REVIEW: Nil by Lynne Matson

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die. Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field. Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.

synopsis

3 of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below. 

Nil was an action-packed thrill ride that involved one of my favorite things in books; survival. My favorite aspect of the book was the overall concept of Nil island. The gates, the patterns, only having one year to catch a gate otherwise you die, etc. I did feel like the world development (more like island development) was a bit underdone. First of all, never in the book was the reason why Nil was named Nil ever explained (even though the people on Nil probably don't know). You have no idea how much I yearned to know why, especially because Nil is such a cool name. The romance between Charley and Thad was definitely "instalovey", and I part understand that because they have to act on their feelings since they have days left together, but I wish that Thad and Charley actually got to know each other better before they were an official item. Nil is told in dual perspective (Charley and Thad), and I enjoyed reading from both, especially Thad's. I loved how I got to experience Nil from his point of view, since he had experienced things before Charley had arrived. Charley wouldn't be considered one of my favorite female characters, but she wasn't exactly annoying, and I liked how she contributed to "Nil City". Natalie was my favorite character because she had other problems to deal with other than catching a gate and surviving on Nil. She had human problems, something the other characters lacked of since they all wanted to get back home. Natalie lost her love Kevin who was also on Nil, and reading about her coping with the lack of someone in her life was so real and invigorating. One thing that I was absolutely bothered with close to the end of the book was how much Charley cared about having sex with Thad. It was annoying to read how she went on and on about how they should do it before Thad's time ran out on the island. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Nil and I would recommend to anybody who would like to read something quick about survival, friendship, and love. 

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less. 

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

GIVEAWAY: Get Happy by Mary Amato

In this poignant, realistic, contemporary YA by a state master list star, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Gayle Forman, a young songwriter builds a substitute family with her friends in place of the broken family she grew up with. A hip high school girl who loves music, writes songs, and is desperate for a ukelele, learns to her shock that her father did not abandon her years ago and has been trying to keep in touch. She begins to investigate him, only to discover that he has a new life with a new family, including the perfect stepdaughter, a girl who Minerva despises.

Mary Amato is an award-winning children's book author, songwriter, musician, puppeteer, and poet. She writes for children of all ages, and is beginning to focus on YA. Her first YA novel was Guitar Notes. Mary lives with her family outside Washington, DC, where she also performs regularly, singing and playing her own songs. Mary is a popular speaker and runs numerous workshops for teachers and students, including many on all aspects of creative writing, even songwriting. The author lives in Silver Spring, MD. You can visit her online at www.maryamato.com.

Giveaways terms and conditions:

This giveaway is US only. No purchase necessary. You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter. Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor (Egmont USA) does not fulfill their giveaway prize. Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize. Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

What if there was an app that told you what song to listen to, what coffee to order, who to date, even what to do with your life—an app that could ensure your complete and utter happiness? What if you never had to fail or make a wrong choice? What if you never had to fall?
Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision making for the best personal results.  Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is following what Lux recommends. When she’s accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school. Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn’t use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux’s recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignore — a choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming.

Review: I received this book from HarperCollins and Lauren Miller's agency for free in exchange for an honest review and read-along with BookBusters. All opinions are my own.    4 of 5 stars. One question still lingers in my head as I'm writing this review. "What if you never had to fall?" (From Free to Fall's synopsis.) Wouldn't I love to live in Free to Fall's world, where everything is somewhat easy, and you have an app to decide everything for you? I interpret "What if you never had to fall? as "What if you never had to think?". I'm asking myself "What if you never had to think?" over and over again because what if I never had to think? I would definitely not be sitting on a couch with my laptop trying to gather enough of my thoughts to write this review. The whole point of a review is about what you think. As I keep on thinking and thinking about Free to Fall's plot, characters, and overall writing, I suddenly realize, that the main focus of this review is definitely not the "basics". Free to Fall made me think about how much of my time is occupied with electronics, and that I need to take a break, and actually look up at the sky, smile at a stranger, admire the sunset, etc. All of these little things are what I'm missing as I'm indoors, on an electronic all the time. (No joke.) The worst part is, is that I know that I should change, but there's nothing that I'm doing about it. I currently am sitting in front pages and pages of notes that are filled with plot and character observations, but none are necessary. Free to Fall is a book that will make you think, pause and realize that you need to get up and take your eyes off of a screen, and it might make you change yourself a bit too (it changed me). I would definitely recommend. (I don't say that a lot.) 
Click here to watch me talk about Free to Fall on my booktube channel! 
  My rating system: (I do use half stars.)  5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.  4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)  3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.  2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.  1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer: Grace

REVIEW: Percy Jacson app

Review:

The Percy Jackson series is my favorite series. It brings a new, refreshing air to modern day Heroes. When I finished House of Hades I was sad, because I wanted to continue reading in this world. I was asked to review this app and given my honest opinion about it. I loved it. Honestly, with all my heart, I loved it! I found it thrilling go on a journey like Percy's and to see what it's truly like to be a demigod. To read your story and choose what path your character and Sam will take is not something that many readers are able to do. It warms my heart to know that Uncle Rick actually writes these stories, because it really shows he cares about us.  Also, being dyslexic I find it excellent that you can change the font size. It's easier to get the words to stay still. Yes, it does cost money for the stories, but it's not too much. It's affordable. I believe that this app is worth downloading and taking the time to explore. I'm eagerly waiting to find out who my parent is! Athena? Apollo?

Reviewer:
Amanda

GIVEAWAY: BZRK by Michael Grant

The Matrix meets Inner Space in this third book in the BZRK trilogy from New York Times best-selling author Michael Grant. The members of BZRK are preparing for their final stand. Noah and Sadie have seen death, and it holds no fear for them. Madness does, though. And losing each other. But they will not sit back, the only witnesses to an invisible apocalypse. The world is being destroyed from the inside out. It's time for them to fight to the last, in the streets and in the nano.This is a story with both thrills and heart, packed with the author's trademark jaw-dropping set pieces and pace. Join them.

★"A great choice for readers with a strong stomach, an interest in the future of biomedical technology and the essential ethical debate, or anyone willing to embark on an unnerving, frighteningly plausible thrill ride all around the globe."—VOYA, perfect 10 review

"Like reading an action movie."—Kirkus Reviews

"The good news is that this concluding volume in the trilogy is both ambitious and riveting. Familiar characters return, but the deft juxtaposition of Lear and Plath—as well as the men in their lives—makes a strong (if gruesome) story even stronger by focusing more on psychological rather than physical damage."—Booklist

Giveaways terms and conditions:

This giveaway is US only. No purchase necessary. You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter. Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor (Egmont USA) does not fulfill their giveaway prize. Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize. Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW AND SIGNED GIVEAWAY: Made For You by Melissa Marr

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she’s confused—who in her sleepy little North Carolina town could have hit her with their car? And why? But before she can consider the question, she finds that she’s awoken with a strange new skill: the ability to foresee people’s deaths when they touch her. While she is recovering from the hit-and-run, Nate, an old flame, reappears, and the two must traverse their rocky past as they figure out how to use Eva’s power to keep her friends—and themselves—alive. But while Eva and Nate grow closer, the killer grows increasingly frantic in his attempt to get to Eva. For the first time, New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr has applied her extraordinary talent to contemporary realism. Chilling twists, unrequited obsession, and high-stakes romance drive this Gothic, racy thriller—a story of small-town oppression and salvation. Melissa’s fans, and every YA reader, will find its wild ride enthralling.

Rate:

3.5 of 5 stars
(please read my rating system)

★ ★ ★

I received an advanced reader's edition of this book from the author's publicity agency and a finished copy later before the release date from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own. 

  3.5 of 5 stars. Please see my rating system further below. 

Wow, Made For You was so different from anything I've ever read before! I finished reading in a 2 hour time period, and couldn't put it down from the start! I was definitely engaged, and the ending had such a plot twist! Made For You is a contemporary-murder/paranormal crime story, and I don't read a lot of books that deal with that kind of focus. 

Another thing that I found very interesting and different was that the book was told in multiple perspectives, and the most interesting one was the murderer himself. I found reading from a murderer's perspective refreshing because usually books similar to Made For You are told in one perspective (the protagonist's) so that way you can see the character progress throughout out the case. I was not exactly fond of the main character Eva, who was very single minded and only seemed to care about her relationship with Nate for a majority of the novel. Nate, Eva's love interest, was a different case, but I also wasn't that fond of him either. He was considered a "man whore" who didn't have feelings, and suddenly all he has is feelings (especially for Eva). 

Eva and Nate's relationship was very "instalovey". One moment Nate is ignoring Eva at each party they see each other at, and the next moment they're talking at the hospital and cuddling like Nate ignoring Eva never happened (even though they did discuss about it). I understand that they were childhood friends/sweethearts, but it's not exactly believable to pick up right where you left off and declare significant love for each other. The character that I did like was Grace (what a coincidence haha). She always had Eva's back, she made me hysterical at times while reading, and I just really liked her because she was one of those kick-butt best friend sidekicks. 

Another character that I surprisingly liked was the murderer or Judge (none of those are his real name so I'm not spoiling) because he had so much depth to him as a character, and the fact that he was so insane and creepy, made me like him even more. Overall, Made For You was a creepy southern-gothic tale that had me on the edge of my seat and captivated me until the very end!


Watch my video review:

My rating system: (I do use half stars.) 

5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect. 

4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.) 

3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.

2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it. 

1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

Reviewer:

Grace

Giveaways terms and conditions:

This giveaway is open to USA residents only.
No purchase necessary.

You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter.
Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor does not fulfill their giveaway prize.

Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. 
The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize.

Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

PAYPAL CASH GIVEWAY: Life on Hold by Beverly Stowe McClure

A paper found. A secret revealed. A girl’s life changed forever. Myra Gibson’s life is a lie. For sixteen years her parents have kept their secret, but the adoption paper she discovers while cleaning the guesthouse tells the truth. As the past and present collide, Myra finally stands up for herself and begins a journey she may regret.

Most of the time, you’ll find Beverly in front of her computer, writing the stories little voices whisper in her ear. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks and snaps pictures of clouds, wild flowers, birds and deer. She also enjoys visiting with her family and teaching a women’s Sunday school class at her church. To relax she plays the piano. Thank you, Mom, for making encouraging me to practice. Her cats do not appreciate good music and run when she tickles the ivories. She is affectionately known as the “Bug Lady” because she rescues butterflies, moths, walking sticks, and praying mantis from her cats. Beverly has several articles published in leading children’s magazines. Two of her stories have appeared in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL Anthologies. She also has nine books for children and teens published, with four more under contract.

|Website|Blog|Twitter|Facebook|

Giveaways terms and conditions:

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/13/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOKS TO MOVIES GIVEAWAY HOP

Welcome to the Books to Movies Giveaway Hop! The winners of this hop (10) will receive eBooks copies of:

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human. When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone. Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade. Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive. Everything is going to change. Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run.

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel. I open my eyes wide now. I sit up as much as I can. And I listen. Stay, he says. Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind? Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters. If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

Follow the rest of the hop:
<!-- end LinkyTools script –>

Giveaways terms and conditions:

No purchase necessary.

You must be at least 13 years of age or older to enter.
Fandom Monthly Magazine is not responsible if the promotion sponsor does not fulfill their giveaway prize.

Winner(s) will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends. The winner(s) will then have 4 days most to respond and claim their prize.

Any questions? Feel free to email us.

You may have to wait for the widget to load.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beyond the Gloaming by Brendan Murphy + PAYPAL CASH GIVEAWAY

It is Easter, 1973 and twelve year old Sebastian Duffy has some serious self-esteem issues. He is beaten by his parents, bullied at school, steals from his friends and still mourning the death of his brother. To cap it all, strange things have begun happening around him and he is finding it hard to distinguish dreams from reality. After a nightmarish assault, he wakes in the Gloaming, a shadow world inhabited by ghosts. There to greet him is Porrig, a creature from Hibercadia, a magical realm crafted from Celtic dreams. Inhabited by Fir Bolg, Tuath and Milesians, it has been overthrown by brother gods from another dreamworld. One brother, Phobitor, is a tyrant and even the Tuath, who took to their underground sidhe millennia ago, are concerned. Sebastian discovers that he alone can save Hibercadia by finding an enchanted spear. Teaming up with the Hibernauts—a mercurial sorceress, an orphaned druidess, a taciturn warrior, a snuff-sniffing leprechaun and a lovelorn poet—he embarks on a fantastical quest, but can he succeed when he is yet to find his magical potential or even his courage, and half the realm is bent on his destruction?

Brendan Murphy was raised in Sheffield, England, with dreams of becoming a writer, and has written every day since he was nine years old. After reading medicine in London and psychiatry in Manchester, he moved to Australia in 1999. He is an Associate Professor at Monash University and has written widely on youth mental health. His nonfiction work on the development of football in Victorian society, From Sheffield with Love, was published in 2007. He lives with his wife, Katrina, and their children, Sebastian and Violette, in a sprawling property built for the composer, Dorian Le Gallienne. They share their garden with a mob of kangaroos, a wombat, two possums, any number of creepy crawlies, and some very feisty kookaburras. In 2013, he was signed to Assent Publishing for a six-book deal. Beyond the Gloaming, the first Sebastian and the Hibernauts adventure, will be published by Assent imprint, Phantasm Books in 2014.

|Website|Twitter|Facebook|

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (spoiler free book review)

Picking up several years after the dramatic conclusion of If I Stay, Where She Went continues the story of Adam and Mia, from Adam's point of view. Ever since Mia's decision to stay - but not with him - Adam's career has been on a wonderful trajectory. His album, borne from the anguish and pain of their breakup, has made him a bona fide star. And Mia herself has become a top-rate cellist, playing in some of the finest venues in the world. When their respective paths put them both in New York City at the same time, the result is a single night in which the two reunite - with wholly satisfying results.

Rate:

5 of 5 stars

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rewind to You by Laura Johnston + GIVEAWAY

  One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away. But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street. When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…

|Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Kobo|

Laura Johnston lives in Utah with her husband and two children. Growing up with five siblings, a few horses, peach trees, beehives and gardens, she developed an active imagination and always loved a good story. She fell in love with the young adult genre both through her experience in high school as well as her job later as a high school teacher. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing, traveling, writing, and above all, spending time with her husband and kids. REWIND TO YOU is her debut novel.

|Website|Twitter|Facebook|

 I’m increasingly aware of Austin—his shower-fresh scent, every curve of muscle and the rise and fall of his chest with every breath—as he stands behind me and wraps his arms around mine. “I’ll teach you,” he says, his hot breath against my ear seeping in. Whispering a thrill. His hand cups the back of mine. I watch as he positions my pinkie and ring fingers over the threads and slides my thumb down. “Hold the football with your fingertips.” I glance at his face above my shoulder, his blue eyes, strong jaw and his lips. And suddenly, football is the last thing on my mind.  

Channeling Destiny by Cherie Colyer + GIVEAWAY {AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT}

Logan Ragsdale and his younger sister, Ariana, have been marked, chosen to be unwilling participants in a war between angels and demons. Logan can sense something's not quite right. Like an unexpected chill on a summer's day, he can feel the unseen closing in. He's had these feelings before and, each time, someone close to him died. He's afraid this time it might just be Ariana. Logan's fears are soon confirmed when he discovers their new friends aren't human, but rather representatives from Heaven and Hell sent to Earth to ensure he and Ariana accept their roles in an ancient prophecy. Demons want Logan to open the gates of Hell. Ariana has the power to stop them, but if she chooses to side with Heaven to spare the lives of thousands of innocent people, she'll damn her brother for eternity. Together, they must derail the biblical event if they hope to save themselves and the future of mankind...but what price are they willing to pay to keep the other safe?

ll Amazon ll B&N ll 

Cherie believes there’s a little magic in everyone. She also believes in following her dreams and never giving up. Her books are proof of that. Besides writing, Cherie enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, the great outdoors, and she loves a challenge. While she has had many great experiences, what she finds most satisfying is seeing her children and stories grow into their own exciting and distinct entities. Cherie lives in Illinois with her family. This is her second book for young adults.

ll Website ll Blog ll Twitter ll Facebook ll Pintrest ll Goodreads ll 

She put her hands on my waist and rose to her tiptoes. “It’s a sweet thought,” she said, her breath warm on my lips. “But my fate has already been sealed.”

Her perfume seemed to wrap around me, filling me with the urge to pull her closer even though my brain screamed for me to step back. I wondered if this was how the people I made suggestions to felt—compelled to please me—because right then I wanted to sweep Kira up in my arms and kiss her. Although something inside of me clung to the thought that I needed to stay focused on why I was there, every other fiber of my being coaxed me to just let down my guard and enjoy being in a secluded place with a pretty girl. 

Kira brushed her lips against mine. 

“I’m not what I seem,” she said in a husky whisper.

She kissed me before I could reply. Her lips were too hot against mine. My mind exploded with images of burning rivers and pillars made of bone. Lifeless trees reached out of the ground like the hands of the dead. Fire and brimstone rained down on the living. I could hear the screams of people I couldn’t see and smelled decaying flesh. Nausea overcame me, breaking the spell I was under. I shoved Kira away, doubled over at the waist, and threw up.

“Like I said, don’t trust me,” she warned.

Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins + AMAZON GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY {Fandom Monthly BOOK TOUR}

 When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

ll Goodreads ll Facebook ll Amazon paperback ll Amazon eBook ll

 Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.

ll Website ll Twitter ll Google+ ll Goodreads ll Facebook ll Tumblr ll Pintrest ll 

When I died, I expected to go to heaven. 
Okay. Maybe hell. It’s not like I was perfect or anything. But I was sort of hoping for heaven. 
Instead, I went to Alabama.
Yeah. I know. It’s weird. 
I died in Dallas, my hometown. I was killed, actually. Murdered. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. I don’t like to remember them myself. Some jerk with a knife--and probably a Bad-Mommy complex. Believe me, if I knew where he was, I’d go haunt his ass.
At any rate, by the time death came, I was ready for it--ready to stop hurting, ready to let go. I didn’t even fight it.
And then I woke up dead in Alabama. Talk about pissed off.
You know, even reincarnation would have been fine with me--I could have started over, clean slate and all that. Human, cow, bug. Whatever. But no. I ended up haunting someplace I’d never even been.
That’s not the way it’s supposed to work, right? Ghosts are supposed to be the tortured spirits of those who cannot let go of their earthly existence. If they could be convinced to follow the light, they’d leave behind said earthly existence and quit scaring the bejesus out of the poor folks who run across them. That’s what all those “ghost hunter” shows on television tell us.
Let me tell you something. The living don’t know jack about the dead.
Not this dead chick, anyway.

~~~~~~

As Molly straightened up, the man slipped the wire over her head and twisted it around her neck. She struggled, but he pulled the garrote tighter and tighter.
I was screaming at the top of my ghostly voice, for all the good it did me. I moved up behind the man and beat at his back with closed fists--fists that slipped in and out of his back without ever making real contact. He shuddered a little--clearly he was one of the very slightly sensitive ones--but he didn’t loosen his hands.
I reached up and tried to grab the wire, tried to pull against the pressure he was exerting on the wire and it did loosen for an instant. But only for an instant. The living have more control over solid objects than the dead do. I never resented that fact more than at that moment.
But I kept trying. I kept trying as Molly’s face turned purple, then blue, then black, kept trying even as she drooped in the man’s grip.
Then he loosened the wire and it was too late. I watched that wispy, light-on-fog life force slip out of Molly and move on to wherever it is that other people go when they die. I was glad she didn’t show up next to me as a full-blown ghost. At that moment, I wouldn’t have wished my impotent half-existence on anyone. 
I couldn’t help thinking that if I’d been alive, I might have been able to save her.
If I could have cried real tears, I would have. As it was, I was sobbing hoarsely and calling the man every dirty name I could think of.
I was still cursing as I followed him around the kitchen. First he opened the pantry and pulled out a box of Hefty garbage bags. Then he grabbed a knife out of the block on the counter. And finally, he picked up Molly’s body and carried it to the bathroom.

~~~~~~

“Hey,” I said, hurrying after the woman. “Wait up.”
“I know you’re not talking to me,” she said. She stared straight ahead and pushed her cart down the middle of the aisle toward housewares.
“I am talking to you. Look. I know this is really weird, but I need your help.”
“Well, I’m not talking to you. I don’t know what your problem is, but you can take it somewhere else.”
I wanted to reach out and grab her cart, to make her stop and talk to me, but of course I couldn’t. Which gave me an idea.
I scurried out in front of her, planting myself in her path.
“Move,” she said.
“Not until you hear me out. Please?”
She moved her cart to the left. I stepped out to intercept her. She moved to the right. So did I. 
“You got some kind of death wish or something?” she asked.
I laughed and shook my head. “If only you knew.”
“I’ve got no time for this,” she said. And she slammed into me with her shopping cart.
At least, that’s what she planned to do. 
The shopping cart, however, slid right through me. When it stopped, the basket had sliced cleanly through my midsection. The bottom rack merged with my ankles. From my perspective, it looked like two perfectly solid objects--me and the shopping cart--had melted together. I don’t know what she saw.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
The woman’s eyes widened, then rolled up into her head as she slumped to the ground in a dead faint.
I bent down to try to wake her up, but no matter how hard I concentrated on making contact, I couldn’t even touch her.

I hate being a ghost.