Book Review: Absent by Katie Williams

Absent
Author: Katie Williams
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Paranormal
Released: May 21st 2013
Review Source: Purchased
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) When seventeen-year-old Paige dies in a freak fall from the roof during Physics class, her spirit is bound to the grounds of her high school. At least she has company: her fellow ghosts Evan and Brooke, who also died there. But when Paige hears the rumor that her death wasn't an accident--that she supposedly jumped on purpose--she can't bear it. Then Paige discovers something amazing. She can possess living people when they think of her, and she can make them do almost anything. Maybe, just maybe, she can get to the most popular girl in school and stop the rumors once and for all.

I first heard about Absent when I met Katie Williams herself at the TLA book convention in April. I bought it at the convention, and it’s been sitting on my shelf ever since. When I first picked up Absent, I was immediately immersed in the story, and could not put it down. For a measly 180 pages, it’s truly amazing how much impact the story had on me.

Paige Wheeler is a seventeen year-old prisoner of high school after her tragic death there from a fall from the roof of the school. Now bound to campus with two other ghostly pals, Paige adjusts to life as a bodiless soul. She can’t touch anyone or anything, and no matter how loud she is, no one can hear her. Life as a ghost isn’t very fun, especially when rumors about your death spread around and all you can do is sit around and watch as your reputation falls apart. Disturbed that her accidental fall is being rumored as a jump, Paige will do anything, but to sit around as her best friend now believes in the gossip, too. What can Paige do, though? She can’t touch, talk, or be seen by anyone.

That all changes when Paige discovers a new paranormal ability that will help her spread the truth about her death. However, when Paige, herself, discovers the shocking, horrible truth to her alleged suicide, it might just open up a key so that she and her fellow souls will all be able to be freed from the halls of high school forever.

Absent is a novel that will keep you guessing ‘till the very end. Honestly, the worst thing about this book is that it’s not longer. I would have liked a little bit more closure on the ending, also. Nevertheless, Williams fully delivers in this dramatic paranormal thriller.