Star Crossed

June 1, 2010
Gr 7-10-Logan, a budding astrologer, spends her summer in Monterey, CA, at a camp for young writers. She is taught by Henry Jaffa, an esteemed, paranormal investigative journalist whom she wants for her mentor. The only problem: he's had his students swap their project topics, so Logan's stuck writing about local folk-musician Sean Baylor, who is said to be haunting Monterey. Even worse, her crush turned pain-in-the-butt, Jeremy, insists on researching Sean Baylor, too, and it's a race to find out if his ghost is really there. This breezy read is infused with astrology, from the way Logan perceives everyone inhabiting her world to the snippets from an astrology book that she is reading, which are shared at the beginning of each chapter. At times, they are too lengthy and didactic, detracting from the action. It is hard to believe that Logan and Jeremy would not immediately go online to research Baylor, and that the only way she could find his music is when her father happens to own his album. The intriguing paranormal element is, in the end, not that big a part of the plot. This novel will appeal mostly to teens already interested in astrology, though the flashy cover may attract some new adherents."Jennifer Barnes, formerly at Homewood Library, IL"

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