Synopsis

After Julie’s grandmother passes away, she is forced to move across town to the not-so-fancy end of Beverly Hills and start over at a new school. The only silver lining to the perpetual dark cloud that seems to be following her? Clark—a die-hard fan of Buffy and all things Joss Whedon, who is just as awkward and damaged as she is. Her kindred spirit.

When the two try to contact Julie’s grandmother with a Ouija board, they make contact with a different spirit altogether. The real kind. And this ghost will do whatever it takes to come back to the world of the living.

Review

I received an copy of Teen Spirit from Harper Collins Australia for a copy. This is no way influenced my review at all.

I didn’t know what exactly to expect when I started reading Teen Spirit. I really enjoyed it. It was an original, interesting read.
I love how the book is separated into different parts. It just adds to the originality of the book. The cover is also just so gorgeous.

I think the writing style would suite teens from about 13 years old, but there are some scenes that are for a teens a little older. I really enjoy that Francesca Lia Block used a lot of pop culture references; Buffy ( which made me squeal) Joss Weldon, Lenny Kravitz, Angelina Jolie, etc. It’s a quick, easy read and I think for someone that does not read that much, this is a perfect read.

The first 2 chapters were, I think, very powerful. They set up the whole novel._We met our main protagonist Juile in the first chapter and we get to know her. I really enjoyed Juile as a character. She is likable and very interesting. She is your typical teen girl with a little differences here and there. I love that we get to see Juile grow throughout the novel. I would have liked a little more characterisation, but overall she was a well set out character. I also like that we get a prologue as it really sets up the relationship with Juile and her grandmother.

I have mixed feelings about Juile’s mother. At the most she annoyed the hell out of me. I really disliked her. You could even say that I hated her at the most. Her mother just knows how to tick all those boxes that get on my nerves. I guess I can add her to the list of YA mothers that I don’t seem to like.

Clark, Clark, Clark. He is just so cute. He is such a dork and I love him to bits, but again I wish I got more about him. These wasn’t too much on his appearance, but his attitude spoke for it’s self(itself). Granted, I adored him at first and then …

There were just so many things that I didn’t expect to happen at all and when they did, I was really shocked. It was awesome.

The supernatural elements were not scary as such, but defiantly creepy and freaky. There were times where I had to close the book and then open it and re-read because I had to take it all in. There wre just so many unexpected things, but as the book went on everything started to fall into place and BAM the ending. WOW.

There were some parts that really got to me and though I didn’t cry, I did feel upset. Especially when Juile talked about her grandmother. It was heartbreaking at times.

Teen Spirit lacked a little characterisation but the plot of the story was really intriguing and from about halfway. I could not put it down. I really enjoyed Teen Spirit overall.

I give Teen Spirit by Francesca Lia Block 3.5 Stars

Quotes;

 Have you read Teen Spirit? What did you think of it? Will you read it?