Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION RUP | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION RUP | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
When Daniel's brother Eli is killed at war, Daniel considers the history of unusual fatalities to determine what makes a death -- or a life -- matter.
Some people die heroically, others accidentally. When Daniel Anderson's older brother dies, he wonders which category Eli's death falls into. In an attempt to understand, Danny creates a Book of the Dead -- an old binder that he fills with details about dead people, how they died, and, most important, for what purpose. Time passes, and eventually Daniel is prompted to look up from his notebook of death and questions to make new friends and be swept into their imaginings. With gentle humor and genuine emotion, Rebecca Rupp examines the questions that arise following a profound loss and the moments that start life rolling again.
Author Notes
Rebecca Rupp is the beloved author of more than a dozen books for young readers, among them The Dragon of Lonely Island, Sarah Simpson's Rules for Living, and Octavia Boone's Big Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything . She and her family live in Swanton, Vermont.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Daniel, a wry and thoughtful narrator, looks back on the summer when he was 14, three years after his older brother, Eli, died in Iraq at age 22. Rupp (Octavia Boone's Big Questions about Life, the Universe, and Everything) skillfully weaves Daniel's memories of larger-than-life Eli and his lingering anger about his death with Daniel's day-to-day challenges, including his dysfunctional family (Daniel repeatedly clashes with his father, and his mother is all but catatonic, continuing to mourn Eli); his frustrations with his popular but conventional friends; his attraction to Isabelle, a gorgeous and free-spirited newcomer to town; and his nascent friendship with school outcast Walter. Throughout, Daniel adds to his "Book of the Dead," in which he documents famous and infamous deaths that seem tragic, senseless, or cruel. The pain running through the narrative is tempered with hope, humor, and resilience, offering insight into the anguish of those left behind. A rich cast of secondary characters (Isabelle's bickering twin siblings are scene-stealers) is a powerful source of support for Daniel in a story that's as much about self-knowledge as acceptance. Ages 9-12. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Narrator Danny is eight when the Twin Towers fall on 9/11 and eleven when his older brother Eli is killed in Iraq. The first event is traumatic; the second absolutely devastating, since Eli functioned both as best friend and mentor to Danny. With his parents emotionally in absentia, Elis death leaves a vacuum Danny cant fill on his own. Now its the summer after freshman year in high school, a pivotal time in which Danny will fall hopelessly in love (with sophisticated city girl Isabelle whos visiting small-town Vermont just for the summer); shed old friendships and make new ones that fit him better; chance upon a potential vocation; and people his life with substitute mentors. In other words, he finds himself and finally begins to accept Elis death. Theres wisdom aplenty imparted here, from the inevitability of change to the impermanence of life to the mysteries of human motivation. But theres much humor, too, especially in the refreshing directness of Elis brotherly advice (Eli: When is it OK to use [the word] suck? Danny: Vampires, vacuum cleaners, and anything to do with Timmy Sperdle) and in the freewheeling interactions between eccentric twins Jasper and Journey, Isabelles younger siblings. With its deliberate pace, adult perspective, and extensive philosophical conversations, After Eli may not reach a wide audience, but those who connect will find a profound yet unpretentious story and a resilient, relatable protagonist. martha v. parravano (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Three years after his much older brother, Eli, died as a soldier in Iraq, 14-year-old Daniel is still trying to cope with the loss while living in a household that has never healed. Throughout Daniel's childhood, Eli had set out to teach him all that he needed to know but would never learn from their distant, demanding father. Now, over a summer marked by change, Daniel falls for sophisticated Isabelle, befriends a geeky classmate, outgrows a longtime pal, and works on a farm owned by his brother's best friend. At summer's end, Daniel's realization that he is losing Isabelle opens the floodgates of grief and triggers a violent reaction that allows his family to move forward at last. Depicted only through flashbacks, memories, and conversations, irreverent Eli is one of the most vividly realized characters in this convincing cast. Each chapter heading features someone from Daniel's personal Book of the Dead (Archimedes, Isadora Duncan, the Titanic victims) who come up in his writings, a thread of death that some might find off-putting. But the tone of this first-person narrative isn't maudlin or morbid, it's smart and searching, and the well-structured story quietly builds to a moving climax and a worthy, satisfying conclusion.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-When Daniel Anderson's older brother, Eli, is killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb, his world turns upside down. Three years later, the 14-year-old is still struggling with the devastating loss. His once vibrant, social mother has become a recluse and his father can only see what his youngest son lacks. Daniel keeps a "Book of the Dead," tracking the unexpected or bizarre deaths of historical figures. He becomes friends with Walter, who is brilliant and often bullied, and Isabelle ,who is visiting from New York. Their friendship feels magical and almost unreal, but it helps Daniel begin to move beyond the loss of his brother. His own healing impacts his parents as well, leaving listeners with the feeling that the family will eventually heal. Todd Haberkorn does an excellent job of pacing his reading of Rebecca Rupps story (Candlewick, 2012). His perfectly timed pauses clearly indicate when Daniel is sharing a memory of his brother and add power to the story. Haberkorn provides a unique voice for each of the main characters and perfectly captures Daniel's emotions, helping listeners to feel the youth's sorrow, longing, and struggle. This may not find a wide audience, but for those who have felt the loss of a close family member or friend, the connection will be significant and the impact lasting.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Daniel (E.) Anderson looks back on the summer he fell in love and finally came to terms with his soldier brother's death. After Eli died in Iraq, Daniel added his initial to his own name and began compiling a Book of the Dead, a binder filled with his research on famous deaths. Three years later, still angry at his brother for joining the Army, the 14-year-old still keeps his book. Relevant entries, ranging from the princes in the Tower to Isadora Duncan and the 9/11 victims, begin each chapter of this poignant novel. Danny's father is detached and displeased by everything; his mother, silent and withdrawn. But in the course of an idyllic summer spent with the beautiful Isabelle and her younger twin siblings, visiting from New York, Danny comes to terms with his brother's death, finds a new, true friend in his dorky, formerly despised classmate Walter, and discovers that working on an organic farm is something he's good at and cares about. Danny's nostalgic first-person narration includes interestingly quirky information as well as sweet moments. Middle school readers will see the inevitable end of this first love long before Danny faces it, grieving his new loss but grateful for his healing. Far more than a summer romance, this is a tribute to those left behind. (Fiction. 11-15)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
