And he hasn't been able to sleep in years: not since waking up from death. His body parts fall off at inopportune moments. But Crow Darlingson isn't like other kids. Like other kids, his mother makes sure he finishes his homework, and he always looks forward to Halloween. Crow Darlingson may be dead, but he still loves air hockey, bowling, and drawing. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change.Fans of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book will embrace this darkly funny debut novel about Crow, a dead boy who has a chance at friendship - and a chance at getting his life back.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Fans of adventure, fantasy, and magic will love this middle-grade novel. I especially loved the feminist message, and I think this story will be well-received with a younger crowd. Her curiosity and ambition are very relatable for readers, and the themes of overcoming obstacles, fighting for what’s right, and never giving up shine through. Kaya is a wonderful heroine: brave, persistent, and immensely loyal to her brother. The characters-especially Kaya-and the magic are really what drive this story. I enjoyed the story-telling elements and loved watching Kaya become increasingly more creative with every story she told. To make it to the capital and rescue her brother, Kaya will have to leave behind everything she’s ever known and venture into a new life. She embarks on a journey across the country, facing dangers and running for her life, but also learning things about herself and her magic that she never would have realized otherwise. But when twelve year-old Kaya’s older brother is captured and held as a prisoner in the faraway capital city, Kaya decides to break the rules in order to save him. The only problem? She’s a girl, and girls are forbidden to practice this magic. Kaya A’Dor longs to learn how to do story magic. He had a sister, and she was determined to save him.” For an orphan with no connections, the chances were even worse. “Few ever returned after being taken prisoner by the guild. She loves animals and is easily distracted by squirrels.” (Bio taken from the author’s website.) In addition to writing, she enjoying hiking, playing board games, and reading. She lives with her husband and their ferrets in Washington. Her middle grade novels include Dead Boy and Story Magic. Content Warnings: Sexism, mentions of violence, death (discussed)Ībout the Author: “Laurel Gale writes books for children.

Dead Boy by Laurel Gale