cover image Scarlett Dedd

Scarlett Dedd

Cathy Brett. Delacorte, $12.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-385-74175-0

British author/illustrator Brett makes her U.S. debut with a wildly offbeat tale of life and death, first published in the U.K. in 2010. Following a bad batch of mushroom risotto, gloomy teenager Scarlett Dedd ends up dead but not departed, a ghost who can still interact with the living. Much to her disgust, her entire family joins her in the afterlife (“DIS... ARSE... TER,” blogs Scarlett the ghost. “MY FAMILY ATE THE ’SHROOMS!!”). Coming to terms with her new state of existence, Scarlett decides the only way to make friends is to kill the ones she had while she was alive. Unfortunately, her attempts to do so keep failing miserably. Brett mixes sardonic humor, quirky and occasionally gruesome illustrations (the aesthetic recalls that of the British band Gorillaz), and Scarlett’s blog entries to create an unusual but fast-paced story. The book design contributes strongly to the overall off-kilter style, including creative font variations and text layouts, where words warp, turn sideways, or even circle the page. While the plot is on the thin side, the sheer whimsy and entertainment value compensate. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)