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renatasnacks's review
3.0
Hmm. I've HEARD from different reputable sources that this book is like reluctant reader candy. It hasn't circulated much here, but I'm planning to booktalk it with some other ghost books and see if it goes.
It was a quick read, and I liked it okay, but it wasn't that satisfying for me personally? Like Chuy gets stabbed for basically no reason, and then finds the guy who did it, and I thought maybe it would be like a ghost mystery where he solves his own murder, but, spoiler, nothing really happens there, which I found sort of unsatisfying. Is that the point? Like sometimes your murder goes unsolved and you better just accept that before you fade from this earthly plane? Also the love-at-first-sight thing with the only other ghost he meets felt kinda weak to me.
The bilingual ghost narrator is cool, and I wish we had more overall diversity in the YA ghost/horror genre.
It was a quick read, and I liked it okay, but it wasn't that satisfying for me personally? Like Chuy gets stabbed for basically no reason, and then finds the guy who did it, and I thought maybe it would be like a ghost mystery where he solves his own murder, but, spoiler, nothing really happens there, which I found sort of unsatisfying. Is that the point? Like sometimes your murder goes unsolved and you better just accept that before you fade from this earthly plane? Also the love-at-first-sight thing with the only other ghost he meets felt kinda weak to me.
The bilingual ghost narrator is cool, and I wish we had more overall diversity in the YA ghost/horror genre.
barcdog's review
got to read an updated version and attend a virtual q+a with Gary Soto! it was a nice day!
martha_schwalbe's review
3.0
I read this book when it first came out and enjoyed it.
This time I read it in preparation for a writing unit. Lots of interesting ideas to investigate.
This time I read it in preparation for a writing unit. Lots of interesting ideas to investigate.
maedo's review
4.0
I have such a soft spot for YA books about teen narrators coping with their own deaths and exploring life after life. This type of story seems to require more wisdom from its narrator than YA books dealing with typical, everyday teen conflicts.
Like Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere, this book was both gorgeous and sad. Chuy is a sweet character, more endearing than Zevin's protagonist. It broke my heart that he fell in love with almost every girl he met, such a typical horny teenage boy with best intentions. For the most part, his voice was realistic, although I'm not sure that a teenage boy would have been as unselfish and wise as he was. Maybe.
I loved, too, that the closer time comes to the date of Chuy's funeral, the more his ghost body disappears, leaving the question of what really happens to a soul in the afterlife up in the air. The idea that the afterlife is unknown or personal is very nice to me. The whole concept reminded me of that bittersweet end of the first episode of Dead Like Me, when the little girl's soul runs off to her heaven, literally a fairground. I didn't cry at the end of this book like I ALWAYS cry during that episode, but I did feel a lot of the same sad, sad happiness.
Like Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere, this book was both gorgeous and sad. Chuy is a sweet character, more endearing than Zevin's protagonist. It broke my heart that he fell in love with almost every girl he met, such a typical horny teenage boy with best intentions. For the most part, his voice was realistic, although I'm not sure that a teenage boy would have been as unselfish and wise as he was. Maybe.
I loved, too, that the closer time comes to the date of Chuy's funeral, the more his ghost body disappears, leaving the question of what really happens to a soul in the afterlife up in the air. The idea that the afterlife is unknown or personal is very nice to me. The whole concept reminded me of that bittersweet end of the first episode of Dead Like Me, when the little girl's soul runs off to her heaven, literally a fairground. I didn't cry at the end of this book like I ALWAYS cry during that episode, but I did feel a lot of the same sad, sad happiness.
kaje_harper's review
3.0
This book started out in a promising and unique (for young-adult anyway) fashion by opening with the murder of the narrator. As a ghost, he then moves out into the world to encounter his grieving family and his unrepentant murderer. But despite some promising characters and possible conflicts, not enough happens in this book. It's not intensely emotional enough to really evoke a strong reaction. And in the absence of real angst the narrative wanders on waiting for a major plot point. Until it ends. The writing is competent but I never felt really touched by either Chuy's predicament or his family's grief. And the love interest was clearly a relationship of opportunity. The concept was clever but something more was needed.
williamsdebbied's review
4.0
Chuy is a normal teenage guy who has grown up in the barrios of Fresno, California. He is an ordinary guy whose most pressing thought is of catching the attention of a pretty girl. He is happy--combing his hair in the restroom at Club Estrella, when he is murdered by a punk wearing yellow shoes after he compliments the punks shoes.
Chuy bleeds to death on a dirty restroom floor and soon finds himself looking down on his body. He floats through Fresno for about a week, doing many of the things he didn’t when he was alive--understanding how much his family and friends loved him, saving a man's life, and even falling in love (with a fellow ghost).
The ending was a bit of a letdown, but otherwise the story was wonderful. I loved the way Soto wove in Spanish words here and there. Kind of a Lovely Bones for guys.
Chuy bleeds to death on a dirty restroom floor and soon finds himself looking down on his body. He floats through Fresno for about a week, doing many of the things he didn’t when he was alive--understanding how much his family and friends loved him, saving a man's life, and even falling in love (with a fellow ghost).
The ending was a bit of a letdown, but otherwise the story was wonderful. I loved the way Soto wove in Spanish words here and there. Kind of a Lovely Bones for guys.
peachpuff's review
3.0
The fantasy story of a boy, after his death, exploring his neighborhood is very unique and interesting. He ends up visiting his family, meeting other ghosts, chasing down his killer, and asking questions about right and wrong, life and death.
This was a good book mostly because I have never read a story like this before. I liked the original idea and the main character was interesting in how he dealt with his new afterlife. This is a good story for young adults of all ages and parents or teachers don't have to worry about the delicate subject of life after death because it is presented in a non-biased way, that leaves children the ability to decided for themselves.
This was a good book mostly because I have never read a story like this before. I liked the original idea and the main character was interesting in how he dealt with his new afterlife. This is a good story for young adults of all ages and parents or teachers don't have to worry about the delicate subject of life after death because it is presented in a non-biased way, that leaves children the ability to decided for themselves.
academianut's review
2.0
Disappointing, not nearly enough character development of any character, even the main one, and lackluster plot :(
daksocks's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
gremlinjane's review
3.0
Chuy is an average, high school aged, Latino boy in Fresno. He thinks about girls. He's not great at sports but tries to do them just to hang out with his friends. He's got a best friend and family members that he likes and while he's not a over achiever, he's still a good kid.
And then he gets randomly killed at a club. (Not a spoiler - that's the whole premise of the book).
Now he's a ghost, figuring out how to be a ghost, and figuring out what it means to be dead (as well as what it meant to be alive, in the first place). Folks compare this to [b:The Lovely Bones|12232938|The Lovely Bones|Alice Sebold|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457810586s/12232938.jpg|1145090] since the narrator is a young ghost reflecting on life - but I think the books had some different goals. For me, The Lovely Bones was more about the crime itself and the families pursuit of justice. In many ways, that book is really ALL about the family and how those characters adapt and grow and move on, while the ghost just observes.
In the Afterlife, the story is really all about Chuy and his process of learning to be a ghost and his discussion of his life. There isn't a lot of focus on the crime itself (though we do get to see the killer several times) - but the focus is actually more about the neighborhood that Chuy grew up in, the community that he was surrounded by, and generally exposing readers to the experiences of a young Latino.
For full enjoyment, don't plan for a great reveal or conclusion, but simply absorb the environment - it's a POV that isn't very common in YA. It's written simply and well, with some hidden gems in turn of phrase.
This short book is more likely to be appreciated by actual teenagers (unlike TLB, which I think is geared towards an adult audience).
And then he gets randomly killed at a club. (Not a spoiler - that's the whole premise of the book).
Now he's a ghost, figuring out how to be a ghost, and figuring out what it means to be dead (as well as what it meant to be alive, in the first place). Folks compare this to [b:The Lovely Bones|12232938|The Lovely Bones|Alice Sebold|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457810586s/12232938.jpg|1145090] since the narrator is a young ghost reflecting on life - but I think the books had some different goals. For me, The Lovely Bones was more about the crime itself and the families pursuit of justice. In many ways, that book is really ALL about the family and how those characters adapt and grow and move on, while the ghost just observes.
In the Afterlife, the story is really all about Chuy and his process of learning to be a ghost and his discussion of his life. There isn't a lot of focus on the crime itself (though we do get to see the killer several times) - but the focus is actually more about the neighborhood that Chuy grew up in, the community that he was surrounded by, and generally exposing readers to the experiences of a young Latino.
For full enjoyment, don't plan for a great reveal or conclusion, but simply absorb the environment - it's a POV that isn't very common in YA. It's written simply and well, with some hidden gems in turn of phrase.
This short book is more likely to be appreciated by actual teenagers (unlike TLB, which I think is geared towards an adult audience).
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