Nothing But Ghosts

by Beth Kephart

Ever since her mother passed away, Katie's been alone in her too-big house with her genius dad, who restores old paintings for a living. Katie takes a summer job at a garden estate, where, with the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006166796X
• ISBN13: 9780061667961
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Harper Teen
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

A gorgeous novel

Nothing But Ghosts was absolutely beautiful. There was something so calming about this novel - I can't say that it was exciting necessarily; it is better described as engrossing. The story unfolds so perfectly; I found the story to be compelling and engaging. There are two main plot lines in Ghosts: Katie's and that of the mysterious old woman Katie works for. Beth Kephart wove the two stories together perfectly to create just the right balance of past, present, and future. I have never lost a parent, thank goodness, but I know many people my age that have. The closest experience that I can relate to losing a parent is losing my grandparents. Still, I could empathize with Katie's grief and confusion over the death of her mother; the disbelief that someone can be vibrant and full of life and then be gone forever. Even though my grandfather passed away a few months ago, I still forget that he is gone sometimes and when I remember and it hits me, I feel the pain of his loss all over again. I can only imagine that Katie, living in the house that she once shared with her mother, surrounded by her things, her room untouched, exactly the same as it was when she was living, and feeling distanced from her father, must feel. Kephart wrote this aspect of the novel particularly well. I loved the mystery in this novel! Katie's quest to uncover the truth about the old woman who was a socialite in her youth, but has grown to be a recluse, was one of my favorite aspects of Nothing but Ghosts. I was amazed by the Kephart's skill as all the pieces of the puzzle slowly came together. I loved that I didn't figure out the secret until near the end of the novel, it is a bit anticlimatic when it is too easy to figure out the mystery. I love the fact that the mystery brings so many of the minor characters out of the background as well. There is also a love story within Nothing but Ghosts. This aspect of the novel isn't really a main plot line, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. When I started the novel, I wasn't really sure that there would be a romantic plot line, so I was pleasantly surprised when one developed. Nothing but Ghosts is an amazing novel and I will definitely be reading Kephart's other novels! Ghosts is a novel that I need to have a copy of on my bookshelf!

An uplifting story about grief

After the death of her mother, Katie takes a summer gardening job at the estate of town recluse Miss Martine who hasn't been seen outside since she was 16. Katie herself is burdened with grief, but she has to wonder what kind of tragedy would make you voluntarily disappear from life. With the help of two brothers and a glamorous librarian, Katie begins to decode the mystery and gain the strength to go on. I admit, ever since the death of my own mother when I was 19, I tend to shy away from books where the mother is recently deceased or dying. I'm just always afraid they'll be too depressing, too sad to handle. But Beth has done a beautiful thing here - she takes us to the truth of what it's like to deal with loss (the too-big house that feels empty, the withdrawing from friends, the keeping busy to dull the pain) and then lets her characters (and her readers) find comfort and a renewed sense of purpose. The story elements, the well-drawn characters (Katie's father, chic Ms. McDermott, and estate caretaker Old Olson were favorites), and spare, lyrical writing all contribute to making this a genuinely affecting reading experience. In fact, as far as books about grief go, I'd rate it up there with Kate DiCamillo's THE TIGER RISING.

Nothing But Ghosts-A Must Read!!

What do a dig site, a painting, 7 boxes of "local lore", and the 'disappearance' of a mother all have in common? This story of course!! Nothing But Ghosts is the story of Katie who is a tender-hearted 16 year old suffering from the loss of her mom to cancer. It hurts her so to say that she has died so, like many teenagers do, she finds a way of coping and begins to talk of her mom 'disappearing'. Katie is a great kid and she and her dad have some issues to work out in dealing with the loss of Katie's mom. Katie decides to work at the manor of the mysterious Socialite Ms. Martine while her dad wraps himself in restoring an old painting. Little do they know the clues and stories that will intertwine life together in peculiar, yet mysterious, ways. Throughout this book, different stages of grief are represented in a tender and caring way. There is also a little romance, a huge mystery, and a lot of reflection. I love how Katie spends time talking to her mom still and sharing those 'mother-daughter' moments with her in her absence. This book is so beautifully written and I highly recommend it. It will put a smile on your face, might bring a tear to your eye, and it will warm your heart when you reflect on lost loves in your life. I thought often of my grandmother as I read this book and even though she's been gone many, many years, I found some healing in this book. I only hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.

A master of her craft

Although I left young adulthood behind many moons ago, this exceptional book by an outstanding writer had me captivated from the very beginning. It's a book that will make you think about people, about sacrifice and love and about what is important in life. The poetic prose and witty, eloquent first person narration make for a truly absorbing story which leaves the reader touched and inspired. Beth has crafted that rare thing, a novel that is insightful, observant and enthralling - Nothing but Ghosts is a truly compelling read. And the wannabe director in me was shouting all the way through - what a fantastic movie this story would make!

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Katie misses her mother, who recently died of cancer. She tries to find things around the house that help her feel close to her mother's spirit. As summer begins, Katie knows she will need something to keep her busy while her father, an art/painting restorer, works obsessively in his studio. The answer comes in the form of a landscaping job at the Everlast estate. Working with the full-time groundskeeper and caretakers of the estate, Katie spends her daytime hours with her hands dirty and her brow sweaty. The work is tiring but strangely satisfying. As she works, she begins to wonder about the strange stories told of Miss Martine Everlast and her reclusive lifestyle. The woman has been dead for some time, but the mansion is still cared for by a man known as Old Olson and a couple who have been employed there for years. When Katie and the others are assigned to excavate a hole in the garden, it seems some of the long-buried secrets of Miss Martine might finally be uncovered. The detective work that results helps give Katie yet another purpose during that long summer. Her frequent trips to the library to sift through boxes of what the librarian calls "local lore" occupies her scattered thoughts and gives her conversational material to distract her and her father as they deal with their grief. Understanding another family's secrets might make understanding her own family easier. Beth Kephart, an accomplished author, takes readers into the lives of people who have suffered loss and are struggling to deal with the changes it brings to their lives. It is evident through Kephart's story that no two people grieve in the same way, yet dealing with loss is a universal issue. Using the backdrop of the local mystery adds a suspenseful twist to Katie's search to hold onto the memory of her mother. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"