Tombstone Tea

Ah, another story detailing the attraction between the living and one of the dead... I've read a few of these not-quite-romances, and actually it's a genre I rather enjoy. The primary setting of this book is Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, one of the most famous of the large Victorian-era cemeteries in the US. I would recommend that anyone reading the story do a bit of on-line research regarding the location; if you get a sense of place, it will help bring the story to life in your mind. A quick internet search will bring up dozens of photos of the vistas this cemetery affords---what a marvellous place to wander through! Some really amazing monuments, there. The story is divided (roughly) into thirds, with the first section of the book telling of Jessie's misadventures in the cemetery at night. The second is a flashback giving a bit of Paul the ghost's background (Paul is of course simply dreamy---ha!). And the third brings all the story elements together. It is, unfortunately, the third section in which the book falls short. The big climax of the plot is resoundingly ANTIclimactic; really, it was quite disappointing for me. Still, I liked both of the main characters; would love to read another story about them getting into some sort of adventure. So, despite the book's shortcomings I'm still going to recommend it for ghost-story fans. The dust jacket on this one isn't bad, but I have to say it is not the most flattering portrait of Jessie, that's for sure! Well, I mean it isn't terrible, but it does seem to focus on her, um, rear end...

Jessie has recently moved to a new town and is going to a new school. In order to be accepted by the "in" girls at school - she has been dared to spend the night at the local cemetery with a list of names whose graves she has to find. Upon entering the cemetery, she meets Paul, a handsome boy who works as a caretaker at the cemetery. Paul explains to Jessie that this evening is the rehearsal for the Tombstone Tea: a fund-raising performance in which actors impersonate the people buried in the cemetery. But Jessie quickly discovers that they aren't actors at all but the ghosts of men and women buried in the cemetery. When one of the ghostly inhabitants decides to adopt Jessie to replace her lost daughter, our heroine fears she may never escape the cemetery. Once again, I was suckered in by the neat cover - but this was surprisingly really good. It was an exciting and interesting story. I loved reading about the cemetery's ghosts and how they came to reside there as ghosts. Jessie was a great heroine, but all the quirky and zany ghosts were my favorite characters. They had such history and depth to them. Ms. Dahme's lyrical prose was stunning at parts - you could almost feel the cold seeping into your bones and the ghostly apparitions chasing poor Jaime through the cemetery. Her details and descriptions made it very visual for me. Paul was this guiding light for Jaime and I was hoping more would come from their friendship. Although the story ends and leaves no loose ends, I got the feeling that there might be a continuation to it. Many of the ghosts were introduced in detail, but there were still so many more that you just catch a glimpse of. I can definitely see Jessie having more adventures in the cemetery and there's also Paul to think about (love interest?). Overall it was a gripping and enjoyable read that I would recommend for readers of all ages who enjoy young adult fiction.

Starting a new school in sophomore year is tough, and Jessie is worried she won't make friends. Especially once people find out that she sort of zones out now and again. Jessie herself isn't quite sure what happens when she has her episodes, but she senses other people, and hears whispers and bits of laughter. Her old friends just teased her about it and accepted it as a personal quirk, but she's afraid her new school won't be as tolerant. And in the meantime, she's getting awfully lonely. So when a group of girls offers up a dare in exchange to join their group, Jessie jumps at the chance. Only now that she's standing at the cemetery gates, she's starting to have second thoughts. The dare is relatively simple: Jessie is to sneak into the huge Laurel Hill Cemetery after hours by herself and hunt down 10 specific gravesites. To prove she finds them, she must make a rubbing of each tombstone. Jessie is desperate, not stupid; she knows the girls are just playing a joke on her. But she hopes that in pulling off their dare, she'll impress them enough to make a few friends. So she slips through the closed gates after dark, all alone, and hopes for the best. Only it turns out, she's not all alone. Almost immediately, she runs into Paul, a young caretaker of the cemetery. He explains that a group of actors has gathered that night to rehearse the Tombstone Tea, an event at the cemetery where visitors can come and talk to actors playing the parts of the dead. Paul agrees to help Jessie find the 10 tombstones and introduce her to a few of the actors along the way. To Jessie, the actors seemed to be playing their parts too well, especially a woman named Jenny who is searching for her daughter. Maybe these so-called actors aren't who they say they are; or, perhaps, they are who they say they are and not actors at all. And Jessie discovers she has a special gift that allows her to communicate with them. But then the situation grows out of control when Jenny takes a particular interest in Jessie, and decides she wants Jessie to stay with her in the cemetery...forever. Running Press Teens brings us Joanne Dahme's third riveting novel, complete with the exquisite writing style we've come to expect from this talented author. Dahme has a welcome way of pulling the emotions of the reader to the surface in order to really feel her story, and uses dramatic descriptions that touch every sense; touch, taste, smell, sight and sound are all fulfilled and satisfied. Plus, her vivid characters demand attention and feel so alive (especially the dead ones). Fans can look forward to her next book, CONTAGION, due out in the fall of 2010. --- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman

You know you love a book when you read the last sentence and your first thought is 'I really want a sequel'! A surprisingly engaging title! I'm very happy I picked this book up at ALA this year. The story follows Jessie, a sophomore in a new high school, who, on a dare from the 'in' group at her new school, spends a night in an old cemetery. The visit to the cemetery opens a can of worms when her 'gift' of sight makes her quite popular with the residents of the cemetery, especially one very negative spirit. With the guidance of her friend Paul, she has to face all her fears about her gift and, in doing so, learns much more than she expects about living life. The title and cover brought me in originally, the lyrical text sucked me in even more, and the unique characters sealed the deal. I loved this title. The characters didn't seem forced and the romance, however slight, was spot on. Jessie's journey from being afraid of her gift to accepting it seemed more natural than other 'ghost seer' titles. Everything just worked. Fans of Laura Whitcombs, 'A Certain Slant of Light' will most likely enjoy this supernatural tale. Highly recommended.