YA Review: Chasing Brooklyn

This YA novel will undoubtedly appeal to teens who like a sad story of redemption, or who believe in ghosts, or the guiding hand of the recently departed to influence those left behind.  Written in free verse from the alternating viewpoints of Nico and Brooklyn, the story tells the tale of how both teens are haunted by Lucca (Nico's brother) and Gabe, teens who have died recently. Brooklyn is haunted by Gabe, while Lucca berates his living brother to take care of his former girlfriend, Brooklyn. The two living teens are afraid to admit to the other that they're being haunted, and are both enduring their own private tortures over their losses.  The two find common ground in their grief and try to move on, feeling their way despite, or in some cases with the encouragement, of the ghosts.  For someone who hasn't read countless books about the undead, just dead, or grieving left-behinds, this could appeal.  But for adults or teens who have read scores of similar books, there is little new ground here that hasn't already been covered in recent years.