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Simone's Ghosts
Fifteen-year-old Simone is not your typical California teenage girl—although she’d like to be. She believes her secret abilities make her weird. While it might be cool to move things with your mind, see ghosts, and sometimes read other people’s thoughts, it isn’t when those things get you into trouble because you can’t control them.
Starting sophomore year at a new high school where she knows no one, Simone tries to keep to herself. Those efforts go awry when a couple of ghosts (Kim and Jimmy) befriend her. And, a popular boy in her English class (Dalton) asks to study together. Dalton’s ex-girlfriend (Jenna) isn’t happy about that. She and her friends do everything they can to make Simone’s life miserable. On top of that, Simone learns some troubling information about Kim that turns the dead of girls against her.
As Simone grows closer to Dalton, she worries about what will happen when he finds out about the things she can do. Ultimately she must learn to accept herself, as well as trust him, if she’s to shut down Jenna and solve a mystery that will put a stop to the dean's efforts to ruin her life.
Starting sophomore year at a new high school where she knows no one, Simone tries to keep to herself. Those efforts go awry when a couple of ghosts (Kim and Jimmy) befriend her. And, a popular boy in her English class (Dalton) asks to study together. Dalton’s ex-girlfriend (Jenna) isn’t happy about that. She and her friends do everything they can to make Simone’s life miserable. On top of that, Simone learns some troubling information about Kim that turns the dead of girls against her.
As Simone grows closer to Dalton, she worries about what will happen when he finds out about the things she can do. Ultimately she must learn to accept herself, as well as trust him, if she’s to shut down Jenna and solve a mystery that will put a stop to the dean's efforts to ruin her life.
- GenresParanormalYoung Adult
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2016
3 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Roberta L. Smith
16 books58 followersRoberta Smith is an award-winning author. She loves a good ghost story. So that's what she writes. Her novel "The Haunting of Peter Ashton" placed as a finalist in the Horror: Paranormal/Supernatural genre of the 2023 American Fiction Awards. Her novel, "Simone's Ghosts" won the 2017 Hollywood Book Festival's grand prize.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 31, 2017
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A girl with paranormal powers tries to hide them so everybody doesn't think she's weird. She has a crush on the most popular boy in school, but everybody's against her.
Not bad if you're into that sort of thing.
A girl with paranormal powers tries to hide them so everybody doesn't think she's weird. She has a crush on the most popular boy in school, but everybody's against her.
Not bad if you're into that sort of thing.
May 9, 2017
"Simon's Ghosts" by Roberta L. Smith, is a clever, well-written book. Although it is a young adult's novel, even with my being 66 years old, I still really enjoyed it. I think just about everyone can identify with being the new kid in high school, feeling that you're different and a loner. However, as it turns out, Simone has the ability to see and interact with ghosts, and she ends up trying to solve an old murder mystery. It keeps the reader guessing and turning the pages, all the while feeling you're right there, in Simone's corner, rooting for her, and feeling as if you're back in high school. I highly recommend, "Simone's Ghosts" to readers of all ages.
November 10, 2016
Book Info
Kindle Edition
Published October 9th 2016
ASIN B01M6UT4U7
Edition Language English
Other Editions (1)
Buy book from
Amazon
B&N
Fifteen-year-old Simone is not your typical California teenage girl—although she’d like to be. She believes her secret abilities make her weird. While it might be cool to move things with your mind, see ghosts, and sometimes read other people’s thoughts, it isn’t when those things get you into trouble because you can’t control them.
Starting sophomore year at a new high school where she knows no one, Simone tries to keep to herself. Those efforts go awry when a couple of ghosts (Kim and Jimmy) befriend her. And, a popular boy in her English class (Dalton) asks to study together. Dalton’s ex-girlfriend (Jenna) isn’t happy about that. She and her friends do everything they can to make Simone’s life miserable. On top of that, Simone learns some troubling information about Kim that turns the dead of girls against her.
As Simone grows closer to Dalton, she worries about what will happen when he finds out about the things she can do. Ultimately she must learn to accept herself, as well as trust him, if she’s to shut down Jenna and solve a mystery that will put a stop to the dean's efforts to ruin her life.
Feeling like an outsider is nothing new to 15-year-old Simone, she learned at an early age that other people did not feel comfortable when confronted with her particular set of talents. Those same talents kept she and her mother on the move, which also contributed to her lack of having a stable childhood.
Now a sophomore in her third new high school Simone finds herself befriended by two teen ghosts, both of which are tied to the school due to their deaths many years past.
These ghosts, Jimmy and Kim, are not the only ones who find Simone interesting. Her classmate Dalton also is intrigued by Simone, which of course leads to all kinds of teenage drama thanks to his ex and her 2 friends.
Young Adult genre is new to author Roberta L Smith but she brought Simone to life making her problems believable and the mystery she finds herself embroiled in is one that involves one of her ghosts. Solving it along with Simone at times tugs on the readers heartstrings.
I found this to be an easy to follow, entertaining, enjoyable, hard to put down read.
Kindle Edition
Published October 9th 2016
ASIN B01M6UT4U7
Edition Language English
Other Editions (1)
[Digital copy from Author]in exchange for honest review
Buy book from
Amazon
B&N
BOOK BLURB
Fifteen-year-old Simone is not your typical California teenage girl—although she’d like to be. She believes her secret abilities make her weird. While it might be cool to move things with your mind, see ghosts, and sometimes read other people’s thoughts, it isn’t when those things get you into trouble because you can’t control them.
Starting sophomore year at a new high school where she knows no one, Simone tries to keep to herself. Those efforts go awry when a couple of ghosts (Kim and Jimmy) befriend her. And, a popular boy in her English class (Dalton) asks to study together. Dalton’s ex-girlfriend (Jenna) isn’t happy about that. She and her friends do everything they can to make Simone’s life miserable. On top of that, Simone learns some troubling information about Kim that turns the dead of girls against her.
As Simone grows closer to Dalton, she worries about what will happen when he finds out about the things she can do. Ultimately she must learn to accept herself, as well as trust him, if she’s to shut down Jenna and solve a mystery that will put a stop to the dean's efforts to ruin her life.
My Thoughts
Feeling like an outsider is nothing new to 15-year-old Simone, she learned at an early age that other people did not feel comfortable when confronted with her particular set of talents. Those same talents kept she and her mother on the move, which also contributed to her lack of having a stable childhood.
Now a sophomore in her third new high school Simone finds herself befriended by two teen ghosts, both of which are tied to the school due to their deaths many years past.
These ghosts, Jimmy and Kim, are not the only ones who find Simone interesting. Her classmate Dalton also is intrigued by Simone, which of course leads to all kinds of teenage drama thanks to his ex and her 2 friends.
Young Adult genre is new to author Roberta L Smith but she brought Simone to life making her problems believable and the mystery she finds herself embroiled in is one that involves one of her ghosts. Solving it along with Simone at times tugs on the readers heartstrings.
I found this to be an easy to follow, entertaining, enjoyable, hard to put down read.
[Digital copy from Author]in exchange for honest review
January 24, 2017
Simone is a teen aged girl who can see/communicate with ghosts, has telekinetic powers and can read certain people's minds. She starts a new school, after being expelled from her last one due to a misunderstanding and her powers getting out of hand. She meets a boy that she really likes, Dalton, and is immediately targeted by a group of girls that are just mean. One of those girls has had her eye on Dalton and when she sees Dalton's interest in Simone, she becomes jealous and immediately sets out to exact her revenge.
As Simone gets to "know" 2 particular ghosts that haunt the high school, a mysterious disappearance of a prior student, Kim Blue, starts to become clear to her and she uncovers the fact that the head mistress had a part in her death. Simone tries to keep her nose clean and stay away from trouble, but that ends up not happening.
After a plot to frame Simone for some unruly behavior by the jealous girls go wrong, Simone, with the help of Dalton, manages to uncover the truth about Kim's disappearance and puts her spirit at rest and brings justice to the unsolved crime.
I found the story line interesting enough, although not surprising. The characters were believable, yet predictable. I enjoyed reading the story and felt connected to some of the characters. Overall, a good read.
***I obtained this book through a Good Reads Giveaway***
As Simone gets to "know" 2 particular ghosts that haunt the high school, a mysterious disappearance of a prior student, Kim Blue, starts to become clear to her and she uncovers the fact that the head mistress had a part in her death. Simone tries to keep her nose clean and stay away from trouble, but that ends up not happening.
After a plot to frame Simone for some unruly behavior by the jealous girls go wrong, Simone, with the help of Dalton, manages to uncover the truth about Kim's disappearance and puts her spirit at rest and brings justice to the unsolved crime.
I found the story line interesting enough, although not surprising. The characters were believable, yet predictable. I enjoyed reading the story and felt connected to some of the characters. Overall, a good read.
***I obtained this book through a Good Reads Giveaway***
May 10, 2025
What a fun read. This book is a page turner. Simone is the new kid in school. Simone has gifts that she hides from the world and also from herself in ways. She is a lovable character that I was instantly rooting for. This YA novel is packed with excitement. The characters are real and relatable. The mean girl was portrayed so true to life. Paranormal, first love, bullying, self respect, family, oblivious adults at times. murder, crime, this book has it all for the reader. I could not put it down. The perfect gift for the young reader in your life.
October 12, 2017
I loved "Simone's Ghosts." The voice of the narrator Simone is strong and authentic. Winner of the Grand Prize for the Hollywood Book Festival, the realistic characters and crisp dialogue bring the story to life.
The issues of trust, betrayal, understanding all shine through in this paranormal tale of complex adolescent problems.
The issues of trust, betrayal, understanding all shine through in this paranormal tale of complex adolescent problems.
November 3, 2016
Simone sees dead people. She also can move things with her mind, and even hear the thoughts of (some) people around her. Overall she sounds really cool. But in the terms of high school, it's impossible to fit in if you're the least bit different - and there's nothing small about any of this. So, starting over in a new place her original game plan is to keep all of that pretty quiet. Only between constant bullying from a teen drama queen and the constant ghosts popping up all around her, it's absolutely impossible to be just another run of the mill student.
This was a fun book to read. Maybe a little slow to start, but the momentum picked up to where I didn't want to put the book down tonight, and actually did finish it in one sitting. I'm glad I stuck it out as the story was interesting. I definitely wanted to know what happened next.
So....sequels?
*** This book was won through a Goodreads Giveaway. ***
This was a fun book to read. Maybe a little slow to start, but the momentum picked up to where I didn't want to put the book down tonight, and actually did finish it in one sitting. I'm glad I stuck it out as the story was interesting. I definitely wanted to know what happened next.
So....sequels?
*** This book was won through a Goodreads Giveaway. ***
November 20, 2016
LOved this! A very enjoyable, above average YA paranormal with a little romance, a little teen angst and a mystery! Simone is a little uncomfortable and insecure about her "gifts" (telekinesis, esp, seeing ghosts) but not overly whiny about it -(which is a pet peeve of mine :D)
She comes to accept herself as she navigates through a new high school complete with the usual bullies, a new friend /love interest and ghosts who want her to solve a mystery! whew.
Would recommend to anyone who likes YA fantasy, ghost stories, and strong female protagonists.
She comes to accept herself as she navigates through a new high school complete with the usual bullies, a new friend /love interest and ghosts who want her to solve a mystery! whew.
Would recommend to anyone who likes YA fantasy, ghost stories, and strong female protagonists.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews