Title : The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden
Author : Emma Trevayne
Publication date : July 28th 2015
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Who wouldn't be intrigued reading such title? I was in Middle Grade novel fever a few months back (still is, actually) and reading the title alone is enough to make me crave this book. Oh, and not to mention the gorgeous cover. Ideally, this is how a middle grade book should look like.
Thomas and his father Silas were "professional" grave diggers. They operated at night, raiding fresh graves for anything that would be worth of money. One night, out of the blue, Thomas found a body, inside a grave he dug, that looked identically like him.
With a premise like that, how can it be not promising. I was as excited as I can be, but this book is a disappointment. First, it was boring. I was patient enough with this book because I stopped at 80%. Almost there, I know but I was in so much agony that there's no point to continue.
Second, the narration is extremely confusing and the fact that it is crafted for young readers is even more saddening. Even I as an adult find it hard to understand what was going on. I can't imagine difficult it would be for children. If you are trying to entice your child to read, this is definitely not the book you're looking for.
Third, Thomas, oh gosh! I can't love him. He was neither a brat nor a good boy. I resent him on how he treated his parents after he found some clues. The parent who looked after him, fed him and gave him shelter and of course, loved him. If I can't love the main character, I will not rate it 5, obviously.
Fourth, I almost cannot find good quotes from it, ugh! I dislike it when a book doesn't serve the readers with memorable phrases. I have soft spot for quotes and I do look for them when reading. This book just doesn't have it.
Fifth, the title of this book is extremely misleading. The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden is not a story about an afterlife. Oh, even better, it's about faeries! Why mention afterlife if you don't serve them in your book? No ghost, no underworld, nothing! (despite of a graveyard as one of the main settings).
Phew! I never thought I would write so much complain. It is a shame because The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden could be a very good book, if only it delivers what it promises. If you are looking for a creepy book set in the past of England, try The Night Gardener instead. I find it more enjoyable and creepier.
1 rating and Did Not Finish. So, have you read any creepy books lately? What is it? Do you read them at night, too?
