Conor O'Neill is scared of spiders, bullies, his dad's disappointment if he doesn't play hockey and attend Latin school, and basically just about everything. But his fears pale when he encounters Aisling, a very young banshee who is determined to collect her "death" so she can be reborn into the world. Conor panics at the thought that she could be here for the death of any of his family, from his brash and annoying younger sister to his quirky grandfather, and struggles to face his fears and make difficult decisions for his family.
This was humorous but slow-paced; the story built in slow waves to the climax and readers expecting a quick and happy resolution will be disappointed. The characters learn more about themselves and grow, but remain themselves; Conor is still scared of (just about) everything, his best friend is obsessed with technology, his dad is pressuring him to fulfill his own dreams. But Conor has learned there's more to death than he thought and Aisling, while still remaining a largely shadowy creature, has a future ahead of her.
Verdict: I don't think this has the strong appeal of Small Persons with Wings, but I did enjoy the story and will probably give it a boost in the collection to see if I can save it from weeding for a few more years.
ISBN: 9780803737044 ; Published 2013 by Dial; Purchased for the library
No comments:
Post a Comment