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The Girl Who Was Buried in Her Ball Gown
After one of the best evenings of her life at the junior high school ball, a young girl experiences her first kiss. During the amazing and yet awkward moment, something goes horribly wrong and her life is turned upside down. She soon realises that her existence has been severed from the usual humdrum of a teenage girl and she has been hurled into the world of the supernatural.
Who can she trust, where can she turn? And what is it that she finds so uncomfortable about another girl, that has befriended her in this foreign realm? Why is this impostor leading her to places she does not want to go and pretending to be someone that she is not?
As the young girl drifts along unknown paths she begins to unravel the mysteries, learns of new threats she could not have predicted and finds herself in situations that cannot be controlled. She discovers that these erratic menaces are able to cross both lines, creating havoc wherever they appear. Will she find all of the answers and be able to pick up the pieces, or will she be lost in this oblivion forever?
Who can she trust, where can she turn? And what is it that she finds so uncomfortable about another girl, that has befriended her in this foreign realm? Why is this impostor leading her to places she does not want to go and pretending to be someone that she is not?
As the young girl drifts along unknown paths she begins to unravel the mysteries, learns of new threats she could not have predicted and finds herself in situations that cannot be controlled. She discovers that these erratic menaces are able to cross both lines, creating havoc wherever they appear. Will she find all of the answers and be able to pick up the pieces, or will she be lost in this oblivion forever?
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2017
3 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 10, 2017
Very creative and a real 'feel good' story in the end
Such a courageous way to write a story; where most books are just ending, this one starts. The author then goes on to create an entire world beyond our knowing. The main character, Emma, is thrust into this world and slowly learns how to deal with it. In so doing she resolves questions, and helps protect those she loves whilst understanding herself and her own place and heart.
On one level, the story was a teenager's view of how things are - direct, and black and white. However, on another level the author, Ian King, makes us consider not only our own way of looking at life and interacting with others, but also how others may be different than us and view life differently. Nevertheless, we can always choose to abide together harmoniously with just a little bit of effort.
I would recommend reading this book for both teenagers and adults. It's a fast read, but well fleshed out.
Such a courageous way to write a story; where most books are just ending, this one starts. The author then goes on to create an entire world beyond our knowing. The main character, Emma, is thrust into this world and slowly learns how to deal with it. In so doing she resolves questions, and helps protect those she loves whilst understanding herself and her own place and heart.
On one level, the story was a teenager's view of how things are - direct, and black and white. However, on another level the author, Ian King, makes us consider not only our own way of looking at life and interacting with others, but also how others may be different than us and view life differently. Nevertheless, we can always choose to abide together harmoniously with just a little bit of effort.
I would recommend reading this book for both teenagers and adults. It's a fast read, but well fleshed out.
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October 20, 2017Won in the Goodreads Giveaways
July 15, 2018
I read this in just under a day, two sittings, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
While it holds elements of the Ghost (the movie), the book stands on its own due to its location and inclusion of the New Zealand culture.
Emma, a thirteen-year-old, dies on the night of the school ball mere minutes after her first (and last) kiss. Her death was accidental, and as you can imagine, it carried a ripple effect across the lives of her family, the boy she was with at the time (also injured), and the driver of the car that killed her, and others. Now a ghost, Emma learns to adjust to her new existence, encounters new enemies, and has to protect herself and everyone else related to her. She even adds to this by helping a few others.
It's a simple story with hardly any confusing complications, but there is enough conflict between Emma, her family, and the other spirits to keep the story moving.
While it holds elements of the Ghost (the movie), the book stands on its own due to its location and inclusion of the New Zealand culture.
Emma, a thirteen-year-old, dies on the night of the school ball mere minutes after her first (and last) kiss. Her death was accidental, and as you can imagine, it carried a ripple effect across the lives of her family, the boy she was with at the time (also injured), and the driver of the car that killed her, and others. Now a ghost, Emma learns to adjust to her new existence, encounters new enemies, and has to protect herself and everyone else related to her. She even adds to this by helping a few others.
It's a simple story with hardly any confusing complications, but there is enough conflict between Emma, her family, and the other spirits to keep the story moving.
July 18, 2018
I could not put this book down. The author obviously has a fantastic grasp of how to influence perceptions of others through his clever story telling abilities.
He challenges perceptions of life after death through the eyes of a teenage girl. Some thought provoking concepts are meddled with, yet they are introduced in a such a way where the transitions are seamless and you can really relax and read with pleasure.
I am not one to spoil narratives, i highly recommend this read if you want to sit back and enjoy the ride.
He challenges perceptions of life after death through the eyes of a teenage girl. Some thought provoking concepts are meddled with, yet they are introduced in a such a way where the transitions are seamless and you can really relax and read with pleasure.
I am not one to spoil narratives, i highly recommend this read if you want to sit back and enjoy the ride.
July 13, 2018
Excellent book, a real pageturner, hit a few emotion buttons, follows the path of a new "life" as a ghost caught between death and the future. introduces humour and carry over behaviour.
January 13, 2024
Now this book is a bit different. Once you get over 'The Book Thief' narrator being dead or death, you can get your head around 'Ball Gown'. It's a hard book to review without giving away its secrets, but here goes.
Teenager Emma was having a pretty good evening snogging with her boyfriend, until pissed-as-a-fart Patrick cleans her up in his car. So now Emma's in limbo with a bunch of bad-arse demons whose sole (maybe that should be soul) purpose is to put evil thoughts into those living predisposed to doing bad stuff.
I'm not going into the whole ghost world between living and dead (or un-dead), because that'll spoil it for you.
I thought it was going to be a bunch of teenage angst, but the tale turned out to be a damned good (although dark) read and I'll let you decide on the ending, which wasn't what I expected.
Teenager Emma was having a pretty good evening snogging with her boyfriend, until pissed-as-a-fart Patrick cleans her up in his car. So now Emma's in limbo with a bunch of bad-arse demons whose sole (maybe that should be soul) purpose is to put evil thoughts into those living predisposed to doing bad stuff.
I'm not going into the whole ghost world between living and dead (or un-dead), because that'll spoil it for you.
I thought it was going to be a bunch of teenage angst, but the tale turned out to be a damned good (although dark) read and I'll let you decide on the ending, which wasn't what I expected.
April 18, 2021
This book was a fun adventure into the world beyond life and a great story about grappling with life - and death. I loved being on the adventure with Emma as she navigated her new life-after-life as she explored the afterlife, made new friends, enemies and tried to connect with her loved ones left behind. Really fun concept and loved the New Zealand backdrop. Fun weekend read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews