Review: Imperfect Spiral by Debbie Levy

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Imperfect Spiral

by Debbie Levy

Pub Date: 7/16/13

Pub: Bloomsbury Walker

Format: ARC

Source: from pub

Danielle Snyder's summer job as a babysitter takes a tragic turn when Humphrey, the five-year-old boy she's watching, runs in front of oncoming traffic to chase down his football. Immediately Danielle is caught up in the machinery of tragedy: police investigations, neighborhood squabbling, and, when the driver of the car that struck Humphrey turns out to be an undocumented alien, outsiders use the accident to further a politically charged immigration debate. Wanting only to mourn Humphrey, the sweet kid she had a surprisingly strong friendship with, Danielle tries to avoid the world around her. Through a new relationship with Justin, a boy she meets at the park, she begins to work through her grief, but as details of the accident emerge, much is not as it seems. It's time for Danielle to face reality, but when the truth brings so much pain, can she find a way to do right by Humphrey's memory and forgive herself for his death?

I received an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review

Every once in awhile a book comes along that captures me so completely and moves me in such surprising ways. A book that still hasn't left my thoughts even days or weeks after it's been read. Imperfect Spiral by Debbie Levy is one of those books. This isn't a perfect book (do those even exist?!), but I love it for everything it is and everything it isn't.

Fourteen year old Danielle Snyder spends the summer before high school as a babysitter for five year old Humphrey. Danielle and Humphrey make a splendid pair with their oddball personalities and out of the box thinking. And when Humphrey is tragically killed by an illegal immigrant Danielle finds herself in the middle of a battle and campaign she wants no part of; she merely wants to mourn the little boy she's come to love.

Imperfect Spiral is a beautiful and authentic story about unlikely love and friendship, family, compassion, and standing up for what you believe in. Highly relevant, rich in tangible emotion, and possessing two of the best written characters I've met in a long time, this is an utterly addicting story.

Levy weaves several heavy themes and topics throughout Imperfect Spiral- grief, guilt, tolerance, illegal/legal immigration- and she does so with such thought-provoking honesty and authenticity, and without any sense of being preached at. The topic of immigration, both illegal and legal, plays an integral role in the story, and I appreciate the way that the author explores all sides of the argument and, instead of telling readers what they should think about the topic, she merely encourages thought and further exploration. But, the heart of this story lies with Danielle and Humphrey, the profound bond they forge, and Danielle's immense grief and guilt over his death. Humphrey's death isn't a plot tool simply used to create forced emotions and Danielle's grief isn't sensationalized; these things feel incredibly real, the affects they have are believable. Levy creates such a powerful and poignant look at grief and guilt, not in an in-your-face; overwrought; Lifetime movie kind of way, but with exquisite subtlety and quietness.

What I love most about Imperfect Spiral is Danielle and Humphrey, both as individuals and as a charming pair. The genuine love and friendship between these two needs to be felt by readers in order for Danielle's grief and guilt to feel believable and real, and the love and friendship is definitely felt...I felt it with every piece of me! Danielle is the perfect mix of snarky, witty, and vulnerable, and Humphrey is the perfect mix of endearing, precocious, curious, and sweet...I'd be BFF's with Danielle and everyone needs a Humphrey in their lives. And as a pair, these two simply shine! They're both a little bit different, a little bit outcasts, a little bit perculiar (yes, I spelled that wrong for a reason...ya gotta read the book to find out why), and I've fallen completely in love with them! The bond between these two is developed so wonderfully and there are cute/silly/thoughtful moments between them that are crafted with such beauty that they literally took my breath away.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: This book introduced me to two of my newest favorite characters, left me thoughtful, and made me ugly cry...all signs of a truly great book! Danielle and Humphrey's story is an unforgettable and thought-provoking one that will move and inspire readers. A MUST read YA Contemp.

MY RATING

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Debbie Levy

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I write books—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—for people of all different ages, and especially for young people. Before starting my writing career, I was a newspaper editor with American Lawyer Media and Legal Times; before that, I was a lawyer with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now called WilmerHale). I have a bachelor’s degree in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia, and a law degree and master’s degree in world politics from the University of Michigan. I live in Maryland with my husband, Rick Hoffman.  We have two grown sons.  Besides writing, I love to kayak, boat, and fish in the Chesapeake Bay region, swim, bowl duckpins, tramp around the woods with the dog, and watch the cat sleep. And, of course, I love to read.

Review: Rules for Ghosting by A.J. Paquette

Rules for Ghosting

by A.J. Paquette

Pub Date: 7/9/13

Pub: Bloomsbury & Walker

Format: eARC

Source: Netgalley

Twelve-year-old Dahlia has always lived at Silverton Manor-having spent fifty years as its resident ghost. When Oliver Day and his family show up as house-sitters the day Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator sent by the Spectral Investigative Council, arrives to teach Dahlia the proper rules for ghosting, Dahlia can't wait to make new friends. But the unscrupulous ghost hunter, Rank Wiley, and the crooked town councilman, Jock Rutabartle, plan to rid Silverton Manor of its ghosts and sell it to the highest bidder. With her home and friendships at stake Dahlia may have to break the rules of ghosting as quickly as she learns them to solve the mystery of her death and save the manor. Equal parts charming and eerie, this ghostly caper hits all the right notes for the middle-grade audience.

I received an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review

A.J. Paquette's Rules for Ghosting is an utterly delightful and superbly entertaining middle-grade read! This ghoulicious gem of a book is full of spooky, charming fun and storytelling that simply sparkles and shines!

For fifty years, 12 year old Dahlia has lived at Silverton Manor as its resident ghost. Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator from the very important and rigid Spectral Investigation Council, shows up to teach Dahlia the proper rules for ghosting and help her uncover the anchor that is keeping her stuck at Silverton Manor. On the same day as Mrs. Tibbs arrival, Oliver Day and his family of house-sitters move into the manor. The Days' job is to ensure the manor gets a pretty makeover, both for its physical appearance and its reputation, so that Jock Rutabartle can sell it. But a nasty ghost hunter named Rank Wiley gets in the way of both Dahlia and the Days. Dahlia must break some ghosting rules to save herself and help Oliver save the beloved manor.

I loved everything about this book! The characters, the plot, the writing- it's all just awesome. Rules for Ghosting is the perfect middle-grade blend of fun thrills, eerie whimsy, and smart mystery. Paquette's storytelling has that special spark, the kind that is fueled by a wonderfully imaginative and addicting story, that I always look for in middle-grade books. With a pitch-perfect voice, amusing humor, and clever plotting, Rules for Ghosting is truly captivating from beginning to end.

I'm huge fan of ghost stories and ghost hunting, and Paquette has created the perfect middle-grade ghost story that has a enough eerie spookiness to keep readers enthralled, but is brimming with charm and age-appropriate thrills. This book was seriously just SO MUCH fun to read! It has so many fantastic elements, from an enchanting setting (Silverton Manor) to a compelling mystery to awesome characters, this book has it all. Silverton Manor, with its irresistible charm; mysterious allure; and many rooms waiting to be explored, is like a character in itself. Given the chance, I'd move into Silverton Manor (and claim Poppy's room!). Paquette weaves a clever, unpredictable mystery that kept me on my toes and was exciting to unravel with Dahlia and Oliver.

The characters in Rules for Ghosting shine! I adore ghost-girl Dahlia; she's everything I look for in a middle-grade heroine: smart, brave, capable, inquisitive, and endearing. Oliver and his rambunctious younger siblings make for an engaging and amusing bunch. Younger readers will love this group of young characters and want to join their ghost-hunter busting team (I know I do!). And Rank and Jock make for fun baddies.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: With spooks and kooks, thrills and chills, and sparkle and shine, Rules for Ghosting is an awesome middle-grade read that charmed me completely. I can't recommend this book enough, especially for all the younger readers in your life!

MY RATING

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A.J. Paquette

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A.J. Paquette has been writing stories since early childhood. She and her sister would spend hours creating masterpieces of stapled paper and handwritten words, complete with pen-and-ink covers and boxed illustrations. The road to publication was long and winding, peppered with many small successes including: a variety of national magazine publications, being a 2005 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award honoree, and receiving the 2008 SCBWI’s Susan Landers Glass Scholarship Award, for the book that would later become Nowhere Girl. Her first picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, was published in 2009. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in the Boston area, where she continues to write books for children and young adults. She is also an agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.