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brooke_review's review against another edition
4.0
Oliver “Boo” Dalrymple has died in front of his junior high school locker from a “holey heart.” One minute, he is reciting the periodic table in order, the next, he finds himself in “Town,” a special heaven reserved for United States 13-year olds. The residents of town, called “Townies,” “live” in a world where there is no life – no animals, no plants. Townies, who remain 13 forever, live in brick dormitories, find a job that is to their liking, and enjoy their afterlife ... or at least for 50 years, when they “re-die” and go on to another phase of the after-life.
Boo’s afterlife is flowing along smoothly until one day when his former acquaintance on Earth, Johnny Henzel, shows up in heaven with some bad news – Boo and Johnny died from a gunshot fired by a shooter in their school, a student they have aptly named, “Gunboy.” Boo and Johnny soon surmise that Gunboy died in a suicide, and is likely walking around Town, maybe even looking for them. The boys make it their mission to find their killer and set off on a quest to scour Town for Gunboy’s whereabouts, but their search is not without consequence.
Boo is a funny take on a young boy’s self-discovery of himself in the afterlife. Boo, someone who struggled with relationships and the “right thing to say” on Earth, finds it easy to forge friendships and make people laugh in Town. Readers who enjoy a good coming-of-age story with a twist will find enjoyment in Boo. Also, those who like to think that they have a story all figured out, only to be proven wrong, will have fun with the ride Boo takes them on. This novel also has a good bit of world-building, and while Town is not most people’s typical vision of heaven, it’s interesting to read about this place created just for 13-year olds to “live” out their afterlife.
NOVELIST APPEALS:
Genre: Adult books for young adults; Mainstream fiction
Character: Awkward; Quirky
Tone: Whimisical
Boo’s afterlife is flowing along smoothly until one day when his former acquaintance on Earth, Johnny Henzel, shows up in heaven with some bad news – Boo and Johnny died from a gunshot fired by a shooter in their school, a student they have aptly named, “Gunboy.” Boo and Johnny soon surmise that Gunboy died in a suicide, and is likely walking around Town, maybe even looking for them. The boys make it their mission to find their killer and set off on a quest to scour Town for Gunboy’s whereabouts, but their search is not without consequence.
Boo is a funny take on a young boy’s self-discovery of himself in the afterlife. Boo, someone who struggled with relationships and the “right thing to say” on Earth, finds it easy to forge friendships and make people laugh in Town. Readers who enjoy a good coming-of-age story with a twist will find enjoyment in Boo. Also, those who like to think that they have a story all figured out, only to be proven wrong, will have fun with the ride Boo takes them on. This novel also has a good bit of world-building, and while Town is not most people’s typical vision of heaven, it’s interesting to read about this place created just for 13-year olds to “live” out their afterlife.
NOVELIST APPEALS:
Genre: Adult books for young adults; Mainstream fiction
Character: Awkward; Quirky
Tone: Whimisical
carnetsdenini's review against another edition
4.0
Un coup de cœur ce livre. Il m’a charmé et c’est aussi le genre de livre qui fait beaucoup réfléchir sur la mort et le pardon. Ayant été victime d’intimidation à l’école moi aussi, je me suis beaucoup attaché à boo et ce qui a vécu. Ce livre sera à relire, c’est certain.
nae_muri's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ruby_soho's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
sarahabboub's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! Full of plot twists. Made me cry and laugh at the same time.
jufevy's review against another edition
3.0
Het ene moment leert de 13-jarige Oliver 'Boe' nog het periodieke stelsel uit zijn hoofd, het volgende ontwaakt hij in de hemel voor 13-jarigen.
In 'De hemel volgens Boe' beschrijft Boe aan zijn ouders hoe hij voorleeft en tot de ontdekking komt dat hij niet aan het gaatje in zijn hart overleden is, maar vermoord.
In 'De hemel volgens Boe' beschrijft Boe aan zijn ouders hoe hij voorleeft en tot de ontdekking komt dat hij niet aan het gaatje in zijn hart overleden is, maar vermoord.
_poppy_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Cute, surprisingly deep at times, but not always sure of its own logic
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Child death, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, and Gun violence
Minor: Murder, Suicide, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
orygunn's review against another edition
4.0
This is the reason I love book clubs because I would never have picked up with wonderful book without a book club recommendation.
pagesforages's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
rosalie_st's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 ⭐️
Quand même touchant, même s'il y avait quelques longueurs (j'ai dû me motiver fort à continuer ma lecture par moments). Concept bien étrange, même si c'est super original. C'est peut-être ça qui m'a donné de la difficulté à vraiment entrer dans l'histoire.
On y traite de sujets très lourds et très tristes, au travers une aventure vécue par des enfants de 13 ans dans un "Paradis" bien spécial. Nous donne beaucoup à réfléchir. Certains passages m'ont fait pleurer, oui oui, mais ce ne fut pas une lecture incroyable pour moi.
Quand même touchant, même s'il y avait quelques longueurs (j'ai dû me motiver fort à continuer ma lecture par moments). Concept bien étrange, même si c'est super original. C'est peut-être ça qui m'a donné de la difficulté à vraiment entrer dans l'histoire.
On y traite de sujets très lourds et très tristes, au travers une aventure vécue par des enfants de 13 ans dans un "Paradis" bien spécial. Nous donne beaucoup à réfléchir. Certains passages m'ont fait pleurer, oui oui, mais ce ne fut pas une lecture incroyable pour moi.