justasking27's review
4.0
I don't read much YA any more because the angst and insta-love annoys me too much. But this story grabbed me and kept me hooked from page 1. The characters, 'breathers' and ghosts included, are all layered and realistic, and their development kept the plot moving. Although I think everyone in the story could really use a hug, that's probably true of most people.
missusb21's review against another edition
4.0
Another contemporary YA depicting teens dealing with death and grief. There is a paranormal aspect, but the fact that Cass sees dead people is not explained or solved. It just is.
Tim is a very vulnerable potential love interest. His despair and pain is written all over him, and Cass' bumbling attempts to help him reflect and mirror her own need to change her solitary life.
It's a beautiful portrayal of accepting loss and learning to move on.
Tim is a very vulnerable potential love interest. His despair and pain is written all over him, and Cass' bumbling attempts to help him reflect and mirror her own need to change her solitary life.
It's a beautiful portrayal of accepting loss and learning to move on.
cornucopiaofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Cass is an outcast, and has been since middle school. Of course, it's hard to fit in when you can talk to ghosts, and get the dirt on all of your classmates. I suppose people might be nicer if she didn't use that dirt against said classmates, but where would the fun be in that. When the student council VP, Tim, starts paying attention to Cass, she's justified in her suspicions. Really, he just hopes that Cass can help him connect with his deceased mother, even though it may not help him move on emotionally.
Crewe did a great job with the ghost aspect of this book. Once it became clear that ghosts remain until they can accomplish some sort of unfinished business, I started to wonder why Cass's sister had returned as a ghost. I have my theories, but this issue isn't really resolved in the book.
This paragraph contains spoilers, so if you haven't read the book skip this paragraph!
As the book drew to a close I was really worried that Crewe was going to fall into the YA cliche of making the two main characters end up together, despite neither of them being in the right place emotionally for one. So, I was relieved when that didn't happen! It's obvious that the two care for each other, but Tim really needs to focus on some counseling to help him deal with the grief of losing his mother.
(end of spoilers)
Overall, I thought that this was a good paranormal, and a quick read. I haven't heard anything about a sequel, but I still have my fingers crossed. While this book wrapped up nicely, there's still more I'd like to read abou
Crewe did a great job with the ghost aspect of this book. Once it became clear that ghosts remain until they can accomplish some sort of unfinished business, I started to wonder why Cass's sister had returned as a ghost. I have my theories, but this issue isn't really resolved in the book.
This paragraph contains spoilers, so if you haven't read the book skip this paragraph!
As the book drew to a close I was really worried that Crewe was going to fall into the YA cliche of making the two main characters end up together, despite neither of them being in the right place emotionally for one. So, I was relieved when that didn't happen! It's obvious that the two care for each other, but Tim really needs to focus on some counseling to help him deal with the grief of losing his mother.
(end of spoilers)
Overall, I thought that this was a good paranormal, and a quick read. I haven't heard anything about a sequel, but I still have my fingers crossed. While this book wrapped up nicely, there's still more I'd like to read abou
scarletnerded25's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book! Cass was a really relatable character. I would love to read more of Cass and Tim's story.
fafabookcorner's review
DNF
Mini review:
I had heard about this book when I was much younger. I think I was in grade 8? I remembered it again through an email I got from another author. It was a freebie so I decided to give it go. Unfortunately it was not for me.
To be honest I think the subject doesn't really interest me. I feel like I way too old to be reading about a girl who has the help of ghosts exposing the bad things people do in her school. Well more like I'm way too old for how it was executed. It felt juvenile.
But I did like the relationships with MC had with those around her. Including her family.
All in all it wasn't for me. Still recommend.
Mini review:
I had heard about this book when I was much younger. I think I was in grade 8? I remembered it again through an email I got from another author. It was a freebie so I decided to give it go. Unfortunately it was not for me.
To be honest I think the subject doesn't really interest me. I feel like I way too old to be reading about a girl who has the help of ghosts exposing the bad things people do in her school. Well more like I'm way too old for how it was executed. It felt juvenile.
But I did like the relationships with MC had with those around her. Including her family.
All in all it wasn't for me. Still recommend.
anna_reads_too_much's review
4.0
How many other debut books are there this year that are amazing?! Seriously, I loved this book. It took me a while to realize that it might be a little bit more serious than I was anticipating, I really enjoyed it. It deals a lot more with death and dying than I would've thought of from reading the summary, even though it is about ghosts.
The characters were amazing... I really liked Cass. I felt like I had something in common with most of the characters, even if we seemed like we were nothing alike.
There was really just one main thing I would change about Give Up the Ghost: I'd like more of a back story on how Cass got her ability. The book gives a basic explanation, but I think a little bit more explanation about it would've been wonderful.
I recommend this book to everyone, even if you think ghosts may not be your thing. Four and a half hearts out of five. =)
The characters were amazing... I really liked Cass. I felt like I had something in common with most of the characters, even if we seemed like we were nothing alike.
There was really just one main thing I would change about Give Up the Ghost: I'd like more of a back story on how Cass got her ability. The book gives a basic explanation, but I think a little bit more explanation about it would've been wonderful.
I recommend this book to everyone, even if you think ghosts may not be your thing. Four and a half hearts out of five. =)
bookbriefs's review
3.0
This book was alright. It was a fast read, and it was interesting enough. But nothing really popped out at me. I sat down to read this book and a few hours later I was done, and while it held my interest for me to read it all in one shot, it didn't do too much else for me. I read this book as part of a read-a-thon, so maybe that was why I read it all in one shot. I liked the characters and the concept intrigues me, but nothing major happened for me. It didn't make me feel overly happy, or sad or excited.
That's not to say it was a bad book, it was well written and a good read. I just did not love it. I like my books to grab my emotions- to make me feel something. Whether it is happiness, or being surprised, and even if it is anger at a character or sadness. I just want to be engaged in what I am reading. There were not many twists and turns. It was a predictable read, pleasant enough- but steady throughout the whole book.
I liked the main character towards the end, when she grew a little bit and started to care about other people- but for most of the book she was kind of cold. That might have been my real problem with the book. I am a sucker for main characters. I want to become their biggest fan and their best friend. But to do that I need to connect with them or relate to them at some level. It was really hard to do that here. Cass was really unapproachable. Tim was nice, but also kind of annoying at times. I was able to relate to him more than Cass though, for the most part.
I think my favorite part of the book were the ghosts. The Ghosts that Cass talks to at school are funny, and I loved how into the gossip and drama they were. And Cass's sister was also a more dynamic character than Cass was for me. I would like to read more about the Ghosts. And if Cass sticks to her revelations and breakthroughs she found at the end of the book, I would probably really enjoy reading more stories about her.
The author did a good job with the writing in this book and for that reason I would definitely give another one of her books a try.
That's not to say it was a bad book, it was well written and a good read. I just did not love it. I like my books to grab my emotions- to make me feel something. Whether it is happiness, or being surprised, and even if it is anger at a character or sadness. I just want to be engaged in what I am reading. There were not many twists and turns. It was a predictable read, pleasant enough- but steady throughout the whole book.
I liked the main character towards the end, when she grew a little bit and started to care about other people- but for most of the book she was kind of cold. That might have been my real problem with the book. I am a sucker for main characters. I want to become their biggest fan and their best friend. But to do that I need to connect with them or relate to them at some level. It was really hard to do that here. Cass was really unapproachable. Tim was nice, but also kind of annoying at times. I was able to relate to him more than Cass though, for the most part.
I think my favorite part of the book were the ghosts. The Ghosts that Cass talks to at school are funny, and I loved how into the gossip and drama they were. And Cass's sister was also a more dynamic character than Cass was for me. I would like to read more about the Ghosts. And if Cass sticks to her revelations and breakthroughs she found at the end of the book, I would probably really enjoy reading more stories about her.
The author did a good job with the writing in this book and for that reason I would definitely give another one of her books a try.
saccalai's review
4.0
Ever since Cass' sister died, she has been able to see and talk to ghosts. Now she uses the information she learns from the ghosts at school to protect herself from getting hurt. She's given up on trying to make friends, since her best friend in Elementary turned the whole school against her suddenly. She has never really recovered or been able to trust her classmates, even though she is now in high school. Now one of the most popular guys at school needs her help to contact his mother. By helping him, maybe he will help her to come out of her shell too.
I really enjoyed this book and loved Cass' character. I hope there will be more to come.
I really enjoyed this book and loved Cass' character. I hope there will be more to come.
dannabella's review against another edition
3.0
Although I've seen sortaa similar premises before (the whole I-see-ghosts thing), I've never seen it done quite like this. And to be honest, I am not much of a ghost person. Death freaks me out, and thinking about the afterlife -- well, that kinda does too.
This book was a little darker than I expected. Which was definitely a good thing. Cass is forced to deal with weightier issues than just crushing on boys. Even though her sister died several years ago, she's still hanging around. Her mom is never around because she hasn't been able to cope, and her dad seems lost as well. On top of that, she's having a really rough time in school because everyone hates her. I think I expected it to be a lot lighter because the reason for Cass's social exile is that she "stole" her best friend's crush ages ago. Maybe this is just the big-city kid in me speaking, but really? I can't fathom a world in which this would actually matter (besides a high school with a 200-kid graduating class, or something). I think if Ms. Crewe had written a more plausible reason for her social pariah-ness รก la [b:Speak|439288|Speak|Laurie Halse Anderson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1310121762s/439288.jpg|118521], it would be a lot more believable and flow better.
I enjoyed watching Cass grow as a person throughout the book, and her relationship with Tim was interesting as well. I'll be perfectly honest, reading about Paige did make me tear up too. I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, but it certainly wasn't terrible. It would be pretty cool if there was a sequel, though.