A review by michelleharris
Spooky Little Girl by Laurie Notaro

3.0

When Lucy Fisher returned from a rather catastrophic vacation in Hawaii, she thought it wasn't possible that things could get any worse. But when she arrived home to find all her possessions unceremoniously tossed out into the yard by her newly ex-fiance and her now-tattered wedding dress in the grasp of a grubby homeless woman, she knew she was wrong. Dead wrong. And now, after losing her home and her fiance, she loses her dog, her job, and, in an unfortunate bus accident, her life. But for Lucy, death is only the beginning. She wakes up to find herself in a school for ghosts, where she must master the skills to go back out into the field and try to discover what unfinished business she has so that she can fully cross over to the afterlife.[return][return]Though the book seems to have a bit of a rough start (I had particular difficulty suspending my disbelief whenever anything involving crack was mentioned--I mean, really. There has to be a better device to move the plot along), once Lucy's dead, the book really gets going and becomes enjoyable. It's lighthearted and funny, and oddly creative in a semi-done before way. I liked many of the supporting characters, particularly Lucy's also departed grandmother, and the whole story surrounding her dog Tulip had my eyes watering as a dog lover. Even though I don''t find Lucy the world's most likable or relatable character, the book was, on the whole, well-written and entertaining. It's a quick read, and I would definitely recommend it for entertainment on a weekend getaway or another similar venue.