Official Review: A Dance Out of Time
Posted: 28 Apr 2015, 12:56
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Dance Out of Time" by Catherine Greenfeder.]
3 out of 4 stars
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School is out, and eighteen-year-old Georgina Claythorne has decided to spend the summer helping out at her father's bed-and-breakfast in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. However, Georgina isn't your typical college freshman on vacation: ever since she was a little girl, Georgina has been able to communicate with the spirits of the dead, and the Victorian mansion that now houses her father's business is teeming with paranormal activity. With the help of her boyfriend, Jake, and a guest with an unusual interest in the haunting, Georgina seeks to unravel the house's secrets and bring peace to the departed souls trapped within its walls.
A Dance Out of Time is the second novel that chronicles the ghost hunting adventures of Georgina Claythorne and Jake Hanlon. Although I have not read the first installment of the series, I enjoyed this book enough to have developed an interest in reading it. This is a nicely written YA novel that is well-suited for younger teenagers.
The plot moves at a steady pace, and the author does a wonderful job of providing just enough detail to paint a clear picture of the characters and settings without being tedious (something of vital importance for the target audience). The writing flows smoothly and contains minimal errors, all of which can be easily corrected and cause few distractions from the story itself.
The author demonstrates clear knowledge of Ocean Grove (a real place) and the Jersey Shore, giving this otherworldly novel an element of realism. Furthermore, Hurricane Sandy's effects upon the community are mentioned more than once, which at this date makes the novel current (another concern for younger readers) and provides a timeframe for the events that unfold.
My favorite aspect of this novel is the relationship between Georgina and Jake. I was under the impression that the two were friends before they became an item, and their interactions indicate that there is much more than physical attraction going on between them. Personally, I feel that our culture places too much emphasis on the physical aspect of relationships, and it was refreshing to encounter a YA story that wasn't overly focused on it.
I also appreciate that the author kept this novel clean. Georgina and Jake do not engage in sexual activity and steer clear of other so-called adult behaviors (such as drinking, drug use, and swearing), making them good role models for the target audience.
My one criticism of the book is that some of the dialogue seemed a little forced and unnatural. A few times I caught myself thinking, "People don't talk this way<" but these moments weren't too frequent. Although I did find these places in the dialogue to be a little distracting, I'm confident that the can be improved upon through editing.
I give A Dance Out of Time 3 out of 4 stars for being a solidly written YA novel. Again, the dialogue could be improved a little, but overall this is a good story. I would recommend this book to middle school girls, especially those who have an interest in ghost stories and the paranormal.
******
A Dance Out of Time
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble
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3 out of 4 stars
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School is out, and eighteen-year-old Georgina Claythorne has decided to spend the summer helping out at her father's bed-and-breakfast in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. However, Georgina isn't your typical college freshman on vacation: ever since she was a little girl, Georgina has been able to communicate with the spirits of the dead, and the Victorian mansion that now houses her father's business is teeming with paranormal activity. With the help of her boyfriend, Jake, and a guest with an unusual interest in the haunting, Georgina seeks to unravel the house's secrets and bring peace to the departed souls trapped within its walls.
A Dance Out of Time is the second novel that chronicles the ghost hunting adventures of Georgina Claythorne and Jake Hanlon. Although I have not read the first installment of the series, I enjoyed this book enough to have developed an interest in reading it. This is a nicely written YA novel that is well-suited for younger teenagers.
The plot moves at a steady pace, and the author does a wonderful job of providing just enough detail to paint a clear picture of the characters and settings without being tedious (something of vital importance for the target audience). The writing flows smoothly and contains minimal errors, all of which can be easily corrected and cause few distractions from the story itself.
The author demonstrates clear knowledge of Ocean Grove (a real place) and the Jersey Shore, giving this otherworldly novel an element of realism. Furthermore, Hurricane Sandy's effects upon the community are mentioned more than once, which at this date makes the novel current (another concern for younger readers) and provides a timeframe for the events that unfold.
My favorite aspect of this novel is the relationship between Georgina and Jake. I was under the impression that the two were friends before they became an item, and their interactions indicate that there is much more than physical attraction going on between them. Personally, I feel that our culture places too much emphasis on the physical aspect of relationships, and it was refreshing to encounter a YA story that wasn't overly focused on it.
I also appreciate that the author kept this novel clean. Georgina and Jake do not engage in sexual activity and steer clear of other so-called adult behaviors (such as drinking, drug use, and swearing), making them good role models for the target audience.
My one criticism of the book is that some of the dialogue seemed a little forced and unnatural. A few times I caught myself thinking, "People don't talk this way<" but these moments weren't too frequent. Although I did find these places in the dialogue to be a little distracting, I'm confident that the can be improved upon through editing.
I give A Dance Out of Time 3 out of 4 stars for being a solidly written YA novel. Again, the dialogue could be improved a little, but overall this is a good story. I would recommend this book to middle school girls, especially those who have an interest in ghost stories and the paranormal.
******
A Dance Out of Time
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Barnes and Noble
Like LivreAmour217's review? Post a comment saying so!
