Blog Tour: We are the Ghosts - Vicky Skinner

We Are the Ghosts
Vicky Skinner
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

After her estranged brother suddenly dies, a girl embarks on a road trip to rediscover who her brother really was in this contemporary YA novel.

When Ellie's estranged brother, Luke, dies in a car accident, she's not sure whether to be devastated that she lost the person who was once her best friend or enraged, still, that he left without a word a year ago. Now, the only people who seem to understand what she's going through are Luke's best friend and his ex-girlfriend, who she bonds with over their desire to figure out where Luke went when he walked out of their lives.

As she gets closer to them, and closer to Cade, a boy who seems determined to get to know her better, she realizes that she’s not the only one with reasons to be angry at Luke. And when Ellie makes a discovery that changes everything, she and her new friends hit the road, hoping that following Luke's trail will bring them answers about the life Luke was living away from them.

REVIEW

Ellie never imagined the next time she would see her brother would be at his funeral, and therefore, when she received a map plotting their epic road trip, she went in search of some answers. The road trip was intended to help her gain some closure, but via this trip, she found a way back to herself, while also mending some important relationships.

I will tell you five things I loved about this book:

1. Skinner did a fantastic job depicting all the different ways we grieve, and during this road trip, I felt like I went through all the stages of grief with Ellie. Flashbacks were used thoughtfully to help give us a better understanding of Ellie's pain, and it really increased the emotional impact for me. 
2. Ellie had to deal with losing her brother twice, and this was a profound loss for her, because her identity was so closely tied to her relationship with him. She didn't just lose her brother and her best friend, she sort of lost herself, and this road trip was as much about her as it was about him. 
3. Wow! So many secrets, and they find a HUGE one in Michigan. That was probably the biggest surprise of the book for me. I thought it was rather sad, but also felt it was a ray of hope for Ellie. 
4. Cade, can we just talk about Cade. He got a gold star for patience and perseverance, and Ellie should count herself lucky to have someone like him on her side. 
5. Skinner incorporated several themes in this book, such as friendship and forgiveness. Just about every character in the book was flawed, and all warranted forgiveness from someone. I was glad grace was shown to these characters and that they were given the opportunity to redeem themselves. 

Skinner did a wonderful job combining elements of friendship, romance, and mystery into this story of grief and loss, and I was more than happy to take this healing journey with Ellie. 

* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Texas, I don’t act like much of a Texan. I like cold weather and hate country music. I have a gorgeous husband, two dogs, and a Literature degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. If I’m not at home reading a book or doing laundry, I’m probably at the bookstore, nannying three rambunctious boys, or stuck on the side of the road with car trouble. I’m a reader, a writer, and a bit of a crazy person.

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Road Trips - Yay or Nay?
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