From Powells.com
Hot new releases and under-the-radar gems for adults and kids.
Synopses & Reviews
Every apartment Jasmine Garza has ever lived in has been haunted but none of them have been haunted by the only ghost that Jasmine cares about: Papi’s.
Not that her mami believes that anything supernatural is going on. But even ghosts you don’t believe in make real trouble, so Jasmine and her mom are moving (again) to a new apartment in East Hollywood, and this time Jasmine is committed to living a normal life with normal friends.
Enter: Bea Veracruz and Jorge Barrera. They’re the only two members of Jasmine's middle school's Gay Straight Alliance and they’re already obsessed with ghosts. Bea wants to prove herself to her paranormal investigator parents and Jorge is determined to overcome his fear of the beyond. They’re the Gay Spirits Alliance! And when Jasmine confesses she’s been tormented by ghosts for years, they not only believe her, they’re thrilled!
Together they set out to prove that Jasmine’s not just acting out after her father’s death–ghosts are real and Jasmine is haunted. But while Bea and Jorge think they’re just setting out to capture ghosts for proof and then set them free, Jasmine plans to get rid of them for good.
But Jasmine doesn't have the whole story, and when she finds out what her parents kept secret from her, she’ll learn that when you’re “protected” from the past, you lose access to its power.
Review
“Oshiro persuasively cultivates suspense... this breathtaking indictment of corrupted religion’s consequences presents a standout, deeply felt portrait of a teenager’s longing for connection.” —Publishers Weekly
“An edge-of-your-seat mystery with speculative elements. . . An important and searing read on the value of family, agency, and belief.” —Kirkus Reviews
“I have been trying to find words that envelop my feelings for this book into a cohesive sentence, but since that could take years — this book is a stunning, incredible journey showing the ways that storytelling is an integral part of life.” --Buzzfeed
Synopsis
AN INDIE NEXT PICK
A novel of ghosts, grief and the friends who make it all ok by #1 New York Times bestselling co-author Mark Oshiro
"Heartfelt, funny, fast-paced, and spooky--this book will indeed haunt you in all the best ways. I was hooked from page one "
--Rick Riordan, New York Times #1 best-selling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
Jasmine Garza has a problem: a ghost has been following her for years, ever since her Papi died. Not that Mami will admit anything supernatural is going on. But even the ghost she won't acknowledge makes real trouble, so Jasmine and her mami are moving (again) to a new apartment in East Hollywood. This time Jasmine is committed to living a normal life with normal friends.
Enter: Bea Veracruz and Jorge Barrera. They're the only two members of Jasmine's middle school's Gay Straight Alliance and they're already obsessed with all things supernatural. Bea wants to prove herself to her paranormal investigator parents and Jorge is determined to overcome his fear of the beyond. And when Jasmine confesses she's been tormented by a ghost for years, they not only believe her, they're thrilled
Together they set out to prove that Jasmine's not just acting out after her father's death-ghosts are real and Jasmine is haunted. But not everyone agrees how to deal with the departed. As Jasmine's hauntings increase in intensity, her resentment builds. Why is her Mami so secretive about her past? Why is she the center of such a terrible vortex of supernatural activity? And why hasn't her Papi ever reached out to her since he passed?
In order to face her ghosts--both internal and external--Jasmine must come to terms with her own history.
About the Author
Mark Oshiro is the award-winning author of the young adult books Anger is A Gift (2019 Schneider Family Book Award), Each of Us a Desert, and Into the Light, as well as their middle grade books The Insiders and You Only Live Once, David Bravo. They are also the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author (with Rick Riordan) of The Sun and the Star: A Nico Di Angelo Adventure. When not writing, they are trying to pet every dog in the world.