Shimmer

Gr 4—7—Riley Bloom is 12 and regrets that she'll never have the opportunity to be a real-live teenager. She is dead, and her new job as Soul Catcher is to "coax and convince" lingering spirits to cross the bridge to their new home—the Here & Now. In her second book, Riley encounters Rebecca, an angry, bratty ghost-girl, and meets Prince Kanta, an African prince. The author presents glimpses of a slave revolt in the Danish West Indies during the 1780s. The historical experiences of slaves are coupled with the reflections of Bodhi, Riley's guide and coach, on his personal experience with bullying. Understanding and enjoying this book does not hinge on having read Radiance (Square Fish, 2010), but readers will be quickly drawn to Riley and want to learn more about this spunky character and her previous experiences. The author's sharp contemporary wit in concert with her fascinating fantasy setting and important historical connections will draw readers through this enjoyable novel and have them begging for Riley's third adventure.—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego