Publisher: William Heinemann
Format: ARC**
Published: 21st May 2015
Number of Pages: 320
Book: For Review*
Genre: Mystery, Murder-Mystery, Fantasy, Coming-Of-Age, YA
Recommended
Age: 12+
Contains: Violence, Swearing, Drug and Smoking References
Author's
Facebook: Neil Smith
Blurb From Goodreads:
From
Neil Smith, author of the award-winning, internationally acclaimed story
collection Bang Crunch, comes a dark but whimsical debut novel about
starting over in the afterlife in the vein of Alice Sebold's The Lovely
Bones.
When
Oliver 'Boo' Dalrymple wakes up in heaven, the eighth-grade science geek thinks
he died of a heart defect at his school. But soon after arriving in this
hereafter reserved for dead thirteen-year-olds, Boo discovers he’s a 'gommer',
a kid who was murdered. What’s more, his killer may also be in heaven. With
help from his volatile classmate Johnny, Boo sets out to track down the
mysterious Gunboy who cut short both their lives.
In a
heart-rending story written to his beloved parents, the odd but endearing Boo
relates his astonishing heavenly adventures as he tests the limits of
friendship, learns about forgiveness and, finally, makes peace with the boy he
once was and the boy he can now be.
Review:
“I
miss you, Mother and Father. Given my holey heart, you must have braced
yourself for my early death, but surely you did not expect my life to be snuffed
out by a boy with a gun…”
Oliver, or Boo, Dalrymple wakes up in
heaven. He thinks he died from his heart defect. But he's wrong.
There's a lot to learn about heaven.
Like why it's populated solely by thirteen-year-old Americans. What
happens to the rubbish they throw down the trash cute. Where they go
after they've been there for a few decades.
But soon Boo has something even more important
to think about. When a former classmate of his named Johnny appears in
heaven too and reveals they were, in fact, murdered, Boo and Johnny deduce that
their killer, Gunboy, might just be up in heaven with them.
And they need to find him. Before he
finds them...
I've read a couple of books sent in heaven,
seen a few variations of the afterlife on TV. None are anything like Boo. None have... affected me like
Boo did. None were as unique,
intriguing or addictive either. It's really hard to write this review...
I went into Boo expecting one
thing – a cutesy little MG kind of book that was like middle school. But
what I got... it was something else entirely. Dark, but funny, deep and
easy to read, Boo was more like a
murder mystery novel than anything about school (or, at least, unlike any
school I've gone to).
The characters Smith created were brilliant
and so realistic – so alive (pun
intended). Boo was the best – so
brilliantly odd. Most certainly on the autistic spectrum, he was
worryingly clever and not overly fond of people – he was bullied in life.
Up in heaven, he felt more sociable, however, and it was really sweet
seeing him connect with people. Boo was an endearing character,
staggeringly clever and often naive all at the same time.
His friends were brilliant too – all three
of them. Johnny was such an intriguing
character – one I loved trying to figure out. Esther was really brilliant
– and yay to diversity! A little angel! I adored Esther, with her
fiery attitude and snark and bite. Oh, and Thelma was the sweetest!
Like a mother – even though she looked like a child and could never be a
mother (it’s enough to break my heart).
I must say, one of the most amazing things
about Boo was the relationship
between these four characters: it was so complex and sweet and unique and
intriguing.
The writing was incredible – so very Boo.
The tone was very sophisticated for a teenager (but totally plausible as
Boo) and was deep and dark and beautiful. There were lots of nice little
funny moments that lightened the intensity of everything and made me smile.
It was all written in first person, to Boo's parents, which was heart-breaking.
He was writing to them, knowing they'd probably never get the book, and
you could really feel how young he was, despite his intellect – he just wanted
his parents.
As for the plot... I'm really not going to
lie: I absolutely saw the almost-half-way twist coming. But I adored that
more and more twists came – that the consequences and turns didn't stop until
the very end. I was just so hooked – and so absorbed.
I'm not a religious person. I've
never been to church. I have read bits of the bible, but I feel my true
religion is more along the lines of the Ancient Greek gods. So I guess
I'm more spiritual... My point, despite this rambling, is not to muse my
inner beliefs. It is to say that as a person who doesn't really believe
in heaven, I found Boo intriguing and
incredible. The take on heaven, God (or Zig) and the afterlife... it was
unique and brilliant.
Boo itself was an utterly unique and beautiful book – one that
had me hooked from start to finish. I've truly never read anything like
it and I know it won't leave my mind for quite a while yet. I'm finding
it so very hard to find the words in this review – the words to do Boo justice without giving away major
spoilers, without ruining the mystery and plot.
Boo was beautiful – and it hurt. The characters were odd,
but so real. The plot was utterly addictive – and so painful. The
writing was so gorgeous and lyrical and Boo.
It also hurt like hell – it's an emotional rollercoaster. It is a
story that will stay with you, a story unlike anything you've read before.
And I really do recommend it. Boo
is brilliant and unexpected and so damn good. If you're looking for
something beautiful, thought-provoking and addictive, pick Boo up now.
Don't make me come haunt you.
Star Rating:
4 Out of 5
4 Out of 5
Read this
book if you liked:
Wells & Wong by Robin
Stevens
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
Happy Reading
Megan
* This
book was received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review
**
Quotes used are from a proof copy and may have been changed in the finished
book
