In the novel ghostgirl, Charlotte Usher would die to become popular. And, ironically, that's exactly what it takes.

Author Tonya Hurley tells the story of a high schooler who desires only to be noticed by the "A-crowd," in particular her undying crush.

Taken at face value, ghostgirl's plot seems shallow and overdone without any purpose except entertainment.

Charlotte is a wannabe who tries every path to popularity she can think of until a freak fatal accident involving a gummy bear suddenly destroys her chances. Once she dies, Charlotte joins the community of dead kids all searching to finish what they've left unresolved in their lives.

The book is almost comical in the sense that the high school atmosphere is taken to extremes.

It's idealized in almost the worst way. The popular kids are dictators and everyone whimpers under their glare. Charlotte's jock crush is portrayed as drool-worthy to every girl who glances his way.

Though the bulk of the book is based on superficial instincts and desires, a breakthrough at the end gives it hope for something deeper. The character development Charlotte undergoes shatters her originally artificial and frivolous personality.

Her fluctuating loyalties between her new "dead" friends and fulfilling her living wishes tear Charlotte apart and make her prioritize.

What works best in the book is the message beyond the story. Hurley's lessons about figuring oneself out are truer than one can immediately discover.

On the surface, it seems like there is no hope for any meaning or purpose to Charlotte's mindlessness and petty attitude. Yet, her actions speak for her in a way that allows the reader to enjoy the lightheartedness of the story but see a little further into it.

A semi-asset to the book is the short pieces of guidance Hurley sneaks in between the drama that comes with a story set in high school.

Each chapter is prefaced by a piece of wisdom about human nature or life that pertains to what Charlotte learns about herself in that section.

Although it is quite earnest, the advice often comes off cheesy and too general. It also splits the book into more defined sections that break up the plot.

It's an interesting approach that contrasts with the other method Hurley takes in concealing the moral behind the flippant storyline.

Clearly targeted toward a teenage girl audience, ghostgirl's largest flaw is that sometimes its language doesn't match the demographic. The sentence structure and diction is simple, but there are more than a few uses of profanity which upset the tone and are way out of place.

Consequently, this works against Hurley's purpose of teaching the younger audience to have a strong self-esteem and stand up for themselves.

The end, though mildly confusing to follow, serves to validate the nonsense of the rest of it.

Through all the drama, Hurley manages to build a storyline that's easy to read and likeable, despite its juvenility.

Grade: C