Review: Tighter by Adele Griffin

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 10th, 2011

When 17-year-old Jamie arrives on the idyllic New England island of Little Bly to work as a summer au pair, she is stunned to learn of the horror that precedes her. Seeking the truth surrounding a young couple's tragic deaths, Jamie discovers that she herself looks shockingly like the dead girl—and that she has a disturbing ability to sense the two ghosts. Why is Jamie's connection to the couple so intense? What really happened last summer at Little Bly? As the secrets of the house wrap tighter and tighter around her, Jamie must navigate the increasingly blurred divide between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Brilliantly plotted, with startling twists, here is a thrilling page-turner from the award-winning Adele Griffin.

(Courtesy of Goodreads)

I'll readily admit that I picked this book up because of it's creepy cover.  I had never heard of Adele Griffin, and I had no idea- I mean, not even an inkling- what this book was about.  It was a skinny book, clocking in at a mere 216 pages, and it had an awesome cover, so I was going to read it.  What did I think?  Well, whoever said that you should never judge a book by it's cover was wrong in this case.  Wow!

This review will be rather short because I can't really say much without giving the most shocking and spine-tingling parts away.  Throughout the entire book, I thought I was was reading a book about one thing, and then I found out toward the end that I was completely off base.  It was GREAT how I was thrown.  It doesn't happen much and I was thrilled!  I will say that I read this in one night.  I stayed up until dawn because I couldn't put it down.  You see, not only did I have a burning need to know what happened next, but this is not the type of book that you stick a bookmark in and get any sleep (especially if you are kind of scared of the dark like I am).  I don't know if this book is for everyone, but if you like a thriller/mystery that will keep you on your toes, you will love this!

My Rating:   ★ ★ ★ ★  

Grade Level Recommendation:   There is some language, teen drinking, and drug use (the protagonist abused prescription meds).  It is rather scary and the twist at the end is pretty heavy.  I would say this is okay for 8th grade and up (ages 13+).