Dead Boy by Laurel Gale on September 29, 2015
Genres: Middle Grade, YA
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Source: Advance Reader Copy
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A darkly funny and literary debut novel about a dead boy named Crow who has a chance at friendship - and a chance at getting his life back
Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a life.
Crow Darlingson died in the 4th grade. But he’s still alive. And growing, actually. He can’t eat or taste anything, his body parts sometimes fall off (mom always sews them back on, though), and he’s only allowed to leave his house once per year, on Halloween.
Crow’s parents are separating, and despite their reassurances, he’s pretty sure it’s his fault. After all, having an undead son can’t be much easier than being one. Sneaking out at night only makes things worse, but he can’t resist the chance at a real friendship with Melody Plympton, the new girl next door, who loves mystery more than she minds the stink of his flesh or the maggots that sometimes crawl out of his nose.
Together they investigate the mysterious Meera - a monster living in the nearby park. Logic and fear tell Crow to stay away, but fuzzy memories lure him on. When Crow and Melody venture into its underground lair, Crow’s not just risking the half-life he clings to. He’s also risking the only friend he’s had in years.
The importance of friendship is crystallized as Crow and Melody face tests of loyalty, courage, and honor in this macabre middle grade novel by a debut author.
Every now and then one of my kids is super excited about a book, and I like to share. This is one my daughter (who I struggle to get to read) finished and was so excited about. Then we got to meet the author and I bought her an autographed copy.
Here’s her review which can also be found on her blog:
In Dead Boy we find out the main character Crow is dead, and his parents won’t let him go outside. They’re afraid that if people find out he’s dead, that he’ll get taken away and experimented on. But what they don’t know is that he’s sneaking out at night.
Crow meets a friend during the day, so they plan to sneak out at midnight. Melody and Crow become really good friends, and she finds out he’s dead. But she doesn’t mind.
After the couple of nights they hang out together, they decide to meet up on Halloween night to find what made Crow stay alive after he died. He doesn’t remember how he died. When they go to the park they see a monster with glowing red eyes, and they see it can change into anything.
At the end, he wishes to be a real live boy, but you’ll have to read to find out what happens.
I liked it so much, I bought a copy when I met her at my Library last year. It was my first autographed book!
***ARC courtesy of Crown Books via Netgalley
