Saturday, September 21, 2013

Book Review: The Harder The Fall


The Harder the FallAuthor: Lauren Barnholdt
Publication Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Aladdin
Series: Girl Meets Ghost # 2

Kendall has a crush—and the ghost of his mother has something to say about it. The second book in a hilariously haunting tween series.

Kendall Williams talks to dead people all the time. Like it or not, it’s kind of her thing—the ghosts need her help resolving issues from when they were alive, and she’s good at figuring out their problems.

What she can’t figure out, however, is why the ghost of her crush’s mother is haunting her. It’s hard enough to like a guy and hope to impress his parents, but when his mom keeps visiting from beyond the grave, making the right impression seems downright impossible! Can Kendall help with family matters without risking her relationship?



I can see ghosts. That, in and of itself, is completely scandalous. I’m only twelve!

And then I do the last thing you should probably do right after a boy has kissed you. I scream.

The real reason I think I don’t want my dad to be with Cindy is because I don’t want things to change. I’m happy with the way things are. My dad and I take care of each other.

The cemetery across the street from my house is where I do my best work. I know it sounds creepy, but I think it might be because there are all those bodies around. Just bodies, though – not ghosts. Ghosts don’t congregate at the cemetery, despite what all those ridiculous ghost stories will have you believe.



A tween age girl that can see and talk to ghosts – yes, it always does make for an interesting read. This is the second book in the Girl Meets Ghost series, and we pick right back off with Kendall Williams in exactly the same place we left off in the first book. Kendall has a major crush on Brandon Dunham, whose mom is a ghost and doesn’t want Kendall around. Not to mention Kendall bumps into a completely new ghost, Lyra, while wandering around a new salon that just opened up. Between dealing with her ghosts, her dad getting serious with his new girlfriend, and her best friend thinking she has lost her mind, Kendall just doesn’t know what to do!

Kendall is a witty and sassy character for someone as young as she is. She always has witty comebacks and never misses a beat. She is not a perfect character, and I love that she is still coming into her gift of being able to talk to ghosts. She hasn’t quite got it all figured out yet, but that is part of the beauty of reading and watching her grow up. I love that she is balancing more than one ghost again in this book, just like the first one. I am still not sure about Brandon’s mom, or how I feel about Brandon and Kendall’s relationship. I am just partial to Kendall and don’t want to see her hurt.


I love how the other characters in this series are playing a bigger part in the story this time around. Her dad is getting serious with Cindy, and Kendall’s best friend is starting to question her odd habits, like talking to herself all the time, a little more. Not to mention the new characters that have been added to the story, not only Lyra but her obnoxious brother as well. As always, I am impressed with Barnholdt’s ability to keep me wrapped up in a story. I love her writing, and whether it’s directed at the YA audience or middle grades, you will always find me reading her stories!

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Aladdin in exchange for my honest review***

 



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