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    The Body Finder
    The Body Finder
    The Body Finder
    Ebook313 pages4 hours

    The Body Finder

    By Kimberly Derting

    4/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The first book in the Body Finder series from Kimberly Derting is equal parts romance and mystery.

    Sixteen-year-old Violet is hiding two secrets. The first is her confusing new feelings for her childhood best friend Jay. The second is her unusual ability to sense the dead...and the people who killed them. Violet has never considered her morbid ability to be a gift, but when a serial killer begins terrorizing her small town, Violet realizes she may be the only person who can stop him.

    Ever protective of her, Jay agrees to help Violet, and as they search, Violet realizes she isn’t the only one whose emotions have changed. But as they fall in love, Violet is also getting closer and closer to discovering the killer...and becoming his prey herself.

    The Body Finder is the compulsive first book in the four-book Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting.

    Editor's Note

    A heady mixture…

    A serial killer, a dreaded paranormal power, and the drama of prom make for a heady mix in Kimberly Derting’s debut. The romantic tension and search for the killer will keep you feverishly flipping pages.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMar 16, 2010
    ISBN9780061985744
    The Body Finder
    Author

    Kimberly Derting

    Kimberly Derting is the author of the Cece Loves Science series, the Body Finder series, the Pledge trilogy, and the Taking series. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where the gloomy weather is ideal for writing anything dark and creepy. Her three beautiful (and often mouthy) children serve as an endless source of inspiration and frequently find things they say buried in the pages of their mother’s books. You can visit her online at www.kimberlyderting.com.

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    Reviews for The Body Finder

    4/5

    136 ratings74 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I couldn't stop once I started I read this all at once. I was completely drawn in by the story!
    • 3/5
      The Body Finder was an interesting read. Sixteen year old Violet Ambrose has the ability to detect dead bodies as well as people or animals that have recently killed someone. In this first installment in the series Violet helps her uncle, Chief of Police, Stephen Ambrose with the investigation into the disappearances and deaths of several local girls. Although I enjoyed the book it was a bit heavy on the romance at times. Overall though I though is was a good start to the series and look forward to reading the next installment
    • 4/5
      I’ve had my eye on The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting for a while now, and after reading this first book in the series I can safely say I enjoyed it and look forward to adding the other books to my reading pile. This is a debut novel that is a bit rough around the edges, but there is enough good stuff here to make me want to see what happens next.I love suspense/thrillers, so when I saw a book with a heroine who could “find” the bodies of those who have been murdered I was excited to give it a try. The mystery turned out to be the strongest part of the book so that was a relief. With some of the chapters told from the killer’s point of view, there was a nice sense of menace overlaying parts of the story and providing an ominous feel whenever the body of another teenage girl was discovered. What tended to drag things down a bit were the personal issues Violet was facing as she realized her true feelings for her best friend, Jay.Violet’s ability to sense the dead – and not just any dead, but those who were murdered – is a cool but tragic ability, and I liked the way Derting presented it. Starting with the introduction of Violet as a child finding her first body, the information about her ability was spread nicely through the story and never felt like a lecture. Obviously Derting put a lot of thought into how Violet’s ability worked and the way she had coped with it through the years. This aspect of Violet is one of the reasons I want to see what happens next with her, as her ability leads her to other crimes and victims that could turn into some intriguing mysteries.Outside her ability, however, Violet felt like a wildly inconsistent character to me – almost like Derting didn’t quite have a handle on her yet. She spent way too much time fighting her feelings for Jay, trying to ignore how friendship had turned to love over the years. When she finally does face things and they become a couple, he has no problem holding hands in public and yelling out to the world that they are together, while she continues to be uncomfortable with the situation. There were times she would say she wanted to feel safe, and then I’d turn the page and she was fretting about her freedom being curtailed. The worst though is a confrontation with the killer at the end of the story that almost tips Violet into TSTL (too stupid to live) territory. I won’t say what happens so as to avoid spoilers but I was NOT happy with her choice. She definitely had some handicaps she was working with, but any other option would have been preferable. At other times, however, Violet is reasonable, thinks things through, and makes good choices – such as telling her uncle, the sheriff, the minute she realizes the killer is nearby. Even though she is scared she wants to help find the killer, so she is brave. At points I liked her a lot, and at others I wanted to smack her. Overall, the good moments ended up outweighing the bad (even though it probably doesn’t seem like it after this), so she turned out to be a character I don’t mind meeting again – I’m just hoping for more consistency next time.Jay, on the other hand, was consistent from the start. I liked him tremendously, which is probably why I wanted to smack Violet (sorry for the violence) at times for not recognizing what she had in front of her. Confident in himself and in his love for Violet, Jay was an easy character to like. He was supportive and protective (deeply protective) of Violet, even when he didn’t agree with her proposals. He was willing to voice his concerns when necessary, but if he couldn’t talk her out of something he did his best to make sure she was safe. When he stumbled upon the confrontation between Violet and the killer, he was smart enough to know there was a problem, that something was off with the whole situation, and then stepped in to try to save Violet. This is a boyfriend any girl would be thrilled to have.The serial killer portion of the story was filled with twists and turns, and the internal monologue of the killer was rather unnerving. Seeing how quickly he could gain a young girl’s trust was rather frightening and felt all too real. The unexpected revelations that come in the last third of the book regarding the killer felt a bit out of left field (there were no hints I could see leading up to it), but they were plausible and explained a lot of things. My only wish was that there had been more of the mystery mixed into the story. As Violet struggled with her feelings for Jay and hung out with her friends, I found myself wanting to get back to the mystery. I think if the mystery and romance parts of the story had struck a better balance, this book would have gripped me a lot stronger than it did. While some authors strike story pacing out of the park in their debuts, others need a book or two before they get that perfect rhythm. For me, Derting falls into the latter category. The mystery was nice and tight while the romance was a bit bloated. As the mystery became more prominent later in the book and the threat to Violet became more apparent, the pace picked up and I found it a much more entertaining read.Kimberly Derting’s debut novel The Body Finder has a lot of rough edges in regards to character and pacing, but with the heroine’s cool ability to sense the bodies of those who have been murdered, an unnerving serial killer, and a boyfriend to die for there is enough here to intrigue readers and leave them wanting more.
    • 4/5
      I'd give this a 4.5 if I had the option (but 4 since I don't). Writing's Good. Story's great.
    • 4/5
      One of the hard decision was how to tag this book. Main character has a weird psychic ability that helps her find dead people and there is a killer on a loose so there is a mystery element also. But in the end, I decided for contemporary romance, because my favorite part of the book was a love story between main characters Violet and Jay. It was so cute and sweet. It reminded me of a time when I was young girl and so clueless. :)
    • 4/5
      The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
      4 Stars

      Synopsis
      Violet Ambrose can see, hear, smell, and even taste an imprint left by a dead animal or person as well as the matching imprint carried by the individual responsible for that animal or person's death. She lives in a small town, where teenage girls suddenly begin disappearing. Violet stumbles across one of their bodies and becomes involved in the search for the killer whom only she can identify.

      Review
      This is a great debut novel.
      The plot elements are unique and engrossing. The characterization is excellent, especially the relationship between Violet and her best friend, Jay. My one small quibble is the lack of tension and build up of suspense toward the end, but this does not detract from the overall reading experience.
      recommendation: a must read for YA fans.
    • 4/5
      The premise of this book is not something new. A girl can sense bodies and their killers through different sensory experiences. I think that it was well written, and did keep me on the edge of my seat.
    • 5/5
      I had chills reading this novel. As experienced through the eyes of Violet, a young girl who can see the death echo on both the victim and the killer, one is taken through a chilling and exhilarating tale of murder and mystery. After finishing this novel I couldn't wait to continue Violet's adventures right alongside her.
    • 3/5
      If I were to compile a list of the times characters in books make ridiculously stupid decisions, Violet Ambrose would fill several slots in the top 40 or so. There are at least 10 conversations in this book about how Violet should never go anywhere alone and they ALL end up with her being somewhere alone almost directly after each one. I wanted to punch her in the face. But, as you can see, I gave it three stars. Why? Well, mostly because Jay is a pretty adorable character. I liked their friendship and his protective vibe, though I found it annoying that he always just happened to be there when she needed saving. Also, I felt like I was less interested once they finally got together.

      The plot moved along, though it wasn't especially well-written. It was entertaining and a quick read, so for that I'll give it the 3. I'll probably read the next one...

      Edit: I just realized that even though this book is half crime novel (half teen romance), we never even learn the names of either of the killers. Lame. Also, I hate to get lawyerly but is she frakking kidding me with the entire case being built on circumstantial evidence and admissions of guilt? NO ONE gets picked up for a "hunch" by a high schooler then confesses to murder upon murder when there is no hard evidence yet. (or if there is, we don't read about it) And cops don't build a case in a day. I still enjoyed the story, but the crime part of it was too hurried and not realistic enough.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Fantastic story. Well worth a read.
    • 5/5
      At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book or not. A girl who's got powers to find murdered girls? Sounds gruesome, don't you think? But it turned out to be much, much better than I thought it was. I did have high expectations for this book since I've read a lot of great reviews about it. I am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations.The love story made me want to read on and the suspense kept me alert and engrossed in this book. I began this book at around one o'clock, and in-between having a late lunch, I finished this book at around two.Violet was an expectational character. She was brave, strong and independent, but she wasn't afraid to cry or admit she needed help. She was also so willing to help find girls who have been murdered. I know for a fact that if I had the power she has, I would not have handled it with such calmness and strength. Violet was a lovable, brilliant character that you'll fall in love with. You'll root for her and cry with her.This book is a jumble of so many things. It's got danger, a very, very different paranormal twist that I've never seen before, and a love story that captures your attention from the very beginning. It may seem to you that this book would be hard to follow but it wasn't. Why you ask? Because of how well it was written. Kimberly has done a superb job of conveying a confused teenage girl's feelings and thoughts about first love and realizing exactly all she can do with her "powers."Then there was Jay. Anyone who didn't read the book fully and understand it, would say that Jay was a cliche, the perfect boyfriend, the one type of guy who doesn't exist. But I beg to differ. Jay was not perfect, he was nice, yes, but not perfect. There were plenty of times in this book that I thought he was being a jerk or a dumb ass, but that just made me love him even more. I think the one thing that got to me the most was his caring, loving personality.Then there were the minor characters, Violet's friends and her family. There were the worried parents, the "perfect" girl, best friends. In the middle of all the mystery, you got all the gossiping, talk of dresses and dates and make-up and he said she said, and guys being guys. It gave you that set off, a chance to laugh at the dialogue or scenes, a chance to move away from the seriousness of this novel. This was also one book where the parents weren't really the enemies or the bad people or part of the problem. They were loving, caring, supportive and always there for their daughter.With it's wonderful and intense story line, a unforgettable love story, unique and out-of-this-world characters, this book is a brilliant start to a great career for Kimberly Derting. I know that we will see more amazing work from her. One of which is Desires of the Dead, the sequel to The Body Finder. You would never expect there to be a sequel to this book after where its ended but I'm ready for a surprise. And theres bound to be more Violet and Jay, so why not be happy?
    • 4/5
      Fans of the Charlaine Harris "Harper Connelly" books may recognize the general plotline of this series: a young woman who can sense the dead, and works with law enforcement to find out where the bodies are. There are differences though, that make the Derting series worth reading.In Harris’s books, Harper Connelly, now an adult, got her ability from being struck by lightening when she was younger. Violet Ambrose, however - the heroine of Derting’s series, inherited her ability from her grandma, and is still just 16. Moreover, Violet cannot only sense “echoes” from the dead bodies, but can detect corresponding echoes from the killers. Because of this, there are some great suspenseful moments in the Derting books. The author also injects plenty of high school and coming-of-age elements into her series, which makes them much lighter than the Harris books.Violet senses animals that were killed (as prey) as well as people. Somehow the dead call out to Violet by emitting an energy – “a sensory echo” that acts like a beacon so she can find them. The echo can be a smell or burst of color or taste or sound. The echo persists until she finds the source and provides or arranges for a proper burial.She is aided in her efforts by Jay Heaton, who has been her best friend since they were six. Jay is the only friend who is aware of her abilities, but her family is also. Her uncle, the Chief of Police, knows that when Violet calls him, he needs to get there right away. Additionally, through his sense of humor he provides her with much-appreciated perspective: "[Uncle Stephen hugged Violet after she found a body.] When he finally released her so she could breathe again, he slipped an arm loosely, but protectively, around her shoulders. ‘Geez, Vi, sucks to be you sometimes, doesn’t it?’”Evaluation: I tore through this book like a package of M&M’s. It is both a fun YA book and a suspenseful mystery story, all in one package.
    • 4/5
      Murdered souls call out to Violet, and she can't rest until their bodies are laid to rest in the ground. Fortunately, only the souls of small animals plague her--until a serial killer comes to town, and Violet begins to discover human bodies. Violet enlists the help of her best friend to help her track down the serial killer, but her daring plan to save the town from evil could wind up getting her killed. The chemistry between Violet and Jay is undeniable, but Violet's quest to hunt to serial killer may end their friendship and their budding romance before it ever really begins.My favorite part of this book was the interactions between Violet and Jay. They are such a sweet couple, and their romance seems very innocent and natural since they have known each other their whole lives. The serial killer aspect, however, is what kept me turning the pages so quickly. I was dying to know if Violet would discover the murderer and if she would become his next victim. I did not particularly enjoy the scenes told from the serial killers perspective because it was extremely creepy. All in all this was a very good read
    • 4/5
      I love YA Paranormal books so it was only a matter of time until I finally decided to read "The Body Finder" but to be honest it really wasn't high on my radar. I think the synopsis sounded too much like Charlaine Harris's Harper Donnelly series. I will go so far as to admit that I was still concerned about the quality of "The Body Finder" after the first quarter of the book. I don't know why but I kept waiting for something to happen that would make me roll my eyes or that would turn the book into just another YA book. But that never happened. The author did not let me down. Even when I was convinced the book was going down a 'been there, done that' path something came up to turn the story in a completely different direction.My biggest problem with the book comes from the nature of Violet's gift. She can sense the echoes of dead bodies, be they animal or human. She can put aside the the call to the dead once the bodies have been given a proper burial. Readers are told right away that her family helps hide her gift. They accept her and love her and don't really question why she has such an unusual 'knack'. Where does this gift come from? Was she in an accident? Did an ancestor have this ability also? We just don't know. I also was confused at times about the echoes and impressions that would pull her to a body. I never really understood the 'rules' that came with her ability.The story really stands out because of two things. The first is that entire plot about the serial killer terrorizing the community and kidnapping and murdering young girls. There were chapters woven through the story that are told from the view of the killer. I thought this made the story positively chilling and I was quite captivated by the murders. The second is the relationship between Violet and her long time best friend Jay. The relationship takes its time to come about and we know right from the start how much these two care about each other. Jay really stood out for me as 'the perfect boyfriend'. The had some disagreements but when he was on, he was really on. He makes promises and he keeps them. There wasn't a single thing I didn't like about Jay's character. Violet was a good character as well, but she could have been interchanged with almost any other YA heroine on the market. I would like to see her character developed further as the series progresses.Overall the intense hunt for the serial killer, mixed with some really nice action scenes and a fairly unique and very satisfying conclusion, and the fantastic romance combine to make a superb YA read. I am very glad I discovered it and I am eager to dig into the next book.
    • 5/5
      As you can see from above, this book was published in 2010. I bought it that same year, but it sat on my TBR pile until just recently.... It took the back burner to books with a "lighter" synopsis and books I had to read for school. I purchased it because the book blurb interested me, but it also made me think the book was going to be totally dark and creepy, the opposite of the contemparary/paranormal romance kick I was on. Because of this I figured this wouldn't satisfy me. Boy was I wrong! The third book in the series coming out (check under the review for the extra tidbit about the series) with its new title and cover had bloggers all around posting about it and it sparked my interest about it, so I got out the good ol Nook again and finally cracked it open... And I'm glad I did. This book is about a girl who has a "special knack" for finding dead bodies; animals and people alike. The story opens with her as a little kid with her father and she finds a body off the path in the woods by her house. As the story goes on, it is revealed that a serial killer is on the loose after Violet finds the first girl's body with her friends during their leisure time at a lake. Going further into the story, Violet decides that she will be the one to catch the killer, using her special ability. This story is nothing short of AMAZING. There were so many times I couldn't put it down. One thing that I really loved about the story though, was the fact that the story wasn't as morbid as I thought. The romance between Jay and Violet balanced the story out perfectly. Especially all the ups and downs they went through. Everyone knows how I feel about a good chase in a romance and this story did just that. I loved it. The other thing I really liked about the story was all the twists and turns that it had. There were plenty of times I felt my mouth drop because something that was completely unexpected happened. I hate love surprises, but only in stories. And this one was great.
    • 5/5
      Okay, I realize that it is ridiculously early to be posting a review of this book, but really, with a book this good, who cares?I am, quite simply, in love with this book! I read it three days ago and I'm still in love with it. I'm considering rereading it - I RARELY EVER reread books! The Body Finder has so many elements that really appealed to me. Firstly, I found the serial killer and murder mystery aspect of the book really well done. I'm a big fan of shows like Criminal Minds, so I already had an interest in that type of plot line. Coupling that aspect of the plot with a supernatural ability and budding romance pretty much set this book over the top!Violet's ability was, though creepy, very interesting. I really was a bit creeped out when some of the bodies were found. Violet dealt with her ability much better than I ever would - she is a very strong, resilient individual. I really liked Violet as a main character. In books (and movies and television shows) where there is a female lead and a murder, the female lead generally does really stupid things that leave the reader or viewer freaking out about her stupidity. Violet wasn't like that, which was very refreshing. Yes, she makes a few bad choices, but overall, she was smart! I really like it when my main character has a brain, so I was very happy about that.Now, on to one of my favorite aspects of The Body Finder: Violet and Jay! Kimberly Derting did an AMAZING job of writing Violet and Jay's romance. I loved their flitting and dialogue. I found the scenes filled with flirting and sexual tension to be very true to life and realistic. I love those tension filled scenes and The Body Finder was full of them! The confusion and jealousy associated with falling in love with your best friend, who is suddenly very good looking and a bit of a stud, was spot an as well!I think Kimberly did an wonderful job blending the different aspects of The Body Finder. I loved every aspect: the mystery, Violet's ability, and the love story. The Body Finder was one of those books that I couldn't put down - until I forced myself. Seriously, I had about 30 pages left and I made myself go to bed (at 5 a.m.) because I didn't want it to end. Not surprisingly, I picked it up right when I got up the next morning and finished it! The Body Finder is definitely a must read for 2010!
    • 5/5
      When I first got this book two years ago, I never imagined that I would read a book about someone who finds dead bodies, especially someone targeted by a killer. It's borderline horror to my hyperactive imagination. I did end up ordering this book, however. The plot is so unique and intriguing, and hey. It's YA. Can't be that bad right? Getting this book was a good decision.While the story is told mostly from Violet's perspective, every now and then the killer's voice creeps in, reminding us that he is still on the loose. You never know when he'll strike next, but you know to be on the alert when he speaks. All the while, Violet is trying to figure out what is happening, trying to use her abilities to save innocent lives. Kimberly Derting has mastered the use of suspense in The Body Finder.The most fascinating aspect of this novel is Violet's abilities. How many girls do you know find dead bodies? It's disturbing to her, but she doesn't let it define her life. She still hangs out with people, and she has a crush on the sweetest boy ever. I am a huge fan of the guy that's been there all along, and Violet recognizes him. I love how their relationship develops over the course of the novel!It may not be much coming from someone who doesn't read enough of the genre, but The Body Finder is one of the best mystery books that I have read. I love how Kimberly Derting mixes the paranormal with crime. It is a refreshing break from paranormal - action - must save the world books that we see all the time in the YA market today, as much as I love them to death. I definitely recommend checking this book out if you haven't already and are looking for a unique paranormal book to read. Book two was published last year, and it is a good time to get ready for book three, which is on it's way to bookshelves!
    • 2/5
      The Body Finder is an unfortunate example of wasted potential. I am sad to say that, because I feel that Kimberly Derting throws out some great ideas, ones that could have been amazing, but inevitably fell short and got buried under a nauseating romantic plot and a sea of characters who were nothing more than stereotypes.I loved the beginning of the novel. We start off with a young Violet finding the body of a dead child. If the whole story had followed in the footsteps of the prologue/first chapter I would have loved it. Violet's ability to find dead bodies isn't exactly a new concept but I thought the way in which she did it was very neat. Dead bodies came to Violet as an echo. The echo represented their life and death. It could attack any one of Violet's senses. She might hear the sound of fireworks, smell strong coffee or feel the touch of downy feathers on her skin. She could also sense death on others as an imprint. It was difficult for Violet to even be around her cat; since he carried the imprints of the creatures he'd killed.I also found the murder investigation to be entertaining despite being a bit predictable. I read the majority of this novel in one sitting and was completely engrossed by the chapters in which Violet uses her ability to try to catch a killer. I also liked the included chapters from the killer's perspective. Unfortunately, I envisioned several endings that would have been more shocking than where the story actually went. I also didn't like the attempts to trick the reader into thinking something, because it was rather obvious that it was being done, so I didn't suspect it was true. I think that if these risks were actually taken with the story (specifically a trick played near the end) it would have made for a more gripping read.My main gripe with this novel is the relationship between Violet and Jay. Honestly, they did not have personalities outside of each other. It was yet another situation in which the lead male is being fawned all over by every girl in his vicinity, but of course he only has eyes for our awkward heroine who couldn't possibly understand what he could see in her. Not only was it annoying that all of the other female characters in the novel apparently lost all sense of themselves when Jay was in the room and only cared about fighting other girls for his affections (ugh); it was also annoying that Violet inwardly mocked these girls and then turned around and did the exact same thing herself. She was constantly thinking about melting and how hot/sexy/attractive Jay had gotten since going through the apparently magical process of puberty.In connection with this, I also didn't appreciate the treatment of Lissie Adams in this story. She is Violet's "competition" for Jay. She is referred to as "shallow and boring" and "just another brainless cheerleader" and given no depth beyond being the obvious bitch stereotype ready to claw Violet's eyes out to get to Jay. Is this really all we want women characters to amount to in novels? It's also said that she is a "slut" and she "gives it up to all the guys" and goes by the nickname "kneepads". This is a conversation being had at a table of girls. Was this necessary? I don't agree with slut shaming and I don't see what purpose this cattyness served for the novel. Jay, of course, can just cast this girl aside very rudely for Violet and it's viewed as ok, romantic even, because she is a bitch/slut/walking talking bag of evil. He even says that he was using her to make Violet jealous so she would realize he liked her. Um, couldn't he have just... I don't know... told her he liked her? Too simple, Jay? Too direct? Not enough casualties involved?There is also a "friend" of Violet's whose only purpose is to be the "stupid" friend who never gets anyone's jokes and doesn't understand anything. At one point another "friend" of Violet's jokes to the girl that she must ride the short bus. Nothing like a good dose of ableism on top of all of that slut shaming. There was also a situation where one girl was to said to like to play the "bi-curious card" even though she was like SO TOTALLY STRAIGHT (as if it would be weird if she weren't) and all of the other girls would yell "Gross!" in response to her fake advances. One of the girls is even said to be homophobic. The only reason this book is getting rated a two by me is because I enjoyed the serial killer plot, and I thought the idea of echos and imprints was very original. Too bad the rest of the novel brought such an interesting concept down to its level in the dumpster of stereotypes and offensive tropes.

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    • 3/5
      This was not at all what I had expected, it was far better. We are following Violet's story, she is a "death finder". It started of where dead animals would create a sound and call to her. Then as an 8 year old girl she found another human, another little girl dead in the woods. Time passes, it's back to only animals until she is 15. There is an abuductor and killer on the loose, it's prey is teenage girls. Violet's sensors go crazy. She feels crazy, but she ends up finding some of their bodies because of their distinct echo. When a local girl winds up missing, Violet's uncle, the sheriff, asks her to use her secret to help find this murderer. She is noticed, will she survive? Can she out smart this killer?I guess you'll have to read it to find out. Meanwhile, she is falling in love with her best friend who seems oblivious. Not just to her, but to all the other girls falling all over him. He does get particularly moody and protective.... Gasp, does he love her too??!?!? Of course. I know it sounds boring and like the same old love story- but there is something about Violet and Jay that seems fresh. I wanted to know what was going to happen, they always seemed so up in the air. The entire time reading this, I kept thinking "Please don't let the killer be Jay, don't go that route." I'm glad I can say Whew!!!! On the cover it says "You'll be drawn in by the love story-and kept up all night by the supsense" Claudia Gray. She couldn't have been more right. She hit the nail on the head. This book was an easy, but interesting book. I'd recommend to all you young adult readers. This one is good!!!
    • 2/5
      When I heard about this book I was pretty excited about reading it, specially because it seemed to be a completely different book. I wasn't wrong, the book is different. I mean, It's about a girl who feels the dead, the killers and the bodies. The name of the book is great...she is a body finder, so it fits perfectly... There isn't any kind of supernatural character, and everything is "realistic" in some way. But, I didn't see the story well developed. Everything was extremely predictable, and too easy. Caution SOME SPOILERSOk, the story began with Violet (I like her name) who is a girl who feels vibrations when she is near to a dead body, and when is near to a killer o someone who have killed someone o an animal. She is feeling attracted to her best friend Jay, who is not a werewolf or a vampire or an angel. He is a normal boy, who is also in love with her, but they don't know it. Their relationship was really sweet... maybe too much. They are already in love when the story starts, so there is not too much change or progress in that part. There is someone who is kidnapping girls, and logically Violet will end up involved with the dead girls and the serial killer. This part also was predictable, like for example...SPOILER when you find out that there are two killers instead of one. That the second killer is the cop she saw before. That the second killer wants to eliminate her....END OF SPOILER Right know I can't remember any part of the book I didn't see so predictable. The idea was good, but the writer didn't put so much attention. It seems she wanted to finish the book quickly. She could have written something more elaborated.Something I liked : Her family. Everybody knows about her special talent, and accept her. I really enjoyed this part.I don't know yet, but I might not continue reading this series. 2/5 stars. It was OK.

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    • 4/5
      Synopsis:Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers.Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herselfReview:From the start I had a hard time trying to figure out if this was actually a YA book. The writing is beautiful, full and complex at times. Much more so than the recent YA books I've read. Almost like an adult novel but with teen protags.Violet is inspiring. I loved her character, the author doesn't hold back on her depth of emotions. Jay is also wonderful as lead man and you never really have doubts about him, even when him and Vi have their fair share of spats. But being best friends since childhood you almost know why they feel and act as they do. Half of the novel is really about Vi and Jay, their friends and the usual school antics. The other half is a murder mystery which Violet is fully part of due to her ability to sense echoes of dead people and animals. Not only that, the echoes remain imprinted on the perpetrators meaning Violet can possibly find the killer. With a whole length of misleads and dead ends, Violet is brought in by her Uncle to find the killer at her own risk. And even though she has a full posse of people behind her making sure she stays out of danger it just takes that one moment and then....Well I won't tell you the rest. This book is a romance, murder mystery, YA, action packed book that will hold you in right until the end. This is my first Derting novel and I can't wait to read the next one!
    • 5/5
      Violet Ambrose found the dead body of a murdered girl when she was eight years old. But since then it's been a string of animal corpses that she buries in a makeshift graveyard. She's mostly concerned with being a teenager and dealing with emerging feelings that are more than just friendly towards her best friend Jay, who has grown up A LOT this summer. School has started and Violet is just living her life. Until girls start going missing and she begins finding the bodies. The romance aspect of this book was extremely well-done and Violet's ability, while creepy, was refreshingly different from the average paranormal bent to a YA book. I am not so far from being a teenager myself that I can't recognize just how realistic the author's portrayls of Violet, Jay, Lissie, Chelsea, Jules and Claire are (even Claire's extreme cluelessness). I appreciated that the parents were an integral part of the kids' lives and that they were well-drawn out and also realistic as people. Everything about this book was pretty wonderful except for the fact that it did feel like some of the will-they, won't they between Jay and Violet was unnecessary and forced. Other than that this was a great, quick read that you won't want to put down. VERDICT: 4.5/5 Stars*No money was exchanged for this review. This book is now available online and in stores.*
    • 4/5
      Before reading The Body Finder, I heard fabulous things about it. All I knew about it, though, was that it had a creepy title and I’m in a creepy mood. So I purchased the kindle version without really reading the blurb.Luckily, that didn’t backfire. I really, really enjoyed The Body Finder. The book wasn’t nearly as creepy as I was expecting (although there are some intense descriptions of dead bodies). I mean, the situation is totally creepy, but for the most part, it focused mainly on guy drama in Violet’s life. Which is fine, I love guy drama. It was pretty sexy, too.I really liked Violet as a character. She was so normal, but at the same time she was completely different from any character I’d ever read. She had a unique paranormal element about her that not only have I ever seen it before, I never would have been able to think of it myself. Which is awesome. She was really relatable and her feelings of confusion towards Jay were spot on.Speaking of Jay – I don’t usually like the nice guy. If I’m reading a book and there’s a nice guy and a dangerous guy, I usually end up preferring the dangerous guy. But I have a thing for the best friend type. And Jay was sexy. His niceness and awesomeness made me want to like nice guys.Like I said, the storyline of The Body Finder was different from anything I’ve read before, and I’m so glad I decided to buy it. I absolutely cannot wait for Desires of the Dead (Feb 2011) and I’m so jealous of anyone who’s gotten to read it already!
    • 5/5
      The Body Finder kept me on edge each night and the romance left me giddy each time. In between lines and paragraphs I would be squealing out loud or screaming on the inside. Along with Violet, I fell in love with Jay, then I fell instantly for their close relationship. It was easy to relate to. You know, that one boy you were closer to than anyone else was and you just ended up developing a major crush on him. The struggle to snap out of that crush, was exactly what Violet struggled to do. I loved how Jay felt the need to protect her and I loved seeing how their relationship progressed into something more.Switching from romance to the creepy thrill of a killer walking around killing beautiful girls, just raised the bar of excitement for me. Just how messed up (in a good way) a predator would kill his prey for the thrill of it just makes me sick--which is a pretty good thing in terms of the way Kimberly Derting wrote.I loved every exhilarating second The Body Finder brought me. It gave me goosebumps as I read this brilliantly written debut. It was realistic and entertaining, and I seriously could not put it down. I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment, Desires of the Dead.
    • 4/5
      THE BODY FINDER is a great addition to the paranormal section in YA fiction. It carries a maturity that not all other YA books have. Also, the mystery is fantastic. THE BODY FINDER has a paranormal element, but I'd almost rather classify it as mystery. My favorite parts were the sections written from the perspective of the bad guy. Chilling and exciting (does that make me a bad person?). I enjoyed get those little glimpses into his world and trying to put all the pieces together. The relationship in THE BODY FINDER evolved well. There was just enough of it to satisfy romance fans without overpowering the other elements. People who don't like romance won't get overwhelmed by what's in here.Overall, great book and awesome start to a new series. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      This book was all kinds of awesome. It wasn't perfect, but man, I loved it. Really! The whole idea of Violet sensing echoes from the dead and murderers was just so cool. Every body had a different echo and whoever or whatever killed it carried the same echo. Violet was able to sense the killer in this way. Some echoes were sounds, some were visual, etc. Super cool. The writing. It was gorgeous. Like seriously. I love beautiful prose. It blows me away every time. It just flowed so well and really was almost calming to my senses. I hope all of her books are like this because I am a huge fan already! I'm not a fan of the cover, but whatever. I love ANY book set in the Pacific Northwest. It is such a mysterious and mesmerizing setting. I fell in love with the location through Twilight. Obviously. I think Stephenie Meyer's imagery was fantastic. Kimberly Derting did a nice job, but I didn't feel the impact quite as much. It was still good though. I liked the fact that the locations in the book really existed. Things I thought could've been better: The end. What the heck? That crap was like a throwback to Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine novels of the 90's. It was so cliche and a bit corny. I wanted to give it five stars, but because of the way it ended I just couldn't. Oh, and I can't end the review without mentioning how much I loved Jay. I thought he was super sexy and he was like the perfect boyfriend that every girl always wants and never gets. He could have been a bit more flawed, but for some reason it didn't bother me here. I think he was just amazing. I love how Violet and Jay were BFF's before they started dating. I thought it was cute and something new that I haven't read about before. Or at least not lately. Anyway, I can see why everyone loved The Body Finder. It was a lot of fun and I will be reading the next book as soon as I can. I'm really anxious to see where the story goes. I like the characters, but I don't love them. I'm hoping that changes as the series continues.
    • 4/5
      I thought this was a very fun book. It combined a scary, mystery element with paranormal abilities and a very realistic romance. I tend to enjoy the romantic struggle instead of actual relationships in YA novels because they are so cheesy! This one had the possible "unrequited love" and realistic teen angst and feelings. That made the eventual relationship that much more sweet. I didn't dread reading about their flirtations and the whispering of sweet nothings like I tend to to in other novels. It is currently one of the best romances in the YA books I have read so far.The real meat of the book lies with Violets "ability" to sense dead bodies around her. They leave echos in the form of sounds or colors. She has always been drawn to them since she was a little girl. Mostly she has just found mauled wood animals, up until now that is. Once Violet realizes there is a serial killer in her small Washington town, she is determined to use her ability to stop this maniac before he kills any more innocent girls. The premise is very exciting and most of the time it keeps you on the edge of your seat guessing whats going to happen. Just when you think the mystery is solved, you get hit with something even more sinister. There are random chapters where you read from the killer's perspective. I thought that was definitely enjoyable and added the to suspense of the novel. It was kind of creepy though, which some people might not like. Bottom line is, Kimberly Derting was able to combine 3 great aspects into one remarkable novel. Readers who enjoy exciting romance, unique paranormal abilities, and a startling mystery should pick this one up. I, for one, am looking forward to reading the next in the series Desires of the Dead in hopes that it can live up to this one.
    • 4/5
      This review can also be found at bookstress.blogspot.com What a mystery! This novel tells the story of a girl with a 'sixth sense' for being able to find bodies, and also their killers. Violet is able to pick up a sense (auditory, visual, feeling) from the body and detect an imprint of it on the killer. So when girls start to go missing around her, Violet's senses kick into overdrive. She finds one girl in the water while she is at a beach party. Girls are going missing at an increasingly alarming rate in the towns surrounding hers and then from right in front of her nose. Even with a killer on the loose, Violet puts herself in danger trying to find out more information about the girls and their killer. This book contains some bad language. It is a really good story though! There is also a love story intertwined in here, one strong enough to remind you of first loves, and powerful enough to make you relive heartbreak.
    • 4/5
      Why didn’t I read this book the last two times I checked it out from the library?! I’ve seen many great reviews of The Body Finder over the last couple of weeks so I forced myself to finally check it out again and READ it this time…it is worth reading! The Body Finder is a unique paranormal-thriller/crime drama novel. I know of one adult series (which I’ve read) where the main character can find dead bodies, but the similarities stop right there. Kimberly Derting’s writing is very easy to read, understand, and comprehend. She made me want to keep reading and put off anything else I needed to do at the time. Jay and Violet’s relationship developed for years which I loved. They didn’t have that “insta” connection you see in many young adult books. Jay was a different boy than you see in other YA books as well. I don’t even know how to explain it other than he’s very loveable and patient. I couple of times I wanted to yell at Violet “No, don’t do that! In scary movies bad stuff always happens at this point!” And of course I was right. Even though Violet did act movie cliché-ish a couple of times, I still really enjoyed The Body Finder. And the pages in The Body Finder from the killer’s point of view…incredible idea Kim! Those pages of the book made the book creepier than it would have been without the insight into his head.
    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed the concept of this book. The writing definitely showed that Kimberly is a new author, but shows a lot of promise. It was a little predictable, but I will still read the next in the series.

    Book preview

    The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting

    PROLOGUE

    VIOLET AMBROSE WANDERED AWAY FROM THE safety of her father as she listened to the harmony of sounds weaving delicately around her. The rustling of the leaves mingled gently with the restless calls of birds and the far-off rushing waters of the icy river that lay beyond the trees.

    And then there was another sound. Something she couldn’t quite identify. Yet.

    She was familiar enough with the meaning of this new, and misplaced, noise. Or at least with what it signified. She had been hearing sounds, or seeing colors, or smelling smells like these for years. For as long as she could remember.

    Echoes, she called them.

    She looked back at her father to see if he had heard it too, even though she already knew the answer. He hadn’t, of course. Only she could hear it. Only she understood what the haunting sound foretold.

    He walked casually behind her, at his same slow and steady pace, keeping a watchful eye on his eight-year-old daughter as she ran ahead of him.

    The sound whistled past her again, carried on the breeze that sent crisp, golden leaves swirling around her ankles. She stopped briefly to listen, but once it passed she continued on ahead.

    Don’t go too far, her father dutifully called from behind her. He wasn’t really worried about her out here. These were their woods.

    Violet had practically been raised in this forest, learning about her surroundings, learning how to tell which direction she was facing by the lichen growing on the tall tree trunks, and knowing how to tell the time of day by the position of the sun…at least on those days when that sun wasn’t obscured by the gloom of cloud cover. This was easy territory, even for an eight-year-old girl.

    She ignored her father’s warning and wandered off the path, still listening to that something that was beckoning her forward. Her feet felt propelled by a will of their own as she struggled to make the sound into something coherent, something she could identify. She stepped over fallen branches and walked through a sea of fern fronds that grew up from the damp ground.

    Violet! She heard her dad’s voice breaking through her concentration.

    She paused, and then called back, I’m right here, although not as loudly as she should have, before she started walking again.

    The sound was getting stronger. Not louder, but stronger. She could feel the vibrations practically resonating beneath her skin now.

    This was how it was with these things. This was the way these feelings came to her. They were indescribable, yet to her they made perfect sense.

    And when they called to her she felt compelled to answer.

    She was close now, so close that she could hear a voice. That was what this echo was, a voice. Single and solitary, seeking someone—anyone—to answer it.

    Violet was that someone.

    She stopped at a mound of damp dirt covered with a thick layer of rotting leaves. The soil was oddly out of place amid the undergrowth, with nothing living springing up from it. Even Violet knew that the soil was too newly placed to have fostered life just yet.

    She knelt down, feeling the pulsating echo coming from beneath. She could feel it reverberating within her veins, coursing hotly through her small body. Without waiting, Violet brushed away the leaves and debris with a sweep of her coat sleeve, before she began earnestly scooping at the soft earth beneath with her hands.

    She heard her father’s light footsteps catch up with her and his gentle voice ask, Find something, Vi?

    She was too lost in her task to answer, and he didn’t pry. He was used to this, his little girl searching out the lost souls of the forest. Without speaking, he leaned against the soaring trunk of a nearby cedar and waited without really watching.

    Violet felt her fingertips brush against something hard and smooth, cold and unyielding. She shuddered against a disturbing awareness that she couldn’t quite name and kept digging.

    She sank her fingers into the moist soil once again. And again, they touched something chillingly firm.

    Something too soft to be a rock.

    And it was back, that nagging something that was trying to get through to her.

    She reached in again, this time not to dig, but to sweep away the thin layer of dirt to get a better view of what lay beneath. She had captured her father’s interest, and he leaned over her, looking into the shallow hole.

    Violet worked like an archaeologist, carefully sifting and brushing across the top of her discovery, so as not to disturb what might be buried there.

    She heard her father gasp at the same time she recognized what she had uncovered. She felt his strong hands reaching for her from behind, pulling her firmly by the shoulders away from the fresh dirt and gathering her into his strong, safe arms…away from the sound that was calling to her…

    And away from the girl’s face staring up at her from beneath the soil.

    CHAPTER 1

    THE SOUND OF THE ALARM CLOCK WAS AN irritating intrusion into the comfortable haze of sleep that wrapped its arms around Violet. She dragged her hand out from beneath the warm cocoon of blankets to hit the snooze button. She kept her eyes closed; trying to let the haze reclaim her, but the damage had already been done. She was awake now.

    She sighed, still not ready to untangle herself from the covers, and she tried to recall what she had been dreaming about before being so rudely interrupted. For a moment, she thought she might remember, but the elusive whisper of her dream escaped her.

    She made a disgusted sound to herself as she finally threw off the blankets and sat up in one not-so-smooth motion. She turned off her clock before it could reach its nine-minute snooze interval.

    This was the third day of school, and she didn’t want to start her junior year with a tardy slip. She rubbed her face with both hands, trying to stimulate the flow of blood in an effort to stay alert. She wasn’t much of a morning person.

    She stumbled through most of her before-school routine; showering, brushing her teeth, dressing. After scrutinizing herself in the mirror and noting the dark circles beneath her eyes, she once again thought about how badly she wanted to crawl back beneath the mound of already cooling blankets that covered her bed like an inviting nest.

    She pulled her hair into a messy ponytail—the only kind of ponytail that her unruly curls allowed—before grabbing her backpack off the floor. She hated it when adults told her how lucky she was to have such gorgeous, natural curls, when she wanted nothing more than to blend in with the sea of shiny, flat-ironed, stick-straight hair with which every girl in her school seemed to have been blessed.

    But what did she expect? Life didn’t seem to want her to blend like everyone else.

    After all, how many girls had inherited the ability to locate the dead, or at least those who had been murdered? How many little girls had spent hours of their childhood scouring the woods in search of dead animals left behind by feral predators? How many had created their own personal cemeteries in their backyards to bury the carnage they’d found, so the little souls could rest in peace?

    And how many eight-year-olds had been drawn to discover the body of a dead girl?

    No, Violet was definitely different.

    She brushed aside the disturbing thoughts and hurried out the door, crossing her fingers, like she did every morning, that her ancient little car would sputter to life when she tried to start it.

    Her car.

    Her father called it a classic.

    She wasn’t quite so kind in her description of the small 1988 Honda Civic, with its original factory paint that was fading after years of being battered by the rainy Washington weather.

    She called it dilapidated.

    Reliable, her father would argue back. And Violet couldn’t entirely disagree. So far, despite its morning protests and groans—so much like her own—her Honda had never been the cause of one of her (many) late slips.

    Today was no different. The car coughed and spewed when she turned the ignition, but the engine caught on the first attempt and, after a few coaxing moments, the sound turned to something closer to its usual not-so-quiet grumbling.

    Violet had just one stop to make on her way to school, the same stop she’d made every day since getting her license six months earlier. To pick up her best friend, Jay Heaton.

    Best friend. The expression seemed so foreign now, like an old, comfortable sneaker that once practically molded to your foot but now strained against each step you took because it no longer fit.

    The summer had changed things…too many things for Violet’s liking.

    She and Jay had been best friends since they were six years old, when in the first grade Jay had moved to Buckley. It was the day that Violet dared him to kiss Chelsea Morrison at recess, telling him she’d be his best friend if he did. Of course Chelsea had pushed him down for doing it, which Violet had known would happen, and all three of them were hauled into the principal’s office for a discussion about personal boundaries.

    But Violet was true to her word, and she and Jay had been inseparable ever since.

    In the first grade, they’d played tag on the playground, always ganging up on the other kids to make someone else it in order to avoid playing against each other. In second grade, they moved on to the jungle gym, choosing teams and using the tunnels as makeshift forts to defend against their enemies. By third grade, they’d learned to play four square and wall ball. Fourth, tetherball. And fifth was the year they discovered the giant boulder at the edge of the playing field, behind which the recess teacher couldn’t see what was happening.

    It was the year of their first kiss—or kisses, rather—their one and only foray into romance with each other. They tried it once with their lips closed tightly, a small quick peck, and then again, they tried it by touching their tongues together. The sensation was slippery, supple, and foreign. They both immediately agreed that it was gross and swore they would never do it again.

    By middle school, their parents, who had become something like chauffeurs, ferrying the two of them almost daily across the mile-long distance that separated their homes, had resigned, maintaining that if Violet and Jay really wanted to see each other, then the exercise would do them good.

    But neither of them minded the walk. They had spent years of their childhoods combing through the forested areas that surrounded both of their homes, as they explored and built clubhouses out of old timber. They had mapped and named entire sections of the woods, several of them after themselves or unusual arrangements of their combined names. Things like Jaylet Stream…Amberton Woods…Hebrose Trail.

    They also named the makeshift graveyard behind Violet’s house, using neither of their names, simply calling it Shady Acres.

    They were ten at the time, and the name sounded ominous and dark…which was exactly what they were going for. They would dare one another to go out there, to see who could wait alone, until well after darkness had fallen, telling each other tales of the strange occurrences they were sure must be happening out there…especially at night.

    Violet always won, and Jay never complained that she did. He seemed to understand that she wasn’t afraid, even when she pretended to be.

    He understood a lot of things. He was the only person, besides her parents, and her aunt and uncle, who knew about her strange penchant for seeking out ravaged animals, and her need to rebury them within the safe chicken-wire enclosure of Shady Acres. It had been an adventure that they’d shared together, combing through fern groves and blackberry thickets in search of the lost bodies. He’d even helped her build little crosses and headstones to mark the tiny graves.

    Before they were buried, before they were properly laid to rest, those animals left behind would call out to Violet. They would emit an energy—a sensory echo—in the wake of their murder, like a beacon that only she could find, letting her know where they’d been discarded. It could be anything…a smell, a burst of color, a taste in the back of her mouth, or a combination of several sensations at once.

    She didn’t know how…or why…It just happened.

    But what she did know, what she’d learned early on, was that once she placed them in her graveyard, they no longer called out to her. She still felt them, but it was different. She was able to filter them out, until they became nothing more than the comforting static of white noise.

    Jay also understood the need to keep Violet’s secret, even though he’d never been told to. He seemed to sense, even from an early age, that he needed to keep that secret close to him, like a treasure he protected, saving it just for the two of them. He’d always made Violet feel safe and secure…and even normal.

    So why, then, had everything changed so suddenly?

    Already, as her car sputtered down his driveway, with gravel crunching beneath the tires, her heart rate was racing within the suddenly too-confined space of her chest.

    This is ridiculous, she chided herself. He’s your best friend!

    She saw the front door opening even before she slowed to a complete stop. Jay was yanking his hooded sweatshirt over his head, dragging his backpack in his wake. He yelled something into the house, probably telling his mom that he was leaving for school, and he pulled the door shut behind him.

    It was the same thing every day. There was nothing different from yesterday and the day before that. Nothing different from every single day since they’d met.

    Except that now her stomach climbed into her throat as he grinned his stupid sideways grin at her and slid into the car.

    Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!

    She smiled back, willing her reckless pulse to slow down. Ready?

    No, but do we have a choice? His voice, which had gotten deeper over the summer, was still so well-known to her, so comfortable, that she immediately relaxed.

    Not if you don’t want a tardy. She backed out of the driveway, barely glancing in her rearview mirror to watch where she was going. His driveway was almost as familiar to her as her own.

    She hated these new, unknown feelings that seemed to assault her whenever he was around, and sometimes even when he was only in her thoughts. She felt like she was no longer in control of her own body, and her traitorous reactions were only slightly more embarrassing than her treacherous thoughts.

    She was starting to feel like he was toxic to her.

    That, or she was seriously losing her mind, because that was the only way she could possibly explain the ridiculous butterflies she got whenever Jay was close to her. And what really irritated Violet was that he seemed to be completely oblivious of these new, and completely insane, reactions she was having to him. Obviously, whatever she had wasn’t contagious.

    Except that it was. She wasn’t the only one that seemed to be noticing him. She almost dreaded the moment they’d step out from the relative peace of her noisy old Honda in the school’s overcrowded parking lot. Because that’s when the real games began.

    Day three of school, but as of day one, girls had begun to wait for them to arrive in the morning.

    No, not for them…for him.

    His new fan club, Violet thought sourly. Girls who had known Jay since the first day of his first-grade year. Girls who had never paid him so much as a second glance before now. Girls who seemed to notice the not-so-subtle changes that had taken place over the last two and a half months they’d spent away from school.

    Girls like her.

    Stop it! she silently screamed at herself.

    She slid a sideways glance in his direction, trying to figure out just what it was that was making her so…so painfully self-conscious all of a sudden.

    He was looking right at her. Grinning. A big, stupid, self-satisfied grin, as if he had been eavesdropping on her all-too-embarrassing thoughts.

    What? She tried to defend herself, wishing she’d never looked his way as she felt her cheeks burning with shame. What? she asked again when he just laughed at her.

    Were you planning to ditch school today, or should we turn around?

    She looked up and realized that she’d just driven past the road that led to the school. Why didn’t you say something? she accused as she pulled a quick, and probably illegal, U-turn. The tops of her ears felt like they were on fire now.

    I just wanted to see where you were heading. He shrugged. I didn’t say I wouldn’t skip school. You just have to ask me first. His new grown-up voice seemed to fill all the space of the small car, and Violet found even that annoying.

    Shut up, she insisted, even though she couldn’t help smiling now too. She couldn’t believe she’d passed the entrance to her own school. "Now we really are going to be late."

    By the time she found a parking spot in the student lot, there were only two die-hard Jay fans left waiting for them. Or rather, for him, Violet corrected herself again.

    She couldn’t help but wonder how many others had already given up their watchful post in favor of not visiting the attendance office before school started today.

    Violet decided not to wait around to watch the flirt-fest begin. She was already half running, with her backpack slung over her shoulder, as she bolted from her car. See you in second period! she yelled back to Jay, consciously deciding that this was better anyway. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to watch him with the two girls, who practically assaulted him as he got out of the car.

    She dashed through the door to her first class just as the bell sounded.

    Made it! she congratulated herself. Three days down and no tardy slips.

    Just one hundred and seventy-seven to go.

    By the time second period rolled around, Violet was already convincing herself that whatever it was she thought she’d been feeling, whatever plagued her ill-advised subconscious, was just an illusion of some sort. It was all smoke and mirrors. A trick of the mind.

    And then he sauntered in and fell into the chair beside her, his new size making his desk look like something from a doll-house. Violet half expected the chair to buckle beneath him.

    Hey, Vi. Glad to see you decided to stay at school after all. He punched her in the arm playfully.

    Her heart somersaulted painfully.

    Violet sighed. Ha-ha, she retorted without a trace of humor.

    Jay’s brow furrowed, but before he could ask her what was wrong, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. I almost forgot. Check it out. He held out the paper so she could grab it from him.

    She unfolded it and tried to smooth it out a little so she could read it. As it turned out she didn’t need to bother; she would have been able to read the unmistakably feminine handwriting if the paper had been on fire.

    It was a phone number. For Jay. From Elisabeth Adams, only the most popular girl in the school. She was the odds-on favorite to be Homecoming Queen this year, and most likely Prom Queen too. She was tan, blonde, pretty, and a senior. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she also had the shiny, straight hair that Violet could only dream of.

    This sucked.

    Violet tried not to look too deer-in-the-headlights when she glanced back at him. Wow was all she could think of.

    I know. Jay seemed as surprised as she was but still managed to appear pretty impressed with himself all the same. She must have slid it into my locker while I was in first period.

    You gonna call her? Violet was careful not to sound petulant, but she certainly felt that way. She just wanted to be his friend again, to not care about whether he called this girl or not. She wanted to listen to the gory details and ask him probing questions that would eventually have them off on some random tangent and laughing at their own stupid, private jokes. But somehow, she just couldn’t.

    She felt deflated as she handed the note back to him.

    The bell, and then the teacher, interrupted before Jay could answer her not-so-innocent question. Jay took the note and stuffed it into his binder as trig class got under way.

    Violet tried to concentrate on sines and cosines as she took notes on everything the teacher wrote on the white-board in the front of the classroom, but she heard nothing. She couldn’t stop thinking about how she was going to get over this…this thing she had for her very best friend in the whole world.

    And she had to get over it…soon. Because if she didn’t, if she couldn’t stop feeling so viral toward him, eventually it would infect their friendship, and there would be nothing she could do to stop it. She knew she couldn’t let that happen.

    He was Jay. He was the best person she’d ever known, and she couldn’t imagine losing him.

    She allowed herself to look his way, pretending she was glancing at the clock on the wall above the door. He was meticulously lost in the lesson, taking notes well beyond the scope of what was written on the board.

    She was grateful that at least one of them was listening, because she knew he was going to have to explain it all to her later.

    And he would, without ever knowing that he was the reason she hadn’t heard a word of the lesson.

    Violet avoided Jay at lunch—a first for her—opting instead to linger in her third-period English class under the pretext of finishing up some homework—homework that wasn’t actually due until the beginning of the next week. She managed to put off leaving the classroom for almost twenty minutes.

    Then she wandered to the bathroom, not really the kind of place anyone wanted to hang out, by any stretch of the imagination. But she took her time, washing her hands, redoing her ponytail, which didn’t really improve the second time around, and then washing her hands again.

    Other girls—some she knew and some she didn’t—came and went while she was in there, primping and gossiping as they stood in front of the mirrors.

    Violet took her cue from them and even put on lip gloss, which she almost never did. She had to dig into the bottom of her backpack just to find some.

    When Chelsea walked in, Violet was actually relieved to see someone she could talk to, even if it was only for a few minutes.

    Where have you been? Chelsea accused in her usual blunt tone. Jay’s been looking for you everywhere. She perched in front of the mirror and began the familiar ritual of preening, starting at her hair and working her way down.

    Like Jay, Chelsea had changed over the summer. Not so much developmentally—she’d already had the woman’s body—but somehow she’d discovered her femininity overnight. Chelsea had always been sort of tomboy-ish and athletic. But it was as if she now recognized that there was more to life than spiking a volleyball

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