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School of Deaths (The Scythe Wielder's Secret, #1)

Christopher Mannino

Why we're reading this: Ann's Moderator Book of the Month pick for September…more
[close] Ann's Moderator Book of the Month pick for September

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Apr 30, 2015 C.J. Anaya rated it really liked it

This is an interesting and well plotted young adult/middle grade novel about a girl being forced to enter a world and accept a life she never would have chosen for herself. Suzie is the first female death in a million years, but she has huge obstacles to face because of the strong hatred held for women at the School of Deaths. Her struggles to brave the bullying and continue forward are commendable, and I think addressing the issue of bullying at this early age is important to note. We feel the This is an interesting and well plotted young adult/middle grade novel about a girl being forced to enter a world and accept a life she never would have chosen for herself. Suzie is the first female death in a million years, but she has huge obstacles to face because of the strong hatred held for women at the School of Deaths. Her struggles to brave the bullying and continue forward are commendable, and I think addressing the issue of bullying at this early age is important to note. We feel the humiliation and embarrassment Suzie suffers due to unfair prejudices, open hostility and verbal abuse. I think it is important that teens understand how this behavior can hurt others. We're certainly able to place ourselves in Suzie's shoes.

The school and surrounding areas are described in rich detail, and the culture and customs were intriguing. I had a few Harry Potter moments during the book due to the similar dress codes, schooling experiences and the school sport described in the book. This is not a Harry Potter copy cat, mind you, and has absolutely nothing to do with the subject matter, but the feel of discovery and anticipation for something unique and exciting felt similar with a few detailed items shared.

I think Suzie is brave and adventurous. A loyal friend and likeable heroine. She has plenty of room for character growth and development which is good considering she is only thirteen. I loved that her house mates were so kind and supportive, a real team made up of two young boys attempting to come to terms with their own lives being turned upside down.

There is obviously more to this story than meets the eye with the introduction of a different species, the history of Suzie's ancestors and the tantalizing idea that Dragons were the original grim reapers and not the current deaths running the show. It will be interesting to see where this author takes the storyline and characters from here.

I enjoyed this novel right from the beginning, and would highly recommend it to fans of middle grade and young adult fantasy and paranormal genres. I'd even recommend it to all of the fanatic Harry Potter fans out there. That's right all of you Harry Potter nerds, present company included. You're welcome. ...more

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Apr 28, 2015 AK Mama Reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-for-review

I enjoyed the story of Suzie and her friends, but felt that there were a few things missing. For instance, a bit less explanation of why things are the way they are, and more explanation of how she reacts to this rather bizarre world would have given us more insight into Suzie's personality. At times I felt like I understood her naivety, but often I felt that she was unrealistically unaware of typical social expectations. On the plus side, the magical world had me rather intrigued so I picked th ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 25, 2015 AK Mama Reads marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Sep 10, 2015 Christina marked it as to-read

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