Ok I picked this book by its cover. Not a good move this time. The cover picture had nothing to do really with the text inside of the cover. The book was ok for what it is about. But at time is was disjointed and it seemed like Duane Cerny rambled on. Chapter 3 really made little since to me other then the fact that he would of loved there to have been a yard sale after the deaths of the sister but there was not, so why have a whole chapter on it. 

 

The book  is about Duane Scott Cerny's love of vintage, antiques, and thift stores. I love all 3 things as well. He is a collector and seller of as the book is named Dead People's Things.  His love for vintage started as a child, on his front porch buying, selling, and trading his friends old cast off toys. The book follows him from Childhood to adulthood and his life long hobby and career in the 2nd hand business. 

 

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

This book made me mad because it could have been so fantastic but wasn’t. I know fellow bookworms will get what I’m saying. It was one of those books where you could sense the potential just reading the synopsis. It puts you on edge in happy anticipation because you know – just know – that you’re in for a flat out awesome read. I Text Dead People was right there …and then it fizzled. Almost completely. By a quarter of the way through the book, I was having my doubts. By halfway through, I realized it wasn’t going to be what I’d hoped. However, I was still enjoying the read and wasn’t near giving up on it.

I Text Dead People is an easy read for middle graders. It doesn’t feel like it’s anywhere near the 240 pages long it is. If anything, it’s probably written a little too simply for most readers in these grades. I liked the spin on communicating with the dead. Given the technology the intended age range has grown up with, it was an appropriate choice.

However, I Text Dead People is also this weird unnecessary mix of Mean Girls and The Sixth Sense. Either would be fine by themselves, but the combination doesn’t particularly work well. I think that this idea that every time a kid starts a new school they’re going to instantly get targeted by the most popular girl/clique is a bit annoying and old. As is the idea that the new girl either has to be a complete pansy or a rebellious emo-chick. Annabel would have been a lot more interesting if she had any personality to speak of.

Under different circumstances, I Text Dead People could have been a truly creepy middle-grader read. I would love to see the idea played with again with a different protagonist and a more action-driven, clearer plot. As it is, while I did enjoy the book on a certain level, I can’t recommend it. I Text Dead People is a ghost of what it could have been.

This is an ugly book. On the outside and the inside.

Annabel Craven is an insecure, middle class girl who is starting at prestigious new school and she's afraid she won't fit in. Her mother won't get her a replacement phone so her life is over before it even begins. Or something. She arrives at the Academy and immediately sets to judging every single person she sees. Mostly the girls. Every. single. girl. in this book is judged by our protagonist Annabel because of their makeup and heels and short skirts before they have a chance to open their whore mouths. Those seem to be accurate judgements based on the words that come out of their whore mouths, but seriously cool it with the slut-shaming Annabel.

It doesn't take more than a few pages for the girls to start calling each other boyfriend-stealers and worse. The closest thing Annabel has to a positive interaction is a strange girl at a lunch table, also described as high-hemmed and low-necklined, etc. etc., but since she's weird Annabel lies to her and doesn't willingly sit with her again. She's fantastic. Nobody seems to think about blaming the stupid boy who lets himself be "stolen" by the girls away from his owner/girlfriend.

Urgh, fine, the plot. On that first morning walking to school Annabel gets spooked by a guy in the graveyard, and in running away, picks up this mysterious cell phone. When charged, the phone turns on but she only gets cryptic texts asking for help. She pays no attention to them, but carries the phone around with her anyway.

It turns out she's receiving texts from dead people. Which the readers know from the title, but have to wait a hundred-odd pages before Annabel starts to get it. Even then she doesn't really help anybody. The main crisis of the plot comes and goes, no one gives a shit about the dead girl, and the resolution is the ghost hears the message from Annabel and decides to keep hanging around.

I did not have any expectations from this book, but I was appalled all the same. Who greenlit this? Shut it down and pulp it.

This was so good! I loved Lachlan. He was so vulnerable and lonely. Lana was perfect for him. Her sweet confidence comforted his lonely soul. Definitely my favorite of the series.

Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.

This is a dark themed urban fantasy/supernatural fiction novel with some very vivid imagery. Hunt's way of seeing ghosts and through their eyes is distinctive. He's a very troubled character and not easy to like. I'll continue this series.

Reviewed for Bitten by Books. http://bittenbybooks.com