or make you think particularly deeply about any subject in particular. It's not that kind of book. If you want that kind of thing, go read Stolen, Unwind, or any number of YA books out there that tackle "real-life issues" in fascinating, engrossing ways. If you're looking for something "deep" here -- well, you're not going to find it.

You will find enterta...more I'm going to be honest right here and now: this book is not a monumental read that will change your life nor is it one that will challenge you or make you think particularly deeply about any subject in particular. It's not that kind of book. If you want that kind of thing, go read Stolen, Unwind, or any number of YA books out there that tackle "real-life issues" in fascinating, engrossing ways. If you're looking for something "deep" here -- well, you're not going to find it.

You will find entertainment, however, and more than a few moments where you actually smile just for the sake of thinking, "Hey, that was sweet," or, "Wow, that was ironic."

The set-up: Alona Dare is a cheerleader, top of the food chain ('first-tier' material), and Will Killian is an outsider, deemed as goth simply because he likes to wear black and can often be seen with earbuds plugged into his ears. These two kids would never mix, right? Well, under normal circumstances, perhaps. . .until you find out that Alona is now a ghost and Will has the gift of seeing ghosts.

Thus, the possibilities for these two -- and the hijinks involving them -- are now endless. . .and it works. The story works because of these two characters, who exist on totally opposite ends of the spectrum in "real life" (read: within the shallow walls of high school) and must now work together to help each other because no one else can. The story shifts between Alona and Will, and both voices are filled with sarcasm and irony in equal measures. It's a fun, enjoyable read. (Also, kudos to Stacey Kade for doing something that I really admire for a female author: she does an authentic male voice very well. Never did I think that Will had said or thought something especially feminine or sensitive. That was rather refreshing for a young adult read.)

All in all -- I would recommend The Ghost and the Goth as a read in between more "serious" books (given that the plot for this one may be a bit too predictable for some) because it will lighten your heart and your mind for a time. It's not a sappy, gooey read either. It reads like the lighter side of two teens struggling with who they are, what their lives have been like, and what they will do in the future. The answers aren't all there yet, but there's the hope that they will come with time and a little work. For that, I have to give this book a lot of credit: in a time of dime-a-dozen paranormal romances and dystopian tragedies, it's a book that has a lot of heart despite the lack of intrigues in its plot. If there's a sequel in the works, I definitely look forward to reading it. :)(less)

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Mar 25, 2013 Annikka rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: have-in-bookcase, for-review, liked-the-idea

Ještě si rozmyslím počet hvězdiček, ale líbilo se mi to moc :))

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May 19, 2013 Tabatha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-2012-challenge-105-books, favorites, 5-star-books, ebooks, owned

Feel free to check out my blog ;)

(view spoiler)

I waited until I'd read all three of the books in The Ghost and the Goth trilogy to review them. Don't ask me why, I'm not entirely sure.. :¬/

But anyways, after thinking about it for a while I came to the conclusion that this is my favorite book out all three. Maybe it was because the characters were new? Or maybe because it was simpler in a way..? I don't know, I just preferred it!

Queen-bee Alona Dare is newly deceased.

...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hyperion

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

Alona is your stereotypical popular girl - focused on her looks and unafraid to speak her mind, yet perfect in every way to the outside viewer. It's all a painstakingly constructed exterior, made to fool people into thinking she's some sort of Queen. She has spreadsheets to keep track of possible clothing combinations, methods to hide "fat spots" when sitting down…my goodness. You'd think that Alona would be a very irritating narrator but she is ac...more Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

Alona is your stereotypical popular girl - focused on her looks and unafraid to speak her mind, yet perfect in every way to the outside viewer. It's all a painstakingly constructed exterior, made to fool people into thinking she's some sort of Queen. She has spreadsheets to keep track of possible clothing combinations, methods to hide "fat spots" when sitting down…my goodness. You'd think that Alona would be a very irritating narrator but she is actually quite adorable and intelligent! She comes from a nice place and isn't mean, even when she insults people for having poor fashion sense or for being fat...

The novel has two narrators and Will, the other main character, gets to tell his side of the story. While he looks and seems like goth, rejected by the "normal" schoolgoers, he's actually a smartass, good-hearted, and…well-built? Both characters are sweet and friendly on the inside, and it was brilliant getting to know them both, slowly stripping away their layers of falseness. In some bizarre alternate universe, I may even be friends with them.

The novel's main focus is Alona's dilemma of being stuck in between realms. Why hasn't she gone into the white light? Why does she keep fading away? Why the heck is she always resummoned next to Will? Why do objects keep going from solid to not?! William has the power of seeing ghosts and Alona must get him to open up to her since he's got all the answers. Eventually the two are able to overcome their differences and work together, somehow forming a tentative relationship! They're confused at what they're feeling and again, it's so sweet and cute. Who would've thought that these polar opposites would fall for each other? There is no insta-love, no cheesy romance and no declarations of love. There are just honest feelings of care and protectiveness which are so endearing!

The Ghost and the Goth is a novel that will keep you smiling and laughing out loud. It's light and fun, with some some serious elements thrown in that balance the story out. This was highly enjoyable and I hope you get engrossed in it like I did! I'm sure you'll like to read about Will's fascination with Alona's stunning legs and Alona's approval of his yummy biceps ;)(less)

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Aug 27, 2010 papalbina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-english, ♥-book-♥-cover, cover-lust

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 02, 2010 JL (An Avid Reader's Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: we-love-ya-tours, reviewed, books-read-in-2010, arc-tour

THE TWEET
Popular (and dead) Alona and loner (ghost whispering) Will navigate high school together in the funny novel, THE GHOST AND THE GOTH.

WHAT WORKED
THE GHOST AND THE GOTH is one of the funniest and entertaining books I have read in a while. Despite the somewhat cliched loner boy/popular girl pairing, author Stacey Kade has written a unique ghost story that is impossible to put down (I literally read the book in one night).

Alona Dare seems like the typical head cheerleader/most popular girl a...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Andrea for TeensReadToo.com

Everything seems normal to Alona Dare the day she steps outside of gym class to make a quick phone call. But when she doesn't pay attention to where she is going, she gets hit by a school bus - and her days of ruling the school are over.

But when she keeps waking up in the place where she died, she knows something is wrong.

The only person who can hear her, besides the other dead people hanging around, is Will Killian, a guy she would never have thought twice...more

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May 20, 2013 Izzy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: light, thought-it-would-be-better, avg

Well, I immediately had my doubts when I saw the book was published by disney. Being responsible for Hannah Montanna and other such tragedies, naturally, I was worried. When I saw a swear word on the first page, I relaxed. At least there wouldn't be any princesses and brainless knights, we have enough of them in the average twilight wannabe.

The book wasn't great literature by any standards, but it wasn't bad either. I wasn't bored reading, I did get a numb ass though. It's a sweet story, hardly...more

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May 15, 2011 Rubal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-loved, favorite-characters, ya

Alona and Will

This book had all the clichés, the blonde cheer-leader,the social strata of high schools,the goth/nerdy hero.But still the author managed to make it a light,fun read with likable characters.I had a smile on my face while reading it.The interactions of the protagonists are entertaining.The romance didn't take the sappy route and that's one of the biggest reasons why I loved this one.

I'm looking forward to the sequel.

7 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2013 Kristie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013, ghosts

Přemýšlím, jak tuto knížku ohodnotit. Rozhodně to byla moc příjemná oddechovka, u které jsem se i vážně pobavila. Přečetla jsem ji prakticky na jedno posezení, takže na ní vážně něco bude. Ale něco málo mi stejně chybělo - třeba nějaká výraznější originalita nebo lepší zápletka. Hm... Jen tři hvězdičky to nejsou, čtyři se mi zase zdají moc... Vážně by se šiklo to půl hvězdičkové hodnocení. Protože tohle je přesně ten případ, kdy bych knize dala 3,5* - tak by mi to plně vyhovovalo. Hm... Ale asi...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Ghost and the Goth is a light and humorous novel. Kade has created some dynamic characters who are opposite in social hierarchy but drawn together because of their circumstances-- Alona is dead and Will hears dead people.
I didn't expect to like Alona, I have never been at the top of the social circles, and she is a cheerleader. However, we find out that she has depth and that she has a rough family life.
Will is a dark, troubled kid, with few close friends, and a huge secret. He is able...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourite, ghosts, high-school, paranormal-romance, romance, read-in-2011

I just couldn't help it. I have been wanting to read this book for a long time since I found it. Now I am ashamed that I didn't read it earlier.

This story was fast-paced and fun with the hint of romance(every time that Will was distracted Alona's legs I was cracking up).
Alona and Will are very different in terms of the high-school social ranking. Will is the freaky, but hot, emo boy and Aloa's the perfect, blonde haired cheerleader with a total attitude. They are forced together after a bit of t...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Cris_Ellie (Egregore) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Paranormal things

Shelves: ghost-and-ghouls, paranormalcy, romantic-ology, young-adult

On the first few chapters, I was ready to HATE Alona Dare for being such a shallow-pathetic-dead mean girl. But as the story progress, She just kinda "redeemed" herself haha! Well, this was a fun read though, both lite and funny. A much welcome reprieve from all the serious stuff I've been reading lately.

Would it be bad if I think Will Killian would look like him? I just think he's perfect. :D

1 like · like · see review

Mar 14, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very cute and refreshing take on the YA paranormal genre. I read this all in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'll be staring the sequel soon.

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Dec 17, 2011 Step Into Fiction rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: saleana

When you glance at this gorgeous cover you can instantly tell that this is going to be about a fun, flirty, confident girl with blonde hair, which Alona does actually have, and a boy that likes to wear dark clothes and likes to keep to himself, which Will is. You also get the feeling that Alona is dead.

Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction

Review completed by: Saleana

1 like · like · see review

Oct 25, 2011 El Templo de las Mil Puertas added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 18-eltemplo, que-no-leerás-en-español

"Imaginaos que Charlotte de Ghostgirl no es la chica más invisible de su instituto, sino todo lo contrario; la más popular, capitana del equipo de animadoras y reina del instituto, vamos, como Brittany de Química Perfecta. Imaginaos que un autobús escolar la atropella una mañana de marzo y sus asuntos pendientes la mantienen atrapada en nuestra dimensión. Y ahora imaginaos que el paria del instituto, el "gótico" con el que nadie quiere tener nada que ver, es el único que puede verla y ayudarla....more "Imaginaos que Charlotte de Ghostgirl no es la chica más invisible de su instituto, sino todo lo contrario; la más popular, capitana del equipo de animadoras y reina del instituto, vamos, como Brittany de Química Perfecta. Imaginaos que un autobús escolar la atropella una mañana de marzo y sus asuntos pendientes la mantienen atrapada en nuestra dimensión. Y ahora imaginaos que el paria del instituto, el "gótico" con el que nadie quiere tener nada que ver, es el único que puede verla y ayudarla. Pues aquí tenéis la historia de Alona Dare y Will Killian, The Ghost and The Goth. Alona descubre poco después de convertirse en fantasma que no era tan querida ni respetada en la escuela como ella creía y que su novio la engañaba con su mejor amiga. Por otro lado, Will no puede evitar oír y ver fantasmas e interactuar con ellos como si fueran seres vivos; es un don heredado de su padre y, si no lo controla, puede volverle loco. Pero Alona le ha descubierto y exige su colaboración, y con ella el resto de fantasmas que habitan en el colegio. Además, el director le ha confiscado su música, que es lo único que le ayuda a sobrevivir un día en un edificio plagado de espíritus. ¿En que acabará todo esto? Con capítulos narrados en primera persona alternando el punto de vista de cada uno de los dos protagonista, Stacey Kade nos acerca a una realidad alternativa en la que el "más allá" no está tan lejos como creemos, donde las dimensiones se solapan y la teoría de conjuntos es útil para entender el mundo. Con diálogos ágiles y muy divertidos y una narración cercana a la forma de hablar de los adolescentes, el libro ofrece una tarde de lectura entretenida y unas buenas risas. Quizá peque de poco original; nada de lo que cuenta es nuevo, por eso es importante tener buenos protagonistas como Alona y Will. Son completamente diferentes el uno del otro, pero como todos los adolescentes tienen sus problemas, dudas e inseguridades. Sigue leyendo ---> http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.com"(less)

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Mar 09, 2011 Reading Vacation rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Ghost and the Goth is everything that a typical ghost book is not. It is a fun, light, humorous, book with a hint of romance. Really, it is!

Alona was Miss Popular in high school. You know the type – she intimidated others into being her “friends” and she always made herself look superior. Alona thought she was all that. Totally the type of girl you love to hate. Then she was run over by a school bus, she became a ghost, and everything changed.

As a ghost, Alona returned to her high school onl...more

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About Stacey Kade

As an award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead.

She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and three retired racing greyhounds, Joezooka (Joe), Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy). When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll likely find her parked in front of...more

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Body & Soul (The Ghost and the Goth, #3)

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Quotes from The Ghost and the Goth

“She shrugged and flipped her glossy hair behind her shoulders. "What else do you have to do with your time besides think about stuff like this? It's not like you're real heavy into extracurriculars. Besides, you're all, like, goth and into the dead, right?"
Alona Dare, queen of the insult-compliment. "Wow. Thanks. Anyone ever tell you you're good with people?"
She frowned. "No."
"Good. I'm not goth."
"Your hair is black, you have piercings, you wear black all the time and act all freaky-"
"My hair is naturally this color. I have three earings in one ear, that's it. This shirt" -I tugged at the fabric across my chest- "is navy blue, and if I act weird all the time, it's because of ghosts like you.” — 102 people liked it

“What are you doing, meditating?"
"No, I'm trying to calm down so I don't kick your ass," she said through clenched teeth.” — 50 people liked it

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