Thorn Abbey
This homage to Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, sets the story at the exclusive Thorn Abbey school, where unconfident Tess has transferred from a public school near Albany. When the handsome Max de Villars seems to be interested, roommate Devon is quick to tell Tess of his love and devotion for her friend, Becca, who drowned during the last school year. As in the book and the movie, mishaps and mistakes keep Tess and Max apart at times—and then there’s the ghost of Becca, who seems to be everywhere. Although the tension throughout is uneven (a climactic scene, in which Tess, thanks to Devon, inadvertently wears a dress of Becca’s to a dance, hardly gets a buildup), the ghostly goings-on and the contemporary vibe should keep readers turning pages. Though most of the characters only play off the originals, Killian, Becca’s cousin, seems to be channeling actor George Saunders in the film version—a hoot for those who’ve seen the movie. A surprise ending twists the plot once more. Grades 7-12. --Ilene Cooper