While going to school, John “Smoke” Conlan worked hard to pay bills his meth addicted father left unpaid. When his father attacked him with a wrench in a drug influenced rage, he floated above his dead, battered body before returning to life after 6 minutes. While recuperating in the hospital he realized his spirit could leave his body at will. Soon after, John is accused of brutally killing his favorite teacher as well as a student who witnessed the crime. He knows a hooded man killed her, and that he killed in self-defense, but is unable to tell the court that he had been floating outside of his body when the murder occurred.

Convicted and sentenced to a juvenile prison filled with dangerous young offenders, Smoke leaves his body behind to ghostly wander the city and fulfill requests from fellow inmates. With each trip the threads that hold him to his body get thinner, but he doesn’t care as he’s ready to leave his scarred life behind. On one trip he meets Pink a tough young waitress who, unlike others, can actually see him. He soon realizes someone wants them both dead and, with time running out, will have to find the strength to hang on to make sure they both survive.

Smoke and Pink remind me of Patrick Swayze and Whoopi Goldberg in the 1990 movie “Ghost.” Cosimano’s very believable characters, which stem from life as the daughter of a Warden and research, combine to open eyes to what goes on in many juvenile detention facilities across the country.

Highly recommended for ages 14 and older.

Book review link: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2017/09/20/holding-smoke-elle-cosimano/ ( )

4.5 stars. This was a raw, harsh book about the realities of prison life, but it was also very, very intriguing. I read the author's note at the end, and I say that she has definitely achieved her purpose: the lines between good and bad are blurred so much that the two are thoroughly mixed together. Recommended for fans of mysteries and thrillers. Also, in the first quarter of the book, I did have a fleeting suspicion that Rickers was a bad guy. I brushed it off at first, but now I realize maybe I've read so many books that I started intuitively sensing plot twists XD. ( )

John Conlan is in juvie for double murder, but the bars can't hold him like they hold the other inmates. John is able to leave his body behind and travel around as a "ghost."

I read Holding Smoke for two reasons: 1) I like teen fantasy, and 2) I like realism about teens in difficult situations. The second one is a bit of a stretch, since fantasy and realism are generally considered opposites, but I had high hopes for the realistic setting of this book because the author was the daughter of a prison warden.

As far as realistic settings go, Cosimano did a fantastic job. She managed to show the type of anger and violence that occur in a prison, without making it unsuitable for teens. She also wrote likable main characters with flaws. I'm always interested in reading what teen books say about prison, since I think it is important for teens to realize that "this could be you under different circumstances." No, I don't think of every teen as a potential prisoner so much as every prisoner as a human being with a story. This book did a good job of showing that John was a human being first, and a prisoner second.

Of course, the realism had to stop somewhere - it is, above all, a fantasy novel. I enjoyed the fantasy/romance side of the story, too. In fact, it's the unique prison setting that makes this such a good fantasy story. Also unlike most teen fantasies these days, it's about a male character - making it appeal to kids of both genders.

Recommended for teens 12 and up. ( )

HOLDING SMOKE by Elle Cosimano is a heart-pounding, young adult fantasy thriller.

After a near death experience, Smoke finds that he’s able to leave his body as a ghost and move among people without their knowledge. Behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit, Smoke uses this special ability to gather information that can keep him alive in the youth detention facility while also seeking clues that could set him free.

Librarians will find that complex character development, compelling plot twists, and interesting use of Smoke’s abilities will drawn in lovers of suspense as well as those who simply enjoy a good story. While the detention facility is portrayed more as a maximum security prison than a youth rehabilitation center, young adult readers will enjoy this fast-paced suspense. This selection will be very popular among teen boys, but will also appeal to young women who enjoy the hint of romance.

To learn more about the author, go to http://ellecosimano.com/.

Published by Disney-Hyperion on May 3, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

Realistic fiction with a touch of paranormal! Story takes place in a jail with "Smoke" who has earned a reputation as being well-informed but really has an unnatural ability to leave his body and travel to other places. He believes he is innocent of his crime, killing his English teacher, but no one is really innocent. Twists and turns await the reader as the plot develops, a little too slowly at times, but still a good read. Great read for reluctant readers and those on the tougher side. ( )