Arizona (Beautiful Dead #2) by Eden Maguire

Publication Date: 10/01/2010

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books

Pages: 288

Format: Paperback

Source: Friend :)

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Goodreads Summary:

There's been no sign of the Beautiful Dead for weeks. Darina achingly misses Phoenix all over again. But surely he will return with the rest of the Beautiful Dead as so much still remains unresolved. It's been ten months since Arizona drowned in Hartmann Lake. Suicide, it would seem. But something doesn't add up.
Drowning herself in a hidden - away lake does not sound like strong, confident, Arizona: Ellerton High School's high-maintenance drama queen. Darina needs to help Arizona the way she helped Jonas. But time is running out...

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Darina is missing Phoenix once again since him and the Beautiful Dead have seemingly gone missing.  Of course, Darina knows that she will see him again when it is allowed.  After all, she needs to help out Arizona. 

Darina basically sees dead people.  She sees the four teenagers that passed away within the last year in her small town.  She is trying to help each of these students find their way back to the other side by finding out what really happened to it.  These people want peace.  Phoenix was Darina's boyfriend, and happens to be one of the Beautiful Dead that Darina is to help out.  Right now, it's time to help Arizona.  Arizona has a crappy attitude and is hiding things from Darina as well as the other Beautiful Dead.  

There is a lot to be learned from Arizona.  It turns out this young girl has a brother the family likes to keep hidden.  Her dad and step-mom are getting divorced.  Arizona had a kind heart and gave everything to find therapies that would help her brother.  All of this new information makes it harder to believe that this strong-willed drama queen would commit suicide.  It's even harder to believe she would drown, considering her strong swimming abilities.

Darina is learning more day by day, but as she learns more she is putting herself into a deeper whole.  There is someone who wants her dead and it's her job to find out why.  What happened with Arizona that would cause Darina's life to be in danger?  

The Beautiful Dead series is nothing like any of the other books I've read.  It has a completely different element to it.  Darina sees spirits who can make themselves appear human in front of other people.  She is helping them get back to the other side while maintaining their secret.  This particular book was about Arizona's story and her story is one that I will not forget.  It proves that you do not know what happens behind closed doors and you can in no way judge a person by the way the look.  There is so much more to Arizona than meets the eye and Darina finds out all about it.  This is a great series that I really recommend you take the chance to give it a try!