Customer Reviews

Restless

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I should have paid more attention when I picked up this book. I thought it said "a ghost story", "not a ghost's story". This book is told from the point of view of the ghost (Frank). Frank's brother, Herbie is about to begin his senior year and he has decided to go out for two sports--football and cross-country. He is now the same age as his brother was when he died.

The premise of the book is that there are some things that must be done while yet alive. It is a book that really gets you thinking about your own life and what you are doing with it.

While there are no objectionable words, I would recommend this for readers over age 12 due to subject matter. Definately one of the better books I have read.

Author Wallace is a natural at writing exciting, realistic sports action. However, RESTLESS is about so much more than sports. It's a surprising mystery filled with real teens. The dialog is amazing! It's how real people talk. Here are three non-sports reasons you'll love this book:
1. Everyone would like to be like Herbie, the main character.
2. Everyone would want a big brother like Frank.
3. Everyone knows someone like Eamon the Ghost.
Wallace's book is honest, funny and dramatic. I can't wait for the next one.

Herbie: When Herbie is running through the graveyard, building his endurance for his heavy sports schedule, he knows almost immediately that there is a presence with him. Even when he thinks about all of this afterwards, he knows he will not be able to stay away from the graveyard and the spirit that beckons to him.

Frank: Eight years older than his brother, Frank died of cancer at seventeen. He was not ready to leave and fought hard to hang onto his body, but it finally just gave out. He misses Herbie, his parents and all the passions that he could never have. Frank needs to let Herbie know that things are finally going to be all right and that he can move on. But something else is happening in the graveyard, and even Frank can't understand who the spirit is that is reaching for him.

Eamon: Killed in a tragic accident in the late 1800s, Eamon has not found his peace. He is looking for a way out but does not know where he really is. He has found a great energy in the running boy and a possible channel to another world.

RESTLESS is one of the most original YA books to come along in recent years. While there are themes of spirituality and time travel, what lies underneath the ongoing story are the themes of love and endurance. Author Rich Wallace has done some detailed research into theories about the afterlife and expresses this information beautifully through his characters and the story line. His characters are chained together in their common theme of grief and loneliness. Frank (who has been dead for eight years) narrates most of the story, which gives it an entirely fresh perspective.

This book grabs you from the first page and won't let you go until its exciting and rewarding climax. Get ready for one of the best reads of the season!

--- Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts (stibbetts@maine207west.k12.il.us)

This is a perfect book for reluctant readers (in this case, middle school boys). Just mention that it has some adult behavior in it. They'll grab it up. Plus it's a good story.

Very original, haven't ever read anything in a POV like that... and I like the plot :)

Fantastic Book! I enjoyed every page of it. It's a tightly, well though out and well told tale. The ending was a nice suprise too.