Texting the Underworld

Author: Booraem, Ellen

Color: Sky/Pale blue

Features:

• Used Book in Good Condition

Number Of Pages: 320

Details:

Perpetual scaredy-cat Conor O'Neill has the fright of his life when a banshee girl named Ashling shows up in his bedroom. Ashling is--as all banshees are--a harbinger of death, but she's new at this banshee business, and first she insists on going to middle school. As Conor attempts to hide her identity from his teachers, he realizes he's going to have to pay a visit to the underworld if he wants to keep his family safe. "Got your cell?""Yeah . . . . Don't see what good it'll do me.""I'll text you if anything happens that you should know.""Text me? Javier, we'll be in the afterlife.""You never know. Maybe they get a signal." Discover why Kirkus has called Booraem's work "utterly original American fantasy . . . frequently hysterical." This totally fresh take on the afterlife combines the kid next door appeal of Percy Jackson with the snark of Artemis Fowl and the heart of a true middle grade classic. From School Library Journal Gr 6-9-Middle-schooler Conor O'Neill has a tendency to believe his grandfather's stories from Irish mythology and folklore despite the rest of his family's clear disdain for such tall tales. Teased for being afraid of everything, he is forced to face his greatest fears when a banshee shows up in his bedroom one night, looking to escort a family member to the underworld and earn her own mortality. The two become cautious friends as the banshee, named Ashling, decides to follow him to school with both humorous and disastrous consequences. When Conor makes the brave choice to head to the underworld and rescue a family member from death, he starts to respect himself. At times wildly funny, and at times creepily spooky, Texting the Underworld merges a realistic setting with fantasy, seamlessly creating a touching story full of suspense, action, and excitement.-Sharon McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journal. LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From Booklist Conor O’Neill is a middle-schooler growing up in a large Irish family in South Boston. He has a distaste for math problems, a prized new cell phone, and a problem that’s out of this world: a banshee named Ashling, who has shown up to wait for the family’s next death, although she doesn’t know whose it might be. Conor suspects the likely mark: his grandfather Grump, keeper of the family’s Irish lore. Booraem manages to pack a lot of energy into this very modern story about ancient traditions surrounding death. Conor faces challenges by drawing on the strength of his family ties and a little help from his best friend Javier, who helps him solve ancient riddles using twenty-first-century techniques. As Conor learns what he is made of, readers will relish the quirky cast of supporting characters from the underworld, and they may well realize that there’s more to life after death than they might have first imagined. Grades 5-8. --Erin Downey Howerton

Reviews:

"Readers will emerge from this adventure a little bit better equipped for heroism."

— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Complex characters, a moving story line centered on family and courage, and plenty of exciting moments make this an appealing read for those fans of tales mixing traditional folklore with contemporary life."

— Horn Book

"A story that packs an emotional wallop...affecting, funny, and provocative."

— Publishers Weekly

"Booraem manages to pack a lot of energy into this very modern story about ancient traditions surrounding death. . .Readers will relish the quirky cast of supporting characters from the underworld. . ."

— Booklist

"This book will be a favorite of young fantasy readers."

— Library Media Connection

About the Author:

Ellen Booraem, a native of Massachusetts, now lives in Downeast Maine. She is the author of The Unnameables (an ALA Best Book for Young Adults), Small Persons With Wings, and Texting the Underworld. All of Ellen's books have, among other awards, been ...

EAN: 9780803737044

Release Date: 15-08-2013

Languages: English

Item Condition: New

Binding: Hardcover