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A review by daylafm
Book of the Dead by Michael Northrop
4.0
Review also appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via my job in exchange for an honest review
Book of the Dead by Michael Northrop is a fun middle grade novel set in New York City. Though definitely not a mind-twister or a head scratcher, Northrop's latest novel (and first novel in a soon-to-be series) is a lot of fun and slightly reminiscent of other adventurous books that deal with mythology, yet with a unique and curious twist.
Alex, the protagonist, is a sickly child and though we aren't really told what he has (I'm guessing this becomes more clear as the series progresses), we feel for him. Here's a kid who should be running around and being a kid, but is almost crippled by a mysterious illness that basically kills him. The fun of the novel begins when his mother, an egyptologist, takes the situation into her own hands. From the moment Alex wakes up, the world he knows is completely changed and our adventure begins.
I found myself drawn to this book because it looked like a great, light read full of adventure. I loved the pacing and how the storyline is more action-driven than anything else. Northrop remains true to the story by focusing mainly on the mystery at hand and the creepiness of the situation. For example, there's a passage that shows the darkness of Northrop's prose: "He may not consume your bodies...but he will certainly take your souls" (Northrop). It even made me think of how much middle grade books have changed. It's like the veil between what kids perceive as violence and what adults perceive as violence is slowly being lifted. I'm an adult and I was a bit spooked.
While the action is definitely a huge appeal, I did find myself feeling a bit old while reading this. Yes, I know that this is a 9-12 novel, but sometimes the descriptive tone kind of clashed with the characters' dialogue. The tone felt youngish and out of place in such a dark world. It was like Northrop was taking an older teen story and occasionally remembered that this was actually for a younger demographic.
Other than the occasional slip in tone, I really did enjoy this book. The mystery was fun and light and the conclusion gave us some closure, while still leaving the possibility for a fun sequel.
I would recommend this to readers looking for a light adventure set in NYC. If you liked Rick RIordan, you might like this one, since it's like a light version of Percy Jackson in a much smaller package.
Happy reading!
I received a copy via my job in exchange for an honest review
Book of the Dead by Michael Northrop is a fun middle grade novel set in New York City. Though definitely not a mind-twister or a head scratcher, Northrop's latest novel (and first novel in a soon-to-be series) is a lot of fun and slightly reminiscent of other adventurous books that deal with mythology, yet with a unique and curious twist.
Alex, the protagonist, is a sickly child and though we aren't really told what he has (I'm guessing this becomes more clear as the series progresses), we feel for him. Here's a kid who should be running around and being a kid, but is almost crippled by a mysterious illness that basically kills him. The fun of the novel begins when his mother, an egyptologist, takes the situation into her own hands. From the moment Alex wakes up, the world he knows is completely changed and our adventure begins.
I found myself drawn to this book because it looked like a great, light read full of adventure. I loved the pacing and how the storyline is more action-driven than anything else. Northrop remains true to the story by focusing mainly on the mystery at hand and the creepiness of the situation. For example, there's a passage that shows the darkness of Northrop's prose: "He may not consume your bodies...but he will certainly take your souls" (Northrop). It even made me think of how much middle grade books have changed. It's like the veil between what kids perceive as violence and what adults perceive as violence is slowly being lifted. I'm an adult and I was a bit spooked.
While the action is definitely a huge appeal, I did find myself feeling a bit old while reading this. Yes, I know that this is a 9-12 novel, but sometimes the descriptive tone kind of clashed with the characters' dialogue. The tone felt youngish and out of place in such a dark world. It was like Northrop was taking an older teen story and occasionally remembered that this was actually for a younger demographic.
Other than the occasional slip in tone, I really did enjoy this book. The mystery was fun and light and the conclusion gave us some closure, while still leaving the possibility for a fun sequel.
I would recommend this to readers looking for a light adventure set in NYC. If you liked Rick RIordan, you might like this one, since it's like a light version of Percy Jackson in a much smaller package.
Happy reading!