This is not your typical realistic fiction book. Yes, it focuses on a normal teenager of the United States, but if also has a somewhat magical sense to it. There is no real magic or flashy powers, but the main character, Mona Lisa LaPierre, has what others might call a sixth sense. She may also have a seventh, if you can consider her skill with blue music on her guitar a sense. The other is her ability to somewhat commune with spirits. This is a big part of the book, as one of the spirits she sees, Mia Delaney, was a murder victim. She also has a sense to when her deceased grandmother is around, frequently using a charm bracelet to ask her questions. However, despite these "spiritual encounters," they are not described in a fantastical way that you might find in a normal fantasy book. They are more like vague descriptions of what she sees through her subconscious.

 

Then there is her Native American aspect. Her grandfather is Mogehan, while her grandmother was Abenaki. Both play a large role in both Mona's present life and in events that lead up to it. It's an interesting combination of blues music and Native American folklore, with a side a murder mystery.

 

One of the better parts of the book is the way the narrator (Mona) talks. I believe Ms. Zobel has captured the whirling mind of teenager pretty well. While other authors can claim the same, this is the first I've read that has a level of frankness that I often see in myself and my fellow high school peers.

 

The downside to this book is the time frame. At some points, I felt like some of the transitions were too choppy, while others were way too sped up. And yet others didn't have enough detail.  The whole story takes place during the summer holidays, which seems both too long for the book and too short. I feel that the events needed to be more equalized in time. 

 

All in all, this is not a book I would recommend. Personally, I'm not a fan of realistic fiction, and while it had an interesting twist of ideas, it was not exciting enough to keep me engaged all throughout the book.