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A review by kazuchuu
The Ghosts We Keep by Mason Deaver
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Floating along the surface, despaired, drowned, dead.
This is the home of the ghosts we keep.”
It’s difficult to attach a rating to this book, largely because of how personal and raw it is. I’d encourage everyone to read it, regardless of the number of stars given, because this is a story about grief. It’s ugly, it’s messy, it’s disorientating—because that’s just how grief is.
Deaver says that Liam is “a pain in the ass”, and I found myself agreeing. They tend to lash out a lot, sometimes verbally-cornering characters to get what they want, but just because it’s true doesn’t mean it’s unrealistic, and I think that’s what Deaver meant. No one is at their best when grieving; it can bring out the worst in people. In can bring out the worst in others around them too (Joel…Vanessa…what the fuck?), and that’s precisely why I think it’s an important book.
This is grief, unfiltered, and told in the words of a struggling 16-year-old who only wants things to go back to normal. It’s a lot for a kid. It’s a lot for Marcus as well, especially as the readers grow to realize the true magnitude of what he’s lost. I found myself sometimes wishing we had a few chapters in his POV, but told through Liam’s eyes, Marcus’ grief is no less impactful. It’s heart-wrenching to read about.
All in all, this is a book that will devastate you, really. Also, please be mindful of the trigger warnings if you decide to pick it up.
This is the home of the ghosts we keep.”
It’s difficult to attach a rating to this book, largely because of how personal and raw it is. I’d encourage everyone to read it, regardless of the number of stars given, because this is a story about grief. It’s ugly, it’s messy, it’s disorientating—because that’s just how grief is.
Deaver says that Liam is “a pain in the ass”, and I found myself agreeing. They tend to lash out a lot, sometimes verbally-cornering characters to get what they want, but just because it’s true doesn’t mean it’s unrealistic, and I think that’s what Deaver meant. No one is at their best when grieving; it can bring out the worst in people. In can bring out the worst in others around them too (Joel…Vanessa…what the fuck?), and that’s precisely why I think it’s an important book.
This is grief, unfiltered, and told in the words of a struggling 16-year-old who only wants things to go back to normal. It’s a lot for a kid. It’s a lot for Marcus as well, especially as the readers grow to realize the true magnitude of what he’s lost. I found myself sometimes wishing we had a few chapters in his POV, but told through Liam’s eyes, Marcus’ grief is no less impactful. It’s heart-wrenching to read about.
All in all, this is a book that will devastate you, really. Also, please be mindful of the trigger warnings if you decide to pick it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm