Dead Girl Walking

Seventeen-year-old Amber Borden is a typical teenager but with aspiring hopes of college, followed by an exciting career as an agent for celebrities. But the moment Amber receives news of getting a scholarship happens to also be the moment she is hit by a motor vehicle. Her body is in a coma, but Amber's spirit is in limbo with her Grammy Greta. Amber is given directions back to her body, but due to her lousy sense of direction, Amber takes a wrong turn and ends up in the wrong body. Leah Montgomery is not only the most popular girl in school, but her family is extremely rich. Her life seems perfect! So when Amber wakes up in Leah's body she is shocked to hear that Leah has attempted suicide. It quickly becomes apparent that the entire Montgomery family is messed up. A more dysfunctional family would be hard to find. Amber's biggest problem is trying to figure out how to get back into her own body, before her organs are donated and the life support is unplugged. ***** Kudos to Amber for not wanting to become popular herself. Amber's ambitions are only to make friends of wealthy and talented people for possible networking strings in her future career. I cannot recall a more unique reason for wanting to be noticed. Few teens actually care enough about new students to make them feel welcome instead of as an outcast. She is my ideal vision of an angel. (No kidding.) The author has done an outstanding job of making Amber special, in more ways than one. Every character has their own individual style, attitude, and set of quirks. By the time the story was over, I was even looking at one of the snobby, popular girls in a totally different light. (I will leave readers to find out which one that is and why.) As for the limbo scenes, the visit with Grammy Greta and Cola was fantastic. I have read a variety of different scenarios about what a person witnesses once dead, but Singleton's view is a refreshing change. I like her idea. I can hardly wait to read the second book and see what surprises are in store for me. Stellar! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I may be an old woman, but I do remember how unhappy I felt at times as a teenager. I always wanted to be more popular or pretty or rich. Well, in this story, Amber gets the chance to live the life of the most popular girl in school and sees that life is not always as it seems when you are in the other person's shoes. An excellent book--can't wait for my granddaughter to read it.

Determination and a go-get-'em attitude are things that Amber Borden has always had. So what if most of her advice comes from self-help books, it's how you use it that counts and Amber has her sights set on becoming a famous talent agent. Even though her social status is hovering somewhere near the bottom of the ladder she is determined to not let this get to her and climb her way to the top. Her efforts begin to pay off when she somehow snags herself an invitation to a party at the house of Jessica Bradley, the second-most popular (and second-most snobby) girl in school. Amber is sure that this is only the beginning of her rise to the top. If only she could find her way to the party. It seems like her horrible sense of direction is working to sabotage her quest for greatness. Luckily, her best friend Dustin, a very paranoid conspiracy theorist, is just a phone call away to set her back on track. Amber's life is just about to move into the fast lane when it all comes to a screeching halt after a tragic accident. When she goes to the great beyond, she reunites with her grandmother who tells her it's not her time to join her yet. She is given directions back to her body, but she makes a wrong turn at the Milky Way. When Amber wakes up, she finds herself in a body that is not her own, the body of Leah Montgomery, the most popular (and most snobby) girl in school. Amber will soon learn that having money, beauty and popularity are not always a good thing, and they do not guarantee happiness. Taking a walk in someone elses designer shoes isn't always easy, especially when you are being chased by evil forces and racing the clock to save your own body. Not to mention the problems that romance throws into the situation. If Amber is ever going to make things right, she's going to need some help. But who would believe such a crazy story? She's got a lot of work to do, and time is running out. Dead Girl Walking is a story told with humor, heart, adventure and incredible insight. The characters are endearing and you will want to cheer them on as they search for a place to belong. While you are laughing at the ridiculous situations that Amber gets herself into, you also find yourself touched by the relationships that bind her to so many people. I also must add that Singleton is a master of the cliffhanger, so you will be begging for the next installment. I am exctited to say that there wll be two more books to come.

Directly after eavesdropping, learning how the populars view her, and finding out that she's received a collegiate scholarship, an out-of-control mail truck hits Amber. Despite her severe injuries, she doesn't die. Exactly. Instead, her soul ends up in the body of a fellow classmate: Queen B Leah. Leah just attempted suicide and Amber's desperately trying to adapt to this new life. She's dying to know why the most popular girl in school hates life. Slowly, Amber uncovers layers of Leah's life and realizes that things aren't always wonderful for the school's golden girl. When Amber realizes that she might never escape Leah's body, she attempts to make some major adjustments. Linda Joy Singleton starts up a new series with DEAD GIRL WALKING, where she perfectly combines the hardship of teen life with a paranormal aspect, immediately hooking readers. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

DEAD GIRL WALKING LINDA JOY SINGLETON YA paranormal Rating: 4.5 Enchantments Amber has a terrible sense of direction but that doesn't stop her from going to Jessica Bradley's party. Jessica is friends with Leah Montgomery, who just happens to be one of the most popular kids at school. Taking a tip from one of her many self-help books, Amber hopes to meet Mr. Mongomery, who's in the music business. After overhearing what the girls really think of her, she takes off realizing she was foolish to even think Leah and her friends would want to be around her. Later, after a freaky accident, she has an out of body experience. To her surprise she ends up in none other than Leah Montgomery's body. Now it's up to Amber to figure out how to get back into her own body. Maybe being the most popular in school isn't what it's all cracked up to be. When she tries to tell her `new' family the truth, the father threatens to send her to a mental institution. Her real family is back at the hospital waiting to donate her organs. Time is ticking away. She has to get back to her own body or she will forever be AmberLeah. I really loved this teen-like Quantum Leap tale. This fast-paced and suspense filled novel will have the reader following Amber as she tries to figure out how to get back into her own body while dealing with sudden popularity. Singleton does a great job of showing a paranormal world with some twists and surprises. I especially loved the role a beloved pet plays in comforting the soon to be deceased. Amber's struggles feel real especially as she tries to communicate with her friends and family on what has happened. I couldn't help but think this would make a wonderful teen TV series. Each chapter ends with a hook, pulling you in to read more. Linda Joy Singleton is the author of the 2007 YALSA Quick book Witch Ball, the third book in the The Seer series. Check out more on Linda on her website: www.ljsingleton.com and her book trailer at: www.youtube.com/watch?V=8VUQmV2C2I Kim ENCHANTING REVIEWS September 2008