Thursday, November 19, 2015

Dead Boy by Laurel Gale - ADVISABLE


Gale, Laurel Dead Boy, 245 pgs. Random House, 2015. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; (he’s a little gross) Violence: PG (Bullying, dead parts). 

Crow Darlington would be in 8th grade this year, if he wasn’t dead. But he’s kept up on his studies because he’s, well, not completely dead.  His heart doesn’t beat, he’s not breathing, he can’t sleep or eat and he really stinks. He’s got a bad problem with maggots and has no friends. But his mother has grounded him, only lets him out at Halloween. He really wishes he had a friend, but how do you explain to someone that you are dead.  Crow calls it generalized necrosis.  Then Melody moves in next door. She doesn’t mind all his issues (although the parents are not in support of these kids being friends) and on Halloween the secret to his, um, problem is revealed.  Indiana Jones meets the Addams Family as Crow and Melody try to undo a curse, and maybe gain a wish of their own.  

This was a pretty creepy story.  Quite a bit of action and adventure.  If you’ve got the stomach for Crow’s rotting flesh, this book makes a good Halloween read.  Magic, adventure and friendship.  
EL, MS - ADVISABLE Lisa Librarian

No comments: