I wish that those who love the Twilight series would read more books like these. There are no vampires, (although one ghost is hanging about), but the main character is a real teenage girl who is funny and has real kid problems, (for the most part). I read this in no time because I didn't want to put it down. It's part mystery, part comedy, part teenage drama. Enjoy!

Great story. I agree it's a page turner. I was hooked after the first page. Mature subject matter? Yes and language, but I think it is in keeping with the characters' personalities.It is, at times, funny, sad and haunting.

18-year-old Vera has always loved her best friend Charlie, and kept his secrets. She knows him better than anyone. But when he betrays her, and then gets himself killed, she doesn’t know whether to forgive him or hate him. Is it okay to hate a dead kid? Vera’s grief is palpable, but not exaggerated. She is a very relatable character who wrestles with the weight of her family’s history and struggles to define her identity and find her independence. For a story that tackles death, abuse, abandonment, alcoholism, and domestic violence, the author takes a fairly open and even-handed approach, allowing the characters to navigate a complex world in all shades of gray. With a few notable exceptions, each character walks a fine line between right and wrong with a complicated mix of motivations. While the story does explore the implications of teen alcohol and drug abuse, Vera’s abrupt decision to quit drinking and reconnect with her father at the end of the book seem insincere given the otherwise naunced portrayal of Vera’s character. The realism of the book is tempered with seemingly magical elements such as a talking pagoda, “brief words from the dead kid,” and ghosts that might seem strange or out of place to some readers, but may serve to add depth and complexity to the story for others.

Deep subject matter conveyed in an easy writing style. The characters and their stories will linger in your mind

this book is amazing....read it

Vera Dietz's former best friend, Charlie, is dead and haunting her until she comes forward with the secrets she knows about his death. But her anger at him, at her emotionally distant father, at her mother who left when she was 12, and her basic instinct to just want to be ignored by most of the planet makes for a long internal struggle. While the content of this novel includes topics and themes not unusual in YA fiction, such as abuse, alcohol and drug use, sex, and relationships, it is stylistic approach that King takes that really makes the novel worth reading. While the majority of the novel is told from Vera's perspective, there are occasional chapters from three other perspectives: Charlie, Ken Dietz (Vera's dad), and the Pagoda (the large landmark in Vera's small town). These alternative viewpoints make the novel more interesting, providing insights into the major characters that surround Vera. Ken's flowcharts and the Pagoda's sarcasm are also just delightful in general. But while the mystery of the secrets Vera knows about Charlie's death, it is the discovery of why Vera and Charlie's relationship disintegrated that truly drives the novel and makes it worth reading. An intriguing exploration of relationships, identity, and destiny.

A great and intense story, written in such a way that makes you want to keep reading, because more and more get revealed. This book definitely deserves the award it got!

edgy, mature subject matter.secrets page turner