Growing up in the 1990s, I was a big fan of teen horror novels by authors like Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, and Lois Duncan. Except for those featuring vampires, the teen horror/thriller trend has died down. Ginger High by Melissa Burmester was a breath of fresh air for me. Daisy, the main character, is a smart, strong young woman who will easily connect with teenage girls.
The novel begins in 1901 with a string of murders. The bite marks on the victims' necks are all the same. Could it possibly be vampires? The plot shifts to the present day and focuses on Daisy Fisher, an adolescent. Daisy is transferred to a new school in New York after her old one is destroyed by fire. Ginger High is a private school for students who have extraordinary abilities and powers. She befriends a few of the students who have the ability to teleport, heal others, and create fire. She soon discovers that people have arrived on Earth from a parallel world known as the Kingdom of Animists.
A murder occurs at Ginger High, bringing from the parallel world the supernatural beings Amanta, Matthias, and Taeru. Daisy struggles with her supernatural abilities as well as her mysterious new friend, Fredrick, while they investigate the death. Amanta is forced to confront a long-buried family secret.
Final Thoughts
Melissa Burmester, fourteen, has written a fast-paced debut novel that combines horror, mystery, and fantasy. I adore the book's cover; it reminds me of horror movie posters from the mid-1980s. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery should read this book. The author has a promising future as a writer. -- ★★★½✰
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