Kat is used to her mom's being a medium, but when Kat herself begins seeing the dead, it's the last thing she wants. It's bad enough being unpopular, living in a spooky house and having a mother who wears harem pants: All Kat wants is to fit in, to be normal. Now, just as she has finally made a friend—Jac, a frustrated cellist—ghosts start appearing, ghosts who need her help. When Jac proves to be an unexpected ally, Kat is initially relieved. But then it appears that Jac has a connection to the ghost Kat sees. Can Kat lend a hand? Is she up to the dual task of supporting her friend and helping the dead rest in peace? This is light fare, but Kimmel provides lively, believable characters, some real-life problems and just the right amount of suspense. A satisfying start to a new series, this will especially appeal to tweens who like their paranormal with a touch of humor and some daily life. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Kat has been a loner most of seventh grade, fearing public humiliation if word got out that her mother both sees and talks to ghosts. Supernatural activities like extreme temperature changes and howling would not be considered cool. Against her better judgment, Kat befriends the new girl, Jac, who is always lugging around a humongous cello case. Both outcasts, they become fast friends. Kat confides in Jac about her spirit-sighted mother and that since her thirteenth birthday, Kat has been seeing ghosts, too. A deceased student demands Kat's attention, propelling them into research mode. They discover that the ghost is Suzanne Bemis, a flutist who was taught by Jac's music teacher before she died. Now they have to put the clues together, figure out what Suzanne is trying to tell them, and help her cross over. This delightfully fun and well-written story is a fast, clean read that is sure to be a hit with middle school girls. Its nice blend of supernatural and reality will attract fantasy and non-fantasy readers alike. Even though the friends are not "popular," the characters are strong, and Kat's narration is witty, with quips like "my mother is your basic incense-burning, Indian-Skirt-wearing vegetarian." The plot is a bit overdone with an outcast teen developing super powers, but it is still engaging and compelling. The open-ended conclusion and back cover blurb imply a sequel. Young readers will be anxious for more. Count on this one flying off the shelves.-Sarah Cofer.

Gr 4-7 For Kat, life in Medford, NY, is complicated. Her mom's a professional medium, communing with spirits. After Kat's 13th birthday, she starts seeing ghosts, too, and she fears being ostracized and perpetually friendless. She becomes friendly with Jac, a talented cellist who lugs around her instrument but hasn't played since an incident of intense stage fright, and together the reluctant medium and reluctant musician share their secrets, Kat's new dog, and a supernatural experience in the school library. The ghost of a flute-playing former student needs their help. This is middle-grade fiction meets Ghost Whisperer , combining a spectral plot with a stereotypical adolescent setting that kids will relate tocatty peers and dealing with the social hierarchy mapped out in lunch tables. The book isn't scary, but there is a creepy moment during a predawn school "break-in." The main characters are likable, and the mystery's clues are well paced. There is occasional unnatural-sounding dialogue and odd/old slang. Pop-cultural references abound. Unresolved conflicts remain but are interesting enough to merit reading further installments. Danielle Serra, Cliffside Park Public Library, NJ