A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling to find where they fit in a world that seems obsessed with romantic milestones or when they are navigating the heavy, isolating silence of grief. It is a vital resource for teens who feel 'different' not just because of how they love, but because of how they process loss and mortality. The story follows Georgia, an asexual teen living in a funeral home, who discovers she can temporarily wake the dead. This supernatural element serves as a profound metaphor for the things we wish we could say to those we have lost. While the setting is a funeral home and the plot involves death, the book is ultimately about the courage required to be your authentic self. It offers a rare and nuanced portrayal of asexuality, making it a powerful choice for families looking to validate their child's identity or spark conversations about the many ways to experience human connection. The tone is reflective and deeply empathetic, suitable for ages fourteen and up.
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Sign in to write a reviewDeath of a grandparent and a peer drive the narrative.
The 'waking' of corpses may be unsettling for some sensitive readers.
The book deals directly and secularly with death, grief, and corpse preparation. The asexuality representation is explicit and central to the protagonist's self-image. The resolution is realistic and hopeful, focusing on self-acceptance rather than 'fixing' her powers or her identity.
A thoughtful 15-year-old who feels out of sync with their peers' interests in dating and needs a story that validates their preference for platonic or familial love over romantic pursuit.
Parents should be aware of the detailed descriptions of the mortuary process. It is helpful to read up on the 'ACE' (asexual) spectrum to better support the identity conversations this book will likely trigger. A parent might see their child withdrawing from social groups or expressing frustration that they 'don't work the same way' as other kids regarding crushes or dating.
Younger teens will focus on the supernatural mystery and the 'ghost' elements. Older teens will resonate more deeply with the existential questions about identity and the pressure to conform to societal norms.
Unlike many YA novels that use asexuality as a side note, this book intertwines the protagonist's identity with the literal and metaphorical 'silence' of her environment, making the identity exploration feel organic and essential.
Georgia Richter lives in her family's funeral home and has always felt more comfortable with the dead than the living. While mourning her grandmother, she discovers she has the 'shimmer,' the ability to revive a corpse for a few minutes of conversation. When a popular classmate dies unexpectedly, Georgia is pulled into a mystery and a moral dilemma: should she use her gift to give others closure, or is she just avoiding her own life? Along the way, she navigates her identity as an asexual person in a culture that prioritizes romance.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.