Tighter

Gr 9 Up—Following the heartbreaking revelation that her secret relationship with a teacher is over, Jamie allows her mother to convince her to become an au pair for the summer as an emotional distraction. Unable to cope normally, the teen pops prescription pills pilfered from her family members indiscriminately throughout her time on Little Bly. Already haunted by the spirits of two relatives who took their own lives, Jamie falls prey to the restless spirits of her charge's previous au pair and her boyfriend who died the previous summer. As the teen becomes more and more disoriented, unsure of what's real and what's in her head, her new friends become concerned for her mental health. Full of mystery, spectral encounters, and disorienting lapses in time, this is a ghost story that melds seamlessly with one of a mental breakdown. A stunning and unexpected revelation brings Jamie's story to a startling conclusion. An engaging thriller with wide appeal.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT