This is an engaging, spare, sexy story about a 17-year-old boy who moves into a haunted house, and is visited in his "dreams" by the teenage girl who used to inhabit the home. She believes that he is her long lost lover. I haven't gotten to the end yet, but the book is leaving me breathless. Perfect book for reluctant readers of both sexes. ( )

Pertinent issues for teens are examined in an new way through this ghost story. ( )

The adage you get what you pay for rings very true when describing this book. Purchased for $1.49, the description seemed intriguing -- a teen aged boy struggling with the definition of relationship, a new house, a small sister, a mother recently divorced, an absent father, and a lovely 16 year old ghost who has haunted the house for 100 years.

It sounded promising, especially when the cover stated the author was a Printz honor winner. I'm disappointed. The writing is choppy and interspersed with lyrical poetic voice of the ghost and then the random thoughts of Evan who is increasingly visited in his dreams.

The good news is the book is small. The bad news is even $1.49 was too much to pay for it.

Not recommended. ( )

I picked up this book from a library display because it looked deliciously creepy. I love that cover, and I love ghost stories, particularly romantic ones...Unfortunately, I was disappointed - by the content, by the prose and by the message it proclaimed. [full review on my bloghref>] ( )

Reviewed by Andie Z. for TeensReadToo.com

When his mother forces him to move with her to a new house, Evan Calhoun doesn't expect much. Sure, he'll have to move all his stuff, but he'll still go to the same school and have the same friends.

Little does he know that there's a spirit occupying his new room, a spirit who will mistake him for her dead lover and change his life forever.

BEATING HEART was really interesting, and my favorite part was the way the story is told. The point of view alternates between Evan and the ghost, and the ghost speaks in beautiful verse fragments that definitely make the book worth reading. ( )