Unrest

Unrestby Michelle Harrison

Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn’t slept properly for months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Sometimes he half-wakes, paralysed, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around while his body lies asleep on the bed. His doctors say sleep paralysis and out-of-body experiences are harmless - but to Elliott they’re terrifying.Convinced that his brush with death has attracted the spirit world, Elliott secures a job at a reputedly haunted museum, determined to discover the truth. There, he meets the enigmatic Ophelia. But, as she and Elliott grow closer, Elliott draws new attention from the dead. One night, during an out-of-body experience, Elliott returns to bed to find his body gone. Something is occupying it, something that wants to live again - and it wants Ophelia, too . . .(goodreads.com)

This book surpassed my expectations and my expectations were pretty darned high. I have been madly in love with Michelle Harrison's 13 Treasures series (middle grade) and couldn't contain my excitement when I found out she was releasing yet another book, but this time in the YA realm.Unrest is such an incredibly well-written and thrilling ghost story. If you're thinking in participating in that RIP Challenge thing in the fall, I would suggest you add this one to your list of books.There's no fluff in this story. From the first page to the last, I was gripped by the mystery. My heart raced, I was happily creeped out and the suspense was just delightful.I'm not quite sure how to write about this book without giving anything away because there were so many twists and turns and surprises throughout that I want you all to experience them for yourselves. I loved everything about the book from the way Elliott and his father and brother interact, to Ophelia to the ghosty goodness.Unrest is completely different that Michelle's 13 Treasures series. Those books were well-written as well, but have a different feel to them (not just because they were middle grade and this isn't). I found Unrest to have a more literary feel to it. That isn't quite how I want to explain it, but I can't think of how else to put what I mean in words. It's certainly not a fluffy book (not that fluffy books aren't awesome.) It's a book whose words carry weight.GAH. I am not explaining this well at all. It's close to what I call a "Smart Book" but it's not exactly there, but it's certainly not fluff.I'm going to stop now because I'm not making sense and I don't want to take away from how amazing this book is. (And I am not just saying that because I know, and like, the author.)And I'm not taking away from YA literature when I say this - Unrest could be on the adult fiction shelves under thriller. I think it's only YA because it has a teen protagonist, but I'd put the book up there with the amazing adult thrillers that come out.Damn it all.... THIS BOOK IS AWESOME AND SUSPENSEFUL! Read it. Just do it. Even if you wait until autumn. Just ignore my failed attempt to explain what it's like. Ugh.