ARC (Advance Reading Copy). To be published September 11, 2012. Wendy Lamb Books (Random House). 226 pp.
Something is wrong with Jane. As a young child, she found herself drinking poison without knowing why she was doing it. A few years later she was almost run over by a train because her body refused to leave the tracks and, soon after that, was electrocuted when her hand reached out to touch a live wire without her consent. At 17, something made her shoot herself in the head with her father’s nail gun. She flatlined, and was brought back to life. Everyone thinks she’s suicidal or crazy, but Jane knows the truth. Her shadow made her do it.
Strange and horrible nightmares, sleepwalking in the middle of the street, nightmarish visions, and attempts on her own life have been part of Jane’s life ever since the nail gun incident. She and her best friend Lexi are desperately trying to find out what is going on, but the truth shocks them. Over 18 years ago Leo died a horrific death when he was just 13 years old. His ghost lives in Jane, and he believes she belongs to him. Leo inhabits her body as Jane’s shadow, making her do things she doesn’t want to do. Soon, Jane will be with him forever, unless she can figure out a way to save herself from herself.
“Beyond” is quite creepy and a very good read. Both male and female high schoolers will be looking at their shadows in a new way after reading it.
You Decide: Should I Read it or Not? 