The Dead I Know in Mock Printz 2026

Oct 05, 2016 Jan rated it liked it

Shelves: teenbooks, contemporary

This is a very well written, sensitive, and thoughtful novel about a teen who has been traumatized by the death of his parents. He is now living in a trailer park with his grandmother, who is beginning to show signs of dementia. He is hired to work for a local funeral director and works hard, gaining his employer's trust, but he is haunted by his inability to care for his grandmother and the unresolved trauma of his parents' death. This is a great novel about grief, especially resulting from a t ...more

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Oct 08, 2016 Colleen Scidmore rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2016, mystery, drama, young-adult, contemporary-fiction, mental-illness, melancholy

I'd say this was a 3.5-3.75 star read.

Aaron lives in a trailer park with his failing grandmother who seems to going downhill rapidly from dementia and theres no mention of his parents. He has a hard time in school and constantly has to switch schools around. Aaron doesn't like to speak much unless he absolutely has to. Aaron has these horrible nightmares that seem to go hand in hand with this crazy sleep walking condition where he wakes up anywhere and everywhere having no recollection of what ...more

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Mar 25, 2015 Annette rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, death, mental-health, funeral-house, nightmares

THE DEAD I KNOW by Scot Gardner tells the gripping, coming-of-age story of a young man haunted by death and dreams he can’t explain.

In this compelling psychological drama, Aaron gets a job working at a funeral home during the day. However at night, he’s haunted by recurring nightmares unrelated to his job. In between, he must deal with a family member’s dementia and life in poverty.

Originally published in Australia, teens are likely to find the unfamiliar funeral home setting intriguing and th ...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Jenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-august

I went into this book expecting it to be one kind of book, but ended up finding something far different – and something far better, in my opinion. The description on the back flap led me to believe that this was a story about a sleepwalker, when in fact, Aaron is much more than you are led to believe.

Newly finished school, Aaron has taken on a job with John Barton to become a funeral director’s assistant. To both of their surprise, Aaron takes to the job well, finding solace in the routines and I went into this book expecting it to be one kind of book, but ended up finding something far different – and something far better, in my opinion. The description on the back flap led me to believe that this was a story about a sleepwalker, when in fact, Aaron is much more than you are led to believe.

Newly finished school, Aaron has taken on a job with John Barton to become a funeral director’s assistant. To both of their surprise, Aaron takes to the job well, finding solace in the routines and dignity surrounding the preparation of the dead for their final goodbye. This isn’t to say that he is numb to the issues surrounding death and loss. Instead, Aaron’s initial hesitations and misgivings are presented in an authentic way, and the transition from unease to acceptance is real and logical to the flow of the story.

Life hasn’t been easy for Aaron, and he has built huge walls to keep people away. He's quiet and withdrawn, and he lives in a trailer park with Mam; their relationship is complicated, and it is heartbreaking to see her decline despite Aaron’s attempts to care for her. Aaron also suffers from vivid dreams that lead to sleepwalking episodes, often placing him in situations that are unfamiliar or dangerous. As he continues to work at the funeral home, the lives of the newly dead begin to invade his dreams. While the back of the book would lead you to believe that this is the crux of the story, to me the sleepwalking was merely another symbol of the unraveling of Aaron’s very complicated story. As the story progresses, Aaron’s attempts to continue to compartmentalized his life begin to falter, especially as he slowly becomes part of the Barton family. When the true history of Aaron’s past is revealed, it is made more devastating by the contrast to his current existence.

The mystery of Aaron’s past is an important part of the story, but it isn’t everything about the story if that makes sense. I found myself as absorbed by how Aaron survived each day and his few relationships as much as I was by the mystery of his past, and I think that’s a good sign. By the time the mystery was revealed, I was invested enough in Aaron to want to find out what had happened, and how things might be resolved for him. I liked watching him slowly come out of his shell and develop connections as much as I liked the explanation behind the sleepwalking episodes. For those who might expect more action and a faster pace to the story – well, you’ll be disappointed. This arc builds slowly, and resolves itself gracefully. Just enjoy the ride.

Scot Gardner has written an absorbing story that draws you in slowly but holds you there once captured. His attention to detail when writing about life as a funeral director is done with sensitivity; he uses such skill that the macabre nature is left behind as you find yourself drawn into the nature of the job. It helps that Gardner has not allowed John Barton, Aaron’s boss and surrogate father, to be that classic stereotype of a slightly creepy or sinister funeral director. Instead, he is portrayed as a man who loves his family and is good at his job, even if it is perhaps a more unconventional choice. In fact most of the characters were well drawn and vivid. One side note: Scot Gardner writes his books based in Australia, and while you could definitely hear the Aussie tone in the book, it was also not so strong that those unfamiliar with the culture would be lost.

This book was provided by Penguin Canada for an honest review. It may be purchased from Indigo, Amazon or your friendly neighbourhood indie bookstore. ...more

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Jun 20, 2015 Barbara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: animals, elderly-characters, teachers, crime, death, poverty, humor, abusive-relationships, bullies, facing-fears

In his new job at a local funeral home, teen Aaron Rowe not only sees dead people, but he has to help pick folks up when they die and assist in preparing their bodies for viewing. In some ways, his new job seems to fit him quite well, especially when his employer, John Barton, goes out of his way to befriend and guide him. Aaron's living situation isn't the greatest. Haunted by nightmares that might have something to do with his past, bullied by some of the residents of the trailer park where he ...more

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Jan 27, 2015 Melissapalmer404 rated it really liked it

Book #10 Read in 2015
The Dead I Know by Scott Gardner (YA)

Aaron comes from a messed up home life. He begins a job at a funeral parlor and John, the funeral director, takes him under his wing. It is hard, however, for Aaron to ask for help. This book has a lot of sad elements to it but ends on a hopeful note. It was a good, quick read. I received a copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for a honest review.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com ...more

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Jun 17, 2015 Karyn Silverman added it

Shelves: ya, z2015-reads

Huh. So short and a little odd. Australian and maybe that's part of it. Compelling, but the stuff about van 57 was unclear -- like coming in in the middle. And it was very clear what the mystery was and what the dreams were, so it's not suspenseful. More of a slice of life study. ...more

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