Ravings of a Book Junkie

Unlike with most of the Picoult titles I've read, I never felt connected to the characters in Second Glance. Ms. Picoult's books usually feature characters dealing with really tough issues - mental health, physical diseases or disorders, divorce, etc. or even a combination of all of these complex matters. Second Glance has this, too, sort-of, there's Ethan, a young boy with XP, a genetic disorder that leaves him unable to withstand the sun. Because his body can't repair sun damage he and his single mom have learned to do their primary activities - playing, schoolwork, grocery shopping - at night. Besides Ethan and his mom, there's his Uncle Ross who has recently quit his job as a paranormal investigator when he realizes his boss is conning people. Desperately searching for contact with his fiancee, Aimee, who died 3 years ago in a car accident they were both in, he has even tried suicide, in a vain attempt, to reunite with her. Jobless and homeless, he comes to stay with them and ends up being hired by a local developer whose property a protest is being held on by a group of Abneki Indians who say it is a site of a Indian burial ground. The owner, Spencer Pike, now elderly and living in a nursing home, inherited from his wife back in 1932 when she died. This went on to be a ghost story but it was just meh. I didn't like that Ross fell in love with Lia when he was supposed to be so attached to his dead fiancee and that he didn't go for Meredith, Lia's look-a-like descendant, it was dumb to me. Then there was all the forensic evidence info, OMG, a little is a lot, if you get my gist. The best thing about this book was the two kids and their sweet friendship, but that doesn't come until near the end, still overall, this book has more pluses than minuses, and may appeal more to other readers, unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. Grade: C- or 2.5 stars