Ruined: A Novel
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By TeensReadToo
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
In RUINED by Paula Morris, Rebecca feels out of place and homesick when she is suddenly shipped off to stay with an "aunt" in New Orleans while her dad travels to China. She doesn't make friends at school, but she does make a friend in the most unexpected place- the cemetery that her aunt has forbidden her to go to.
The only catch is that her friend, Lisette, is a ghost. Once Rebecca finds out why Lisette is still haunting the city, she's determined to figure out her murder. But she soon finds out that her own past is one of secrets and that her life may be in danger.
I think my favorite part of the story was reading all about New Orleans. I loved reading some of the history of the city and of Mardi Gras. I went there last spring so it was neat to read about things I have learned.
This was a fun ghost story. There were several big twists at the end. Two of them were complete surprises and one I saw coming. I really liked the characters of Rebecca and Aurelia. I found them both believable and Aurelia seemed so cute. This is a fun paranormal read.
Reviewed by: Andrea
The only catch is that her friend, Lisette, is a ghost. Once Rebecca finds out why Lisette is still haunting the city, she's determined to figure out her murder. But she soon finds out that her own past is one of secrets and that her life may be in danger.
I think my favorite part of the story was reading all about New Orleans. I loved reading some of the history of the city and of Mardi Gras. I went there last spring so it was neat to read about things I have learned.
This was a fun ghost story. There were several big twists at the end. Two of them were complete surprises and one I saw coming. I really liked the characters of Rebecca and Aurelia. I found them both believable and Aurelia seemed so cute. This is a fun paranormal read.
Reviewed by: Andrea
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I really enjoyed this book. The author kept you guessing at possible outcomes throughout the novel. Unlike a lot of stories, I wasn't able to see the outcome until near the very end. Good climax, with interesting twists. I would recommend this book to friends.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.1 out of 5 stars
249 reviews
43 of 45 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ruined - A Ghost Story
26 Aug 2009
By Keith Blodgett
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
In a nutshell: Pleasantly Surprised.
When I first started this novel I worried that it would be an angsty, teenage complaint fest. It does start off that way a bit. But then angst and complaints are not an unexpected reaction from a fifteen year old who has been taken out of her school and sent off to live with an 'aunt' for the next six months.
Fifteen year old Rebecca's father, a high powered tech consultant, has to travel to out of the country for an extended business trip. Not wanting to burden the elderly neighbor who normally looks after Rebecca during short business trips he packs her off to stay with 'Aunt' Claudia a Tarot card reader (and something of a clairvoyant) and Claudia's daughter Aurelia in post Katrina New Orleans.
Moving away from her friends would have been bad enough but Aunt Claudia's damp, strange, shotgun style house is stuffed to the rafters with Voodoo talismans, monkey skulls, Buddha statues and the like. Topping that off she's also been enrolled in a snooty, upper-crust, school where friends are few and far between.
Upon spying several of the popular kids sneaking into a nearby cemetery late one night she follows to see what they're up to. After nearly being caught eves dropping on the partying teenagers she runs into Lisette who helps her escape unseen.
After several more chance encounters she learns Lisette is the ghost of a girl about her age who met a horrible end and is told about a terrible curse laid over a hundred years ago on one of her new schoolmate's families.
The story paces well. I finished it rather quicker than expected. It's well written. An easy read. It moves enjoyably from beginning to a rather dramatic and exciting ending. This was categorized on Amazon as 'Juvenile Fiction' but I feel that it will appeal to adults and teens alike who are looking for a bit of light reading.
When I first started this novel I worried that it would be an angsty, teenage complaint fest. It does start off that way a bit. But then angst and complaints are not an unexpected reaction from a fifteen year old who has been taken out of her school and sent off to live with an 'aunt' for the next six months.
Fifteen year old Rebecca's father, a high powered tech consultant, has to travel to out of the country for an extended business trip. Not wanting to burden the elderly neighbor who normally looks after Rebecca during short business trips he packs her off to stay with 'Aunt' Claudia a Tarot card reader (and something of a clairvoyant) and Claudia's daughter Aurelia in post Katrina New Orleans.
Moving away from her friends would have been bad enough but Aunt Claudia's damp, strange, shotgun style house is stuffed to the rafters with Voodoo talismans, monkey skulls, Buddha statues and the like. Topping that off she's also been enrolled in a snooty, upper-crust, school where friends are few and far between.
Upon spying several of the popular kids sneaking into a nearby cemetery late one night she follows to see what they're up to. After nearly being caught eves dropping on the partying teenagers she runs into Lisette who helps her escape unseen.
After several more chance encounters she learns Lisette is the ghost of a girl about her age who met a horrible end and is told about a terrible curse laid over a hundred years ago on one of her new schoolmate's families.
The story paces well. I finished it rather quicker than expected. It's well written. An easy read. It moves enjoyably from beginning to a rather dramatic and exciting ending. This was categorized on Amazon as 'Juvenile Fiction' but I feel that it will appeal to adults and teens alike who are looking for a bit of light reading.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great ghost story!
17 Sep 2009
By Nanciejeanne
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Without giving too much away, this book is a great New Orleans ghost story. It offers the younger reader (I would say tween and up) some nice info about the city, especially Mardi Gras, and a little history. The author makes the main character real and easy for the reader to relate to. There are also some underlying messages of racism, privilege, and bullying. The character does do some things a parent wouldn't like (such as sneaking out of the house at night to go into a graveyard) but nothing that is not in the realm of many teens' imaginations. I read it an immediately passed it onto my daughter, who is appreciating the story and now wanting to learn more about New Orleans history. Most of the main characters are female, but it isn't about fashion, hairstyles, etc. that would preclude it from a boy. Overall, I thought it was a great ghost story that wasn't overly scary and not inappropriate for a younger reader. Nice treat for Halloween-time!!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Ghoul Tale
3 Aug 2009
By Lost in a Book
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This book was as much a historic delight as a ghost story delight. I really enjoyed learning so much about New Orleans past and felt I could really picture the setting of the story because the author spent so much time describing New Orlean's past and present. Every time I pass a cemetary now I get disappointed knowing that in New Orleans there are these elaborate tombs and elevated cemeteries.
I could tell that this book was written with a lot of love. The author put care into even the most despicable characters which made the book that much better. It was written so well, too. I felt like I wasn't reading, rather sneaking into the Lafayette Cemetary with Rebecca and watching the parades of Mardi Gras.
Exhilarting. That's what that last half of the book was. I never knew what was going to happen and when it did I had to have an inhaler on hand. It was the kind of ghost story I used to hear around my campfire (less paranormal and more human) and I think those are the scariest. The ghost had history and her own character and after I really was connected to her story then something happened that totally threw me off. In a good way. I didn't know what to believe until the end!
I reccommend this to anyone who likes history and truly just a well told story. It didn't have any superficial layers. If you like ghosts and curses you'll love the way this story fans out. I think the author did a fabulous job and I can't wait to read her again!
I could tell that this book was written with a lot of love. The author put care into even the most despicable characters which made the book that much better. It was written so well, too. I felt like I wasn't reading, rather sneaking into the Lafayette Cemetary with Rebecca and watching the parades of Mardi Gras.
Exhilarting. That's what that last half of the book was. I never knew what was going to happen and when it did I had to have an inhaler on hand. It was the kind of ghost story I used to hear around my campfire (less paranormal and more human) and I think those are the scariest. The ghost had history and her own character and after I really was connected to her story then something happened that totally threw me off. In a good way. I didn't know what to believe until the end!
I reccommend this to anyone who likes history and truly just a well told story. It didn't have any superficial layers. If you like ghosts and curses you'll love the way this story fans out. I think the author did a fabulous job and I can't wait to read her again!
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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