Peck never writes a book that is less than a page-turner, and this paranormal horror story captures the extremes of joy and dread, belonging and ostracism that are the core of the high school experience. Fifteen-year-old Kerry Williamson is new at prestigious suburban Pondfield High and doesn't expect much. Her status is transformed the day Tanya, Natalie, and Makenzie--the coolest, prettiest junior and senior girls--welcome her into their clique ("I'd moved from reality to a reality show, and what could be better?"), although a place in this charmed circle doesn't guarantee the respect of its rulers. A fatal accident just weeks before prom steals all the magic away--until an impossible text message tells Kerry that, just maybe, not everything has been lost. Kerry's voice is wistful, vulnerable, and would-be sophisticated, and the excuses she gives for her compromises ring both hollow and true. Perhaps because of this realism, the sudden escalation of fantastic horror in the last third of the book comes across as a pat resolution. Nevertheless, the story keeps its hold on readers to the very end. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)

Gr 6–10—Richard Peck takes the theme of an outsider longing to fit in and be part of the popular crowd in a chilling new direction in this compelling novel (Dial, 2010). Carrie is introduced through a pleading question, "What do you do when you're 15 and not in the loop?" As the narrator, Carrie has an underlying recognition that it is not in her best interest when she's welcomed by Tanya, Natalie, and MacKenzie, part of the high school in-crowd. She knows that she's being manipulated, but she's just desperate enough to go along with even their worst behaviors. The voices of Carrie's friends reflect their self-centeredness, bossiness, and lack of empathy. Even after the three girls are killed in a car crash, Tanya is not one to be denied and demands that Carrie do her bidding. The description of the dead girls, roller skating in the penthouse of a New York luxury apartment building, is vividly frightening. Ariadne Meyers' narration is spot-on, reflecting the girls' self-centeredness, bossiness, and lack of empathy. She perfectly voices Tanya's imperious nature. Listeners may get impatient with Carrie's reluctance to let go of girls who treated her poorly in life and even worse in death, but they will be hooked to the end to discover if she ever gets up the strength to stand on her own and prevent a final act of wickedness by Tanya.—Edith Ching, University of Maryland, College Park

Kerry, a high school sophomore, becomes enthralled when the three most popular girls in school begin to cultivate her to join their clique. Ariadne Meyers gives a distinct voice to each girl; Kerry, in particular, sounds wheedling, weaker-willed, and less socially adept, qualities that perfectly match her willingness to do whatever the other girls ask. Peck demonstrates how far hazing can go when, even after the girls’ deaths, Kerry hears demands from beyond the grave. As the tension mounts, Kerry must decide how far she will go to please an undead alpha girl, and Meyers draws readers adeptly into the plot of revenge. J.M. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine