Helen is a Light, a ghost. She haunts hosts, the living known as the Quick. She never strays too far away, for if she does, she feels the cold hand of her death coming to claim her. She does not know why she has not reached heaven, but feels that she has done something terrible. Because of her long love of literature Helen clings to poets, writers and playwrights, anyone who shares her love of literature. Helen's current host is Mr. Brown, a high school English teacher. Helen hovers over his shoulder whispering helpful hints in his ear and giving him inspiration.
One day, whilst in one of Mr. Brown's classes, something amazing happens. Someone sees her for the first time in 150 years. The Quick, is a boy, one of Mr. Browns students. Helen is terrified but intrigued. How did this young man see her? So begins her relationship with James. James is a Light, inhabiting the empty body of a Quick. Helen is the only other Light he has seen. Helen is so enthralled with James that she takes James as her new host. James tells her that the spirits of some of the Quick have left their bodies and the bodies are empty vessals waiting for someone to inhabit them. So Helen decides to take a body so that she can taste, feel, read, breathe and be alive again. And also to be with James.
Helen takes the body of a young girl in James' school. Finally after so long, Helen is alive again and with someone who cares about her, James. But Helen also sees flashes of her life, as does James. And they come to realise why their bodies spirits left. They both must face their deaths, and deal with the shambles of their bodies lives. But they have each other.
This was an enjoyable book. It had a unique story and heartwarming characters trying to find each other and themselves. For Laura Whitcombs' first novel this was a great success.