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Book Review: 43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise, illustrated by Sarah Klise

43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009

ISBN-13: 9780547398488

Available:  Hardcover, Paperback

The first book in the 43 Old Cemetery Road series, Dying to Meet You focuses on three main characters: Eleven-year-old Seymour Hope, living on his own at the Spence mansion; Ignatius B. Grumply (I. B. Grumply), a famous author of ghost stories for children; and Olive C. Spence, a ghost living in the Spence mansion. The premise of the story is that I.B. Grumply has rented the Spence mansion from Les and Diane Hope for the summer, hoping that a change of location will help him overcome a case of writer’s block. Unbeknownst to him, they have abandoned their eleven year old son Seymour and his cat, leaving them in the care of Mr. Grumply. Also unbeknownst to Mr. Grumply, the home’s former owner, Olive, still inhabits the old house as its resident ghost.

The story is cleverly told entirely as a series of correspondence between the three main characters and a handful of acquaintances. Through typed letters, handwritten notes, and local newspapers, we get to know each of these characters and watch as their relationships evolve. The story is not overly complex and is easy for young readers to follow, but is also very witty and includes quite a bit of humor. The illustrations, presented to the reader as drawings by 11-year-old Seymour, are well-suited to the book’s structure. Every character has a cleverly scripted name that is perfectly matched to the character’s personality and the general storyline. For instance, I. B. Grumply begins the story as a very grumpy loner represented by a literary agent named Paige Turner. The local real estate agent is appropriately named Anita Sale. Other minor characters include local librarian M. Balm, pet store owner Barry A. Lyve, and grocer Kay Daver. Humorous quips are also worked into each article (and ad) that is included in the newspaper pages scattered throughout the book. Readers who take the time to read each snippet in the papers are rewarded with a few extra chuckles.

The structure of the book makes it a quick read as the notes and letters between characters are generally not lengthy. Throughout the book, we are able to see the relationships of the characters grow and watch them form a unique family as they learn how to care for one another.

The book targets young readers 9-12 years of age. Readers who enjoy a tame ghost story would find this book a very entertaining read. The seventh and final installment in the series will be released April 2015.

 

Reviewed by Heather Hurley

Posted on February 16, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver

HarperCollins, 2015

ISBN-13: 978-0062224101

Available:  Hardcover, Kindle edition

 

Young adult fiction has been getting darker and more realistic with each year.  Lauren Oliver has been at the helm for much of it, beginning with Before I Fall and followed by the immensely successful Delirium series.  While dystopian YA has been the main thrust of the genre for years, culminating with The Hunger Games and Divergent,  teens also have been clamoring for something more personal.

Oliver has delivered both over the past the few years and with Vanishing Girls, has hit it out of the park with an unsettling, dark tale that will resonate with the reader long after the book is closed.  She knows teens well, how they speak, act, and think.  It shows on the page in a brisk read that will fly by.

The book begins with notes from a therapist which immediately suggests things will not be as they appear. Sisters Dara and Nick have always been close, sharing their worlds. Nick is the quieter, reserved sibling, while Dara’s wild side tends to be well explored  They are competing for a common love interest: Parker, the boy next door, who lends a natural tension to the story.  A car accident shreds their relationship and much more when Dara is left facially disfigured, and shuns her sister.  What ensues is a jump down the rabbit hole, in which the reader is twisted and turned through phases of reality. The characters are more complex than those typically found in YA fiction, and face issues that teens do face, ignoring any sugarcoating.

Nick takes a job at a local amusement park, which brings her into another world,  showing what happens behind the bright lights, and after the midway and rides shut down. Just as the reader might think the story is becoming a romance, the dark sets in, as a young girl goes missing.  As Nick delves into the mystery of the missing girl, Dara disappears.

Oliver builds suspense steadily, and keeps the plot unpredictable, drawing on the complexity of the characters. The ending is satisfying and completely worth the wait. Oliver has crafted a near perfect thriller, and her writing improves with each subsequent book.

Recommended for middle school and high school libraries, for mature teens and older, Vanishing Girls, in addition to being a great thriller, can be an excellent learning experience about mental illness for many and show others that they’re not dealing with the issues alone.

Posted on February 15, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: Steel Rose by Barbara Custer

Steel Rose by Barbara Custer

Eternal Press, 2013

ISBN: 9781615728534

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Steel Rose is a stand–alone novel, which may yet produce a series. This book focuses on the staff and patients of a hospital in Philadelphia. Alexis suffers from horrifying body riddling arthritis. While she is undergoing treatment, an alien race known as the Draekh invade Philadelphia through the hospital where she is staying, and take possession of numerous patients and staff. In particular, they find Alexis’ nemesis, Laurel, a tech at the hospital, of great interest, and turn her into the vampiric ground forces commander.  Alexis and her family must stave off these forces, but given her debilitating illness, this is no easy feat.

I found this book engrossing. The details on disease, zombie eating habits, and vampiric tendencies, are well-crafted and nuanced. I rather dug how venomously Laurel hates everybody. This is a deliciously evil book. It comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to readers of zombie, vampire, and science fiction.

Contains: Graphic Violence, Profanity, Adult Situations.

Reviewed by Benjamin Franz

 

 

Posted on February 14, 2015 by , Reply
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