Author: Chris Crutcher
Year Published: 2005
Year Published: 2005
Genre: YA fiction
Pages: 230
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Challenges: Chris Crutcher
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (Idaho)
FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library
Geography Connection (my Google Reading map): USA (Idaho)
FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library
Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Billy Bartholomew has an audacious soul, and he knows it. Why? Because it's all he has left. He's dead. Eddie Proffit has an equally audacious soul, but he doesn't know it. He's still alive. These days, Billy and Eddie meet on the sledding hill, where they used to spend countless hours--until Billy kicked a stack of Sheetrock over on himself, breaking his neck and effectively hitting tilt on his Earthgame. The two were inspeperable friends. They still are. And Billy is not abou to let a little thing like death stop him from hanging in there with Eddie in his epic struggle to get his life back on track.
Review: Ah, Chris Crutcher has done it again! He is just so good and the content of this book totally took me by surprise because the description on the inside flap of the book only gives you the surface description. In fact, I wasn't so sure I was going to like this one at first. A dead guy who hangs out and talks to his best friend who is still alive? While I am all for that (there are many people that I miss and would love to have visit me), it just didn't seem vintage Crutcher.
Oh, I was so wrong! This book is Crutcher at his best, where he tackles difficult issues such as faith, homosexuality, censorship, friendship, the separation of Church and State, and more. He weaves in teen angst, great parents, school clubs and librarians. Yes, librarians (and she is awesome!).
This book is difficult to review without giving away the plot that is not discussed on the flap, so this may seem a little vague. While dead Billy does hang out with Eddie, Billy is really a vehicle for telling the story since he can see what all the characters are doing and thinking. Crutcher does a great job of tackling the issues in a fun and interesting way and he has put himself into the story this time!
Oh, I was so wrong! This book is Crutcher at his best, where he tackles difficult issues such as faith, homosexuality, censorship, friendship, the separation of Church and State, and more. He weaves in teen angst, great parents, school clubs and librarians. Yes, librarians (and she is awesome!).
This book is difficult to review without giving away the plot that is not discussed on the flap, so this may seem a little vague. While dead Billy does hang out with Eddie, Billy is really a vehicle for telling the story since he can see what all the characters are doing and thinking. Crutcher does a great job of tackling the issues in a fun and interesting way and he has put himself into the story this time!
1 comment
I really enjoyed this book, too. I was certain that you would like it. I'm on vacation right now and away from my computer. When I gwt home l'll have several new books to review.
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