Everyone has it. It could be in the form of a mother's gut feeling, a strong urge to protect something, or even just a gut reaction to a situation. In this novel, two teenage boys struggle with trusting their instinct and solving a murder.The Road of the Dead is a bit of a whimsical story with psychic connections and gypsies, and two teenage boys trying to solve the rape and murder of their older sister, hundreds of miles from home. The family wants nothing more than to bury Rachel, but the police will not release the body until her murder is solved. Cole and Rueben end up unwelcome in the town where his sister lived. Relying on their own "gypsy intuition" and the help of their sister's roomate, they retrace her steps on the night of the murder. The same people that are suspected of killing Rachel are now trying to hide the truth from Cole and Ruben. The boys end up fighting for their own lives.
This book would appeal to middle-high school boys more than girls. The language is a bit too strong for anything under 8th grade. There is a lot of violence and gore and it will not be a good choice for animal lovers. The author's choice of making the boys half-gypsies is very interesting and entertains as a background story throughout the book. Their decisions and actions are controlled by their psychic connections, which is possibly a down-side to the story. High Schoolers may not find it believable, and may struggle through the 368 pages. This was a good book but perhaps too fictional for some students to take any real meaning out of it. The message that I took: trust your instinct.
12 comments:
Amanda, your concise description of Brooks novel is entriguing even to older audiences. I enjoyed how you addressed this book towards middle-high school boys especially rather than girls, which I would have to agree with even though I haven't read the novel. Great analysis!
Thanks for the summary. The title will capture the interest of boys. You commented on the number of pages so I was wondering sbout the pace of the text. Do you feel the story flows at a pace that would keep students interested?
I didn't have any gripes with the flow of the novel. Sort of on the same page as SFFSB, the author switches over from Cole(as the narrator) to Cole (seeing through his brother's eyes).a few times that transition is unexpected but never confusing or boring.
hey amanda--this is very well done. Nice job.
There was only one part where I was confused--when you say:
"Their decisions and actions are controlled by their thoughts, which is possibly a down-side to the story."
I wasn't sure what to make of this: I assume you may be refering to their paranormal abilities--is that right?
I also responded very strongly to your last sentence--trust your instinct. I know that there has been a best selling adult novel called "Blink" that explores the advantages of not thinking too deeply, of trusting your initial gut feelings. I am wondering if the interest in "instinct" has anything to do with the feeling many people have that the overarching rationale for the war in Iraq--as well as other forms of highly rational gov't decisionmaking, such as the tax system--is (was) misguided and wrong. In light of the failure of rational debate to solve so many pressing world problems, maybe there is an increase in the paranormal, and the instinctual, today--and maybe that contemporary interest is reflected in your book.
What do you think?
A related thought is that the gypsy choice is interesting--it sounds like the gypsy is a stand in for "underdogs" and "immigrants" the world over--those who are overlooked in the contemporary world, or in contemporary society, or who feel they don't get enough respect--something I suspect teens are especially sensitive to.
In any event, thanks for the review and commentary. Nice job.
TP
I agree with your gypsy comment Tom, but I must admit I did not relate the book at all to feelings about the war. Crime and conspiracy/cover-ups within local government, but not the war.
And the actions/decisions I mentioned were in response to their ESP. The choices they made seemed too irrational at times. I agree with following your instinct, but not when the visions you have are of your own harm.
I dont want to give away too much of the book, so I have been intentionally vague in some places as to not spoil the plot.
Your review makes me want to read this in the near future. Do you feel the subject matter is appropriate to discuss in school? Or would you leave this book as an independent choice?
The sister was raped and murdered. they never get into anything graphic about that but it is just known. the violent scenes may not be suitable for younger students. I see it more of a book you might read for fun, than a book that has a profound meaning like make lemonade or monster.
Amanda,
This post awakes interest.
One suggestion to play around with is that it might benefit from a hook. For example, as Tom pointed out, the "trust your instinct" sentense is indeed very strong. Can you find something that relates to it in the beginning?
And I agree with Tom that the one sentence is confusing: "Their decisions and actions are controlled by their thoughts, which is possibly a down-side to the story." I understand that you don't want to give away too much, but the meaning is not really clear, at least to me. I suggest to keep thinking about this sentence.
I agree. i do think a hook would be an added bonus to your well written review. Your last line about trusting your instincts would certainly be helpful in creating the attention getter.That was the one thing that was missing for me though. Something to grab my attention.
As I read the first paragraph of your review Amanda, my comment was "Yikes"! This seems not only scary but intense for young adults. Probably Goosebumps on steroids! :)
At first I wasn't sure what you meant by, "Their decisions and actions are controlled by their thoughts." I think what you are saying is that rather than having the ability to think before acting these individuals thoughts are immediately carried out. Is that right?
You provided a concise and informative review that gives readers an idea of what to expect from this novel.
Also, I must say that this novel will reopen the question of what is and what is not appropriate for YAL!
Amanda, great review! It's a gruesome story that will undoubtedly interst many readers. It's yet another book more suitable for high school boys than girls. I was wondering, so you think it will keep the interests of the students, or is slow pacing in some areas?
the last two comments- yes they act on instinct they dont seem to think about consequences (the older brother in particular) until after they make a move.
jon- its a longer book but i didnt lose interest, twists kept happening or things that got the flow of the book back up.
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