Booraem,
Ellen Texting the Underworld, 319 pgs.
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. $16.99. Language: PG (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
Twelve-year-old
Conor loves South Boston and sees no reason to ever leave. His biggest problem
is figuring out how to dumb down his academic achievements so that he won’t be
sent to a more academically elite high school across town. At least that was
his biggest problem until a floating girl shows up outside his window one
night. Ashling is a banshee and has been sent to the O’Neill family. This can
only mean that someone in Conor’s family is going to die. As Ashling inserts
herself into Conor’s life he has to figure out how to keep her identity a
secret while protecting his family and finding a way to beat Death.
This book
has an original plot that plays out well. The main character of Conor is the
typical anti-hero who is afraid of spiders and leaving his neighborhood, but in
the end manages to complete the heroic task set before him. The interweaving of
modern day and ancient Irish lore is intriguing and will keep readers
interested. The story addresses death, including loss of family members and
when can it be considered the appropriate time for someone to move on to the
next world. Overall a pleasant read with only a few missteps with stilted
dialogue as a result of an adult author trying her best to speak with the voice
of a modern teenager.
AEB Social Studies Teacher
Posts
1 comment:
This one didn't look that good to me, but I may have to pick it up now. I do love Sleator's Hell Phone, which has a similar, if more sinister, premise!
Post a Comment