Dark Souls

Morris, Paula. (2011). Dark souls. New York: Point/Scholastic. Intent on distracting their teenagers while combining a working vacation, the Tennants embark on a trip to York, England. Sixteen-year-old Miranda sees ghosts, the first one being her best friend Jenna who was killed in a car wreck while her older brother Rob was driving. Rob, too, has been scarred by the experience and becomes claustrophobic in tight places. As the two walk the streets of the historical place, Rob finds a possible romance with a local woman, and Miranda is attracted to a ghostly figure she sees across the alley from her bedroom. She also finds a kindred spirit in the form of Nick whose brother committed suicide years ago. Nick also is able to see ghosts, and Miranda feels as though she can share her feelings and experiences with him in a way that she is no longer able to do with anyone else. But when she realizes that Nick has a connection to their landlord, Lord Poole, she isn't sure how much she can trust her new confidant. As Miranda tries to figure out exactly who Nick is and solve other mysteries that may or may not be related, she gains confidence and takes some ill-advised risks. This is an engaging page-turner that will keep readers guessing right up until the conclusion.

Favorite Line:

“Miranda half expected someone in a long velvet gown to come sweeping out to greet them, and maybe the Brothers Grimm to drop by later for tea” (p. 151).