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Picture the Dead
"A perfectly haunting combination."―Jon Scieszka, bestselling author and Caldecott Honor winner "I loved Picture the Dead. Eerie, romantic, moody, and immersive. A beautifully illustrated gothic delight!"―Holly Black, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cat "A tour de force, a remarkable feat of visual and verbal storytelling, as playful as it is serious, as haunting as it is delightful."―Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Jennie feels the tingling presence of something unnatural in the house now that Will is dead. Her heart aches without him, and she still doesn't know how he really died. It seems that everywhere she turns, someone is hiding yet another clue. As Jennie seeks the truth, she finds herself drawn ever deeper into a series of tricks and lies, secrets and betrayals, and begins to wonder if she had every really known Will at all.
262 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
71 people are currently reading
2293 people want to read
About the author
Adele Griffin
47 books670 followersfrom Wikipedia:
Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly-acclaimed books across a variety of genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award Finalists.
Her debut adult novel The Favor explores themes of friendship, surrogacy, and nontraditional family building.
Find her on TikTok at @adelegriffinbooks and Instagram at @adelegriffin or www.adelegriffin.
website: www.adelegriffin.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adelegriffi...
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adele-G...
Open Road Media interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa3P...
Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly-acclaimed books across a variety of genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award Finalists.
Her debut adult novel The Favor explores themes of friendship, surrogacy, and nontraditional family building.
Find her on TikTok at @adelegriffinbooks and Instagram at @adelegriffin or www.adelegriffin.
website: www.adelegriffin.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adelegriffi...
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adele-G...
Open Road Media interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa3P...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
September 28, 2012
The more I reflect on this book, the more I dislike it. I was going to go for a three star rating, then dropped down to two, and then dropped down to one. It isn't that Picture the Dead is precisely a bad book, it's that it just could be so much better.
Griffin's writing is beautiful, and Brown's illustrations are unique and polished. They just don't ... really work together in this particular narrative. This is a problem I seem to be running into a lot with illustrated books, which might have something to do with personal taste &c., but the sleek, flat colors of the illustrations feel weirdly modern against the setting of the American Civil War.
On a similar graphical note, the text on the illustrated pages is difficult to read, to the point I almost stopped bothering. Very few of the images really illuminate much of anything in the text, and quite often it almost felt as if the creators were straining to generate content to fill up the pages reserved for illustrations (the jam-label page comes to mind).
Furthermore, while I found a couple minor characters engaging, most of the major ones fall flat. Jennie lacks any defining characteristics and has no real goal or motive to the story aside from deciphering a pretty predictable mystery. A lot of the conflict in the book is generated by other women who are terrible and either hate Jennie for no real reason or are vapid and dull &c. In fact, the narrative is deeply guilty of making everyone even slightly antagonistic to the character so reprehensible they become caricatures (vice versa, Mavis, Jennie's ongoing support structure, is self-sacrificing and noble even when her self-sacrifice and nobility makes no sense?). The romance in the story (both past and present) is completely unbelievable, and Jennie's character wildly inconsistent.
It feels almost as if Picture the Dead is an incomplete collection, a literal scrapbook of a story where both creators try different things with mixed results. It's a quick read and, like I said, not a bad book, but it was, to me, ultimately disappointing.
Griffin's writing is beautiful, and Brown's illustrations are unique and polished. They just don't ... really work together in this particular narrative. This is a problem I seem to be running into a lot with illustrated books, which might have something to do with personal taste &c., but the sleek, flat colors of the illustrations feel weirdly modern against the setting of the American Civil War.
On a similar graphical note, the text on the illustrated pages is difficult to read, to the point I almost stopped bothering. Very few of the images really illuminate much of anything in the text, and quite often it almost felt as if the creators were straining to generate content to fill up the pages reserved for illustrations (the jam-label page comes to mind).
Furthermore, while I found a couple minor characters engaging, most of the major ones fall flat. Jennie lacks any defining characteristics and has no real goal or motive to the story aside from deciphering a pretty predictable mystery. A lot of the conflict in the book is generated by other women who are terrible and either hate Jennie for no real reason or are vapid and dull &c. In fact, the narrative is deeply guilty of making everyone even slightly antagonistic to the character so reprehensible they become caricatures (vice versa, Mavis, Jennie's ongoing support structure, is self-sacrificing and noble even when her self-sacrifice and nobility makes no sense?). The romance in the story (both past and present) is completely unbelievable, and Jennie's character wildly inconsistent.
It feels almost as if Picture the Dead is an incomplete collection, a literal scrapbook of a story where both creators try different things with mixed results. It's a quick read and, like I said, not a bad book, but it was, to me, ultimately disappointing.
July 23, 2012
Loved it! So you may start seeing me review books with illustrations, being illustrator by career myself. This book is told in a combo of text, pictures, and letters. Here are some of the lovely illustrations that I took some jank pictures of with my phone:
The illustrations are interspersed before every chapter, meant to represent the main character's scrapbook. There are many chapters, and therefore a lot of illustrations!
The genre I believe is young adult, though the text is a little big as it's more novella length. The story tells of 16 year old Jennie who's fiance Will, also her half-first cousin, has just died in the Civil war (Union side) along with her twin brother. Will's brother Quinn comes home wounded with the news. But something's not right. And as she grows closer to Quinn, Will's ghost begins to get angry...
Won't spoil the ending but I loved it! To me, it was a mix of The Others (the Nicole Kidman movie), A Little Princess, and Harriet the Spy (all stories I love). This story felt fresh and I was totally captivated the whole time. I loved how the protagonist was smart. Most YA about females often make them flustered and confused, but Jennie always knew what to do and where to go and acted intelligently. I really appreciate that.
I also really loved Quinn! Great character, dark and brooding and loved the eyepatch <3
The writing style was lovely. She painted a picture of the late 1800s so well, and Jennie, as it's first person POV, used appropriate 19th century words and similes. The scenes were vivid and cinematic and I was even creeped out sometimes imagining these hauntings, when she feels the choking sensations around her neck and the quiet hallways with stuck doors.
A few nitpicks:
1. Calico cats are always genetically female!! *shakes finger*
2. I could have done without the chapter that talks about the photography process in scientific detail, mehhhh (but the chapters are so short it's fine)
3. Some doubling up I noticed, e.g. using the phrase "like a hawk" twice in one chapter, using the word "dubious" at the end of one chapter and then again at the beginning of the next chapter. Just a few occasions, that's all.
But otherwise, totally love love loved it. I randomly picked it up off a shelf at Powell's and I'm so glad I did. I recommend you get it as well! Just know you probably need the physical edition, not an ebook, because of the pictures.
Yay!
P.S. - There was a character named Wigs in the book. I feel validated in life now.
The illustrations are interspersed before every chapter, meant to represent the main character's scrapbook. There are many chapters, and therefore a lot of illustrations!
The genre I believe is young adult, though the text is a little big as it's more novella length. The story tells of 16 year old Jennie who's fiance Will, also her half-first cousin, has just died in the Civil war (Union side) along with her twin brother. Will's brother Quinn comes home wounded with the news. But something's not right. And as she grows closer to Quinn, Will's ghost begins to get angry...
Won't spoil the ending but I loved it! To me, it was a mix of The Others (the Nicole Kidman movie), A Little Princess, and Harriet the Spy (all stories I love). This story felt fresh and I was totally captivated the whole time. I loved how the protagonist was smart. Most YA about females often make them flustered and confused, but Jennie always knew what to do and where to go and acted intelligently. I really appreciate that.
I also really loved Quinn! Great character, dark and brooding and loved the eyepatch <3
The writing style was lovely. She painted a picture of the late 1800s so well, and Jennie, as it's first person POV, used appropriate 19th century words and similes. The scenes were vivid and cinematic and I was even creeped out sometimes imagining these hauntings, when she feels the choking sensations around her neck and the quiet hallways with stuck doors.
A few nitpicks:
1. Calico cats are always genetically female!! *shakes finger*
2. I could have done without the chapter that talks about the photography process in scientific detail, mehhhh (but the chapters are so short it's fine)
3. Some doubling up I noticed, e.g. using the phrase "like a hawk" twice in one chapter, using the word "dubious" at the end of one chapter and then again at the beginning of the next chapter. Just a few occasions, that's all.
But otherwise, totally love love loved it. I randomly picked it up off a shelf at Powell's and I'm so glad I did. I recommend you get it as well! Just know you probably need the physical edition, not an ebook, because of the pictures.
Yay!
P.S. - There was a character named Wigs in the book. I feel validated in life now.
November 24, 2015
This creepy historical ghost story had a surprising twist at the end. I think the scariest part was how awfully Jennie's aunt and uncle treated her! The quirky illustrations really added to the story. My only complaint is that in reading it as an ebook I couldn't see the details of the illustrations especially the writing. I feel like I missed out and would recommend reading this one as a physical book instead.
August 14, 2017
Love the pretty
This is a goooood book. Really. I wasn’t especially grabbed by the cover photo, but when I got the book through inter-library loan I was delighted by the heft and detail put into its construction. The publishers and illustrator Lisa Brown really went all out in designing a book that is visually attractive and replicates the feel of a scrapbook (something that plays an important role in the story). The combined package serves to create a reading experience rich in atmosphere that perfectly complements the spooky story inside. As an added bonus, the pictures contain clues and foreshadow the events to come.
Romance, historical fiction, Gothic fiction, ghost stories, and mysteries are all great genres, but you know what’s even better? When an author mixes them all together. And when that author is the amazing Adele Griffin, you have nothing short of pure awesomeness. Oh my gosh, I’m flailing, I’m dying, I’m clutching the book to my chest and swooning over how much I loved Picture the Dead!
Ok, here’s what you need to do
Get this book, go find a comfortable spot and tell everyone you know to leave you alone for the next few hours. I mean it. Threaten them if you have to. Bribe them with cookies. Whatever you do, make sure you’re left alone. (Except, maybe bring a dog with you. They'll sense if there's a ghost nearby--just ask Susan Hill). You want to let yourself become totally absorbed and transported into the story. For me, this is one of those books where the real world disappeared around me. The scenes! Scenes! Ah, they’re seared into my brain. The images created are just so tangible. It was like I was a ghost in Jennie’s world, stuck in that delightful and infuriating position of observing and experiencing, but having absolutely no ability to affect anything.
If you’re brave, read it at night. If you’re a wimp like me, ha, good luck. Even daylight won’t save you because what makes this story so spooky is the constant state of confusion you’re kept in until the climax. Sure there could be plausible, non-supernatural explanations, but the supernatural explanations are just as possible. Whatever the cause, though, you’re so totally screwed because if the explanations aren’t supernatural, well, you just might find yourself wishing they were because the alternative is almost scarier.
Yikes!
The story is filled with twists and turns that kept me constantly guessing and gripping the edge of my seat in anticipation. I just wanted to reach into the book and start shaking the characters to tell me the truth already! But I never knew whose neck to wring…not that I would have believed a single one of them anyway.
Friend? Enemy? Ulterior motives and alternative explanations abound and all of the possible scenarios are equally convincing. I felt like I was in a choose your own adventure book where I was presented with numerous possible paths. Is there a ghost, or isn’t there? Which brother is good, and which is evil? Or are they both good, or are they both evil? Oh wow, there are even more questions but I can’t tell you without spoiling things. All of the threads come together in an explosive climax that left me positively giddy. I was clutching the book so tightly it’s a good thing I had a durable hardcover copy and I gasped so loudly that even my library patrons took note ("Ah, you must be at a good part!" "Yes, yes, now shush and leave me alone." I was a terrible employee that day).
These people!
From page one, my heart broke for Jennie, the narrator, but she’s a tricky one herself. She has a tendency to stretch the truth and steal, so I was often unsure as to how much I could trust her. Still, her exaggerations were amusing and actually made me like her more. I felt so connected with her over our shared hatred of her despicable aunt. Now that aunt was a woman I love to hate! She’s so awful I’m thinking she must be Dolores Umbridge’s long lost ancestor.
I felt so strongly about all of the characters. Even the minor ones drew out a reaction from me. I just want to have a sleepover party and gasp, gossip, and giggle about these people. It would go sort of like this:
“Oh no she didn’t!” *gasp*
“Oh no you didn’t?!” *giggle* *gasp*
“Oh my gosh, you didn’t!” *shakes head*
“Oh my god he did!!” *claps hands excitedly*
“How dare he!?” *rage*
“You SO rocked!” *high five*
But it wasn’t a complete giggle fest either. There’s so much sadness and loss here. Usually when I think of grief I think of just a horrible blanket of mourning that smothers everything. The feeling is unbearable, but it is clear. The other side of death, however, is often confusion. Not every death is neat and concrete with tangible explanations we can grasp onto as an anchor in a sea of grief. These types of deaths can be messy and are almost crueler in the confusion and swirl of conflicting emotions they evoke. This yo-yoing torment is what poor Jennie experiences and it is both terribly sad and morbidly enthralling.
Bottom line
If you were in my library you’d be walking out with a copy in your hands whether you wanted to or not because I’d Book-Pusher it on you. If you like books like The Thirteenth Tale then read it. If you want a good ghost story (even if you’re a wimp like me) then read it. Even if you don’t like historical fiction, read it. The Civil War backdrop is perfect, but it serves to create atmosphere and doesn’t bog you down with historical details.
The chapters are short and even though the book has 262 pages, probably about half of them are pictures so you’ll fly through it. If I hadn’t returned my copy to the library I’d be so tempted to read it again. And when I get my very own copy, you can probably tell what shelf I’ll be putting it on, right? You guessed it: The Special Shelf.
Originally posted at Small Review
This is a goooood book. Really. I wasn’t especially grabbed by the cover photo, but when I got the book through inter-library loan I was delighted by the heft and detail put into its construction. The publishers and illustrator Lisa Brown really went all out in designing a book that is visually attractive and replicates the feel of a scrapbook (something that plays an important role in the story). The combined package serves to create a reading experience rich in atmosphere that perfectly complements the spooky story inside. As an added bonus, the pictures contain clues and foreshadow the events to come.
Romance, historical fiction, Gothic fiction, ghost stories, and mysteries are all great genres, but you know what’s even better? When an author mixes them all together. And when that author is the amazing Adele Griffin, you have nothing short of pure awesomeness. Oh my gosh, I’m flailing, I’m dying, I’m clutching the book to my chest and swooning over how much I loved Picture the Dead!
Ok, here’s what you need to do
Get this book, go find a comfortable spot and tell everyone you know to leave you alone for the next few hours. I mean it. Threaten them if you have to. Bribe them with cookies. Whatever you do, make sure you’re left alone. (Except, maybe bring a dog with you. They'll sense if there's a ghost nearby--just ask Susan Hill). You want to let yourself become totally absorbed and transported into the story. For me, this is one of those books where the real world disappeared around me. The scenes! Scenes! Ah, they’re seared into my brain. The images created are just so tangible. It was like I was a ghost in Jennie’s world, stuck in that delightful and infuriating position of observing and experiencing, but having absolutely no ability to affect anything.
If you’re brave, read it at night. If you’re a wimp like me, ha, good luck. Even daylight won’t save you because what makes this story so spooky is the constant state of confusion you’re kept in until the climax. Sure there could be plausible, non-supernatural explanations, but the supernatural explanations are just as possible. Whatever the cause, though, you’re so totally screwed because if the explanations aren’t supernatural, well, you just might find yourself wishing they were because the alternative is almost scarier.
Yikes!
The story is filled with twists and turns that kept me constantly guessing and gripping the edge of my seat in anticipation. I just wanted to reach into the book and start shaking the characters to tell me the truth already! But I never knew whose neck to wring…not that I would have believed a single one of them anyway.
Friend? Enemy? Ulterior motives and alternative explanations abound and all of the possible scenarios are equally convincing. I felt like I was in a choose your own adventure book where I was presented with numerous possible paths. Is there a ghost, or isn’t there? Which brother is good, and which is evil? Or are they both good, or are they both evil? Oh wow, there are even more questions but I can’t tell you without spoiling things. All of the threads come together in an explosive climax that left me positively giddy. I was clutching the book so tightly it’s a good thing I had a durable hardcover copy and I gasped so loudly that even my library patrons took note ("Ah, you must be at a good part!" "Yes, yes, now shush and leave me alone." I was a terrible employee that day).
These people!
From page one, my heart broke for Jennie, the narrator, but she’s a tricky one herself. She has a tendency to stretch the truth and steal, so I was often unsure as to how much I could trust her. Still, her exaggerations were amusing and actually made me like her more. I felt so connected with her over our shared hatred of her despicable aunt. Now that aunt was a woman I love to hate! She’s so awful I’m thinking she must be Dolores Umbridge’s long lost ancestor.
I felt so strongly about all of the characters. Even the minor ones drew out a reaction from me. I just want to have a sleepover party and gasp, gossip, and giggle about these people. It would go sort of like this:
“Oh no she didn’t!” *gasp*
“Oh no you didn’t?!” *giggle* *gasp*
“Oh my gosh, you didn’t!” *shakes head*
“Oh my god he did!!” *claps hands excitedly*
“How dare he!?” *rage*
“You SO rocked!” *high five*
But it wasn’t a complete giggle fest either. There’s so much sadness and loss here. Usually when I think of grief I think of just a horrible blanket of mourning that smothers everything. The feeling is unbearable, but it is clear. The other side of death, however, is often confusion. Not every death is neat and concrete with tangible explanations we can grasp onto as an anchor in a sea of grief. These types of deaths can be messy and are almost crueler in the confusion and swirl of conflicting emotions they evoke. This yo-yoing torment is what poor Jennie experiences and it is both terribly sad and morbidly enthralling.
Bottom line
If you were in my library you’d be walking out with a copy in your hands whether you wanted to or not because I’d Book-Pusher it on you. If you like books like The Thirteenth Tale then read it. If you want a good ghost story (even if you’re a wimp like me) then read it. Even if you don’t like historical fiction, read it. The Civil War backdrop is perfect, but it serves to create atmosphere and doesn’t bog you down with historical details.
The chapters are short and even though the book has 262 pages, probably about half of them are pictures so you’ll fly through it. If I hadn’t returned my copy to the library I’d be so tempted to read it again. And when I get my very own copy, you can probably tell what shelf I’ll be putting it on, right? You guessed it: The Special Shelf.
Originally posted at Small Review
November 9, 2018
It was not my favorite book.
August 31, 2017
Picture the Dead is one of those books that I was actually really excited to read. It had a lot of things going for it: Historical Fictional, Civil War Era, non-traditional set-up, and a Gothic tale of Spiritualism. Normally one of those is enough for me to snag a book, but all of them together and I'm there. Sadly, something in Picture the Dead fell a bit short for me. It was just one thing that really bothered, but small things throughout the book.
At the start I was pulled into the book. No punches were held when I was thrown into the story as one of the boys returns home from the battlefield. The Civil War in its last few years, and things have gotten ugly. Jennie has been plagued by the ghost of her twin brother, but he's not the only ghost whose about to return to Pritchett House.
It was the first few pages that I devoured, but about halfway through is when I had hard time staying with the story. The writing style is wonderful and Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown did so much research into the era. Not just the war, but the fashion and attitudes of the time as well. Even the pieces of Jennie's scrapbook were amazing. However the plot went a bit wonky for me.
For me there were a few chapters where the plot sort of stopped and we were stuck with this internal debate with Jennie. Who I found the longer I was with the book I didn't really like. I know the era well enough to know women didn't have a lot of option outside of a decent marriage, but I found I didn't so much care what happened to Jennie.
However I wanted to see something horrid happen to Aunt Clara.
The last thing is really me being nit-picking I think. I wanted more of the ghost story aspect. The whole chills down my spine, sleeping with the lights on moments. Which wasn't really what we got. I know our ghost was suppose to be angry, but other than Jennie telling us he was angry, I didn't see it. The after effects of the haunting were described in Jennie's appearance, but there was only maybe two good moments where we saw their anger.
Also the ending left me wanting a bit a more. I don't mind a happy, or even a happy adjacent, ending, but I wanted a bit more with the big reveal I guess. Wanted Jennie to be angrier or something. Maybe for Toby to have not have left her at all. Just something
That all being said, Picture the Dead, was a quick read that had parts I really enjoyed. I liked that these two authors didn't really hold punches when talking about the ugliness of the Civil War. A lot of people were driven to things they would never have done before the war. Even its lead to the Spiritualism Movement as more and more boys were being announce Killed in Action.
I loved their dive into the Spiritualism Movement and the photography used then to capture the ghosts of loved ones. Through my weird fascination with the Civil War and 19th Century I love the idea of the Spiritualism Movement would have been like in its height. So it was lovely to get a taste of that in Picture the Dead.
The artwork attached to the story as Jennie scrapbook was amazing however. I thought it added a nice visual as Jennie pieced things together. I was able to see the things she saw in the photos and clippings. They were also I nice way to help see the characters coming and going since a few had photos taken.
Buy, Borrow, or Skip: Borrow it. Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to ghost stories, and I missed out one something with Picture the Dead. The writing is solid and its an easy afternoon fire, curled up in blanket book.
This review, and other bookish things, can be found on my blog, Bookish Whispers!
At the start I was pulled into the book. No punches were held when I was thrown into the story as one of the boys returns home from the battlefield. The Civil War in its last few years, and things have gotten ugly. Jennie has been plagued by the ghost of her twin brother, but he's not the only ghost whose about to return to Pritchett House.
It was the first few pages that I devoured, but about halfway through is when I had hard time staying with the story. The writing style is wonderful and Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown did so much research into the era. Not just the war, but the fashion and attitudes of the time as well. Even the pieces of Jennie's scrapbook were amazing. However the plot went a bit wonky for me.
For me there were a few chapters where the plot sort of stopped and we were stuck with this internal debate with Jennie. Who I found the longer I was with the book I didn't really like. I know the era well enough to know women didn't have a lot of option outside of a decent marriage, but I found I didn't so much care what happened to Jennie.
However I wanted to see something horrid happen to Aunt Clara.
The last thing is really me being nit-picking I think. I wanted more of the ghost story aspect. The whole chills down my spine, sleeping with the lights on moments. Which wasn't really what we got. I know our ghost was suppose to be angry, but other than Jennie telling us he was angry, I didn't see it. The after effects of the haunting were described in Jennie's appearance, but there was only maybe two good moments where we saw their anger.
Also the ending left me wanting a bit a more. I don't mind a happy, or even a happy adjacent, ending, but I wanted a bit more with the big reveal I guess. Wanted Jennie to be angrier or something. Maybe for Toby to have not have left her at all. Just something
That all being said, Picture the Dead, was a quick read that had parts I really enjoyed. I liked that these two authors didn't really hold punches when talking about the ugliness of the Civil War. A lot of people were driven to things they would never have done before the war. Even its lead to the Spiritualism Movement as more and more boys were being announce Killed in Action.
I loved their dive into the Spiritualism Movement and the photography used then to capture the ghosts of loved ones. Through my weird fascination with the Civil War and 19th Century I love the idea of the Spiritualism Movement would have been like in its height. So it was lovely to get a taste of that in Picture the Dead.
The artwork attached to the story as Jennie scrapbook was amazing however. I thought it added a nice visual as Jennie pieced things together. I was able to see the things she saw in the photos and clippings. They were also I nice way to help see the characters coming and going since a few had photos taken.
Buy, Borrow, or Skip: Borrow it. Maybe I'm too picky when it comes to ghost stories, and I missed out one something with Picture the Dead. The writing is solid and its an easy afternoon fire, curled up in blanket book.
This review, and other bookish things, can be found on my blog, Bookish Whispers!
July 16, 2010
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown have written a unique illustrated young adult novel that is difficult to categorize. It's carefully researched historical fiction but also a ghost story and a mystery with graphic novel elements as well. With illustrations that mimic the look of a Civil War scrapbook kept by our heroine, our story is told in the first person by orphan Jennie Lovell, who together with her twin brother has been raised for the last four years by her aunt and uncle alongside their two sons, Will and Quinn. Before the novel opens, Jennie and Will have fallen in love and become engaged.
Jennie's girlish dreams of happiness vanish as all three young men in the household go off to fight for the Union cause. First her brother dies of disease (which killed many more soldiers than did the battles themselves), then her cousin Quinn staggers home with a terrible wound to his face and the news that her fiance, Will, has died in combat. Or has he?
There is certainly no shortage of novels for young people about this period, but Picture the Dead, with its genre-bending story, makes an important contribution to Civil War novels and would be an excellent purchase for school or public libraries, as well as for any reader who enjoys a good mystery and ghost story.
What is unique about this book is the way the author/illustrator integrate both spiritualism and photography into their tale, both of which played a critical role in this time period.
Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown have written a unique illustrated young adult novel that is difficult to categorize. It's carefully researched historical fiction but also a ghost story and a mystery with graphic novel elements as well. With illustrations that mimic the look of a Civil War scrapbook kept by our heroine, our story is told in the first person by orphan Jennie Lovell, who together with her twin brother has been raised for the last four years by her aunt and uncle alongside their two sons, Will and Quinn. Before the novel opens, Jennie and Will have fallen in love and become engaged.
Jennie's girlish dreams of happiness vanish as all three young men in the household go off to fight for the Union cause. First her brother dies of disease (which killed many more soldiers than did the battles themselves), then her cousin Quinn staggers home with a terrible wound to his face and the news that her fiance, Will, has died in combat. Or has he?
There is certainly no shortage of novels for young people about this period, but Picture the Dead, with its genre-bending story, makes an important contribution to Civil War novels and would be an excellent purchase for school or public libraries, as well as for any reader who enjoys a good mystery and ghost story.
What is unique about this book is the way the author/illustrator integrate both spiritualism and photography into their tale, both of which played a critical role in this time period.
May 29, 2018
Personal Response:
I think Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin was an okay book. The novel was hard to follow because it was not very clear on what was happening in the plot. I feel the ending was the best part of the novel because it was very unpredictable.
Plot Summary:
This novel is about Jennie Lovell and her misfortunes. It all started when her fiancé, Will Pritchett was sent to war along with his brother, Quinn. The letter sent home announcing Wills’ death claimed he died a hero seemed legit, but something was off. There was a secret being kept, as Quinn would roam the house covering all pictures of Will. Aunt Clara decided that the family needed to see Mr. Geist, who can take images of the dead to relieve pain. After the visit, Jennie kept returning to Geist to try to uncover what actually happened to Will. During that time, Jennie and Quinn become close, close enough that they announce their engagement. Before the wedding, Quinn finally unveils what actually happened to Will, which ruined the Pritchett family name.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this novel to anyone aged 12 and older. I do not think anyone 18 and older would find much interest in this book. I do recommend this novel, because even though I did not love it, possibly someone else may.
I think Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin was an okay book. The novel was hard to follow because it was not very clear on what was happening in the plot. I feel the ending was the best part of the novel because it was very unpredictable.
Plot Summary:
This novel is about Jennie Lovell and her misfortunes. It all started when her fiancé, Will Pritchett was sent to war along with his brother, Quinn. The letter sent home announcing Wills’ death claimed he died a hero seemed legit, but something was off. There was a secret being kept, as Quinn would roam the house covering all pictures of Will. Aunt Clara decided that the family needed to see Mr. Geist, who can take images of the dead to relieve pain. After the visit, Jennie kept returning to Geist to try to uncover what actually happened to Will. During that time, Jennie and Quinn become close, close enough that they announce their engagement. Before the wedding, Quinn finally unveils what actually happened to Will, which ruined the Pritchett family name.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this novel to anyone aged 12 and older. I do not think anyone 18 and older would find much interest in this book. I do recommend this novel, because even though I did not love it, possibly someone else may.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2010
Set during the American Civil War, Jennie Lovell is orphaned and living with her Aunt and Uncle -- who are anything but kind. She has lost her brother and now her fiance on the battlefields. With both the men gone Jennie feels lost. When she becomes friends with a spirit photographer she learns secrets that are almost too hard to bare.
An interesting story about war, spirits and death. I've always found stories of the civil war captivating, especially hauntings or ghost stories. I found Jenny's journey very enjoyable. The book has a definite Gothic feel, rich with historical detail that will keep the reader captivated. Among the death and the grief there is a bit of a romance, but when the mystery is play out the relationship takes a surprising turn I wasn't expecting. Picture the Dead is a dark, mysterious, a deliciously creepy read.
An interesting story about war, spirits and death. I've always found stories of the civil war captivating, especially hauntings or ghost stories. I found Jenny's journey very enjoyable. The book has a definite Gothic feel, rich with historical detail that will keep the reader captivated. Among the death and the grief there is a bit of a romance, but when the mystery is play out the relationship takes a surprising turn I wasn't expecting. Picture the Dead is a dark, mysterious, a deliciously creepy read.
November 13, 2013
The voice and writing in this book are strong, and I did find myself connecting quite well to the main character, Jennie. However, the other characters never really came to life for me. I found the story interesting, though, and loved the ghostly elements.
There are illustrations--I happen to be someone who finds illustrations distracting, but I can see why these were included. It does add to the historical feel of the novel, and reinforces Jennie's obsession with her scrapbook.
Overall a good read.
There are illustrations--I happen to be someone who finds illustrations distracting, but I can see why these were included. It does add to the historical feel of the novel, and reinforces Jennie's obsession with her scrapbook.
Overall a good read.
August 28, 2017
It's not a graphic novel, but it is a book who's art is vital to conveying information. And such cool art it is. I thought Griffin did a great job of conveying just how tenuous the heroine's position is, with a grown-up A Little Princess feeling. The war background and the spirit photography details were interesting and strong.
December 10, 2020
The aesthetic of this is beautiful and really gothic and I would have loved giving it 5 stars for that but even though it was a well written middle grade I didn't enjoy reading the story as much as I did looking at it
January 3, 2023
I don't normally leave reviews, but I figured I'd leave one for Picture the Dead. It seems this book was either a "love it" or "hate it" type of book, and I feel like I just need to explain a couple of things. I don't want to leave any spoilers, but I want to say that the reason I read this book was because it combines three things I am passionate about: photography, history, and the afterlife. If these things aren't your in your usual reads or you don't care for those topics, you probably won't enjoy this book. It had just enough mystery to it to keep me wondering what was next, but not so much that I would give it a five star rating. The illustrations are definitely a perk in my opinion, as they help paint a picture of what's going on. I've read that some other readers have struggled with reading the illustrations, but personally, as I'm into genealogy, I'm used to reading very fine, very fancy cursive from long ago. If you don't know cursive or aren't familiar with historical documents, you will probably struggle to read the illustrations. Overall, I liked it and don't feel that I've wasted my time. Plus, I loved that historical research was done to write this book, as proof in the story.
November 15, 2012
Four Stars: An intriguing ghost story told with the aid of pictures.
The carriage wheels rattle up to the house in the dead of night. The entire household is quickly aroused from their slumber. Master Quinn has arrived home from the war, injured but alive. Jennie takes one look in his eyes and sees the terrible truth: Will, his brother and her fiancé, is not coming home. Jennie's world comes crashing down. Without Will, her position in the house becomes precarious. She was taken in by her aunt and uncle after her father died at the beginning of the war. Her aunt is vicious and cruel, while her uncle is henpecked and weak. Now, Jennie could possibly be turned out, but she resolves to maintain a roof over her head by nursing Quinn back to health. Jennie is haunted at night by Will's ghost, and it seems that he is desperate to communicate with her from beyond the grave. There must be something keeping him from crossing over but what? As Jennie tries to uncover the mystery surrounding his death she inadvertently falls into a thick plot of lies and betrayal. Can Will communicate from beyond and save the girl he once loved?
What I Liked:
*Picture the Dead is an intriguing little book. It is a historical novel that recounts the dreadful period of the Civil War. It is a romance, a mystery and a ghost story all in one. I liked that this book blended all these genres.
In order to tell the tale, this book utilizes pictures, illustrations by Lisa Brown. They are clippings from Jennie's scrapbook and they include: portraits, newspaper clippings, letters, and many other interesting snippets. I really loved the way the pictures embellished the book and were an intricate part of the story.
*I loved going back in time to the Civil War era. The authors managed to capture the horror and dread of losing loved ones and the desperate attempts of the ones left behind to contact the dead. In this book, Jennie and Will's family do just that, they contact a medium photographer to try to reach Will on the other side. This was a common practice during this time period, and in fact the Spiritualist Movement was born from people trying to communicate with the ghosts of the deceased Civil War soldiers. This was done through mediums, seances and photographers who used deceit and double exposures to create pictures of supposed spirits. I enjoyed learning about the heightened attempts to tap into the spirit world. I also liked that this book utilized another common practice during this era, and that was to photograph the dead. Needless to say, this book is a great glimpse into the Civil War time period.
*The plot of this book takes its time building and building up to a dramatic and shocking finale. I enjoyed following the hapless Jennie, a young sixteen year old girl, who loses her twin brother and her first love to the war. She is abused by her greedy and cruel aunt and ignored by her uncle. It seems she may be relegated to a servant's life, before fate steps in and offers her another chance at love....but is it truly salvation or is it perhaps something more sinister? I loved the thrilling, heart pounding conclusion of this one.
*I liked that this one had a ghostly element. If you like a haunting ghost story, this is a good one to check out.
And The Not So Much:
*This one is a bit slow in the beginning and it takes awhile to pick up the pace, but fear not the illustrations will keep you entertained. Once the story reaches the end, it is a crazy finish, one that may surprise and shock you.
*This is definitely a book that you will want to read a physical copy of as the photos and clippings would be difficult to read on an electronic device.
*This a personal preference, but I found myself wishing there was a bit more information on how the war had impacted day to day life for the players. Were there shortages of food and supplies? Did they spend their days nursing the injured? How often did they receive letters and communication from their loved ones serving?
*I wanted a touch more detail on Jennie's past. How exactly did her parents die? Her father was killed early on in the war is the only information provided. What was her life like before she lived with her aunt?
*I felt like more information was needed on Will. Even though he is deceased, he is the main focus of the story. I just wish there were a few more flashbacks that detailed the unfolding of the romance and what his relationship's were like with Jennie and his brother Quinn.
*I never completely understood the infatuation with being a spy. It seemed that this was a game Jennie played with her twin brother before he died, again a few scenes detailing how the game came about would help me to understand the whole spy theme better.
Picture the Dead was a highly entertaining read. It is a dash of mystery, a bit of romance and a ghost story set during the final year of the Civil War. This is the story of the plucky Jennie, who is trying to save herself from an uncertain future while she attempts to unravel the cryptic messages she is receiving from her dead finance. The use of pictures makes this a special read. If you are looking for a good ghostly historical mystery, definitely pick this one up!
Favorite Quotations:
"For if memory is the wave that buoys our grief, haunting is the undertow that drags us to its troubled source."
"What else could I ever possibly say about a senseless death and a war that I do not understand."
"Dreams are nonsense, a cluttered attic of the unconscious."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Posted @Rainy Day Ramblings.
The carriage wheels rattle up to the house in the dead of night. The entire household is quickly aroused from their slumber. Master Quinn has arrived home from the war, injured but alive. Jennie takes one look in his eyes and sees the terrible truth: Will, his brother and her fiancé, is not coming home. Jennie's world comes crashing down. Without Will, her position in the house becomes precarious. She was taken in by her aunt and uncle after her father died at the beginning of the war. Her aunt is vicious and cruel, while her uncle is henpecked and weak. Now, Jennie could possibly be turned out, but she resolves to maintain a roof over her head by nursing Quinn back to health. Jennie is haunted at night by Will's ghost, and it seems that he is desperate to communicate with her from beyond the grave. There must be something keeping him from crossing over but what? As Jennie tries to uncover the mystery surrounding his death she inadvertently falls into a thick plot of lies and betrayal. Can Will communicate from beyond and save the girl he once loved?
What I Liked:
*Picture the Dead is an intriguing little book. It is a historical novel that recounts the dreadful period of the Civil War. It is a romance, a mystery and a ghost story all in one. I liked that this book blended all these genres.
In order to tell the tale, this book utilizes pictures, illustrations by Lisa Brown. They are clippings from Jennie's scrapbook and they include: portraits, newspaper clippings, letters, and many other interesting snippets. I really loved the way the pictures embellished the book and were an intricate part of the story.
*I loved going back in time to the Civil War era. The authors managed to capture the horror and dread of losing loved ones and the desperate attempts of the ones left behind to contact the dead. In this book, Jennie and Will's family do just that, they contact a medium photographer to try to reach Will on the other side. This was a common practice during this time period, and in fact the Spiritualist Movement was born from people trying to communicate with the ghosts of the deceased Civil War soldiers. This was done through mediums, seances and photographers who used deceit and double exposures to create pictures of supposed spirits. I enjoyed learning about the heightened attempts to tap into the spirit world. I also liked that this book utilized another common practice during this era, and that was to photograph the dead. Needless to say, this book is a great glimpse into the Civil War time period.
*The plot of this book takes its time building and building up to a dramatic and shocking finale. I enjoyed following the hapless Jennie, a young sixteen year old girl, who loses her twin brother and her first love to the war. She is abused by her greedy and cruel aunt and ignored by her uncle. It seems she may be relegated to a servant's life, before fate steps in and offers her another chance at love....but is it truly salvation or is it perhaps something more sinister? I loved the thrilling, heart pounding conclusion of this one.
*I liked that this one had a ghostly element. If you like a haunting ghost story, this is a good one to check out.
And The Not So Much:
*This one is a bit slow in the beginning and it takes awhile to pick up the pace, but fear not the illustrations will keep you entertained. Once the story reaches the end, it is a crazy finish, one that may surprise and shock you.
*This is definitely a book that you will want to read a physical copy of as the photos and clippings would be difficult to read on an electronic device.
*This a personal preference, but I found myself wishing there was a bit more information on how the war had impacted day to day life for the players. Were there shortages of food and supplies? Did they spend their days nursing the injured? How often did they receive letters and communication from their loved ones serving?
*I wanted a touch more detail on Jennie's past. How exactly did her parents die? Her father was killed early on in the war is the only information provided. What was her life like before she lived with her aunt?
*I felt like more information was needed on Will. Even though he is deceased, he is the main focus of the story. I just wish there were a few more flashbacks that detailed the unfolding of the romance and what his relationship's were like with Jennie and his brother Quinn.
*I never completely understood the infatuation with being a spy. It seemed that this was a game Jennie played with her twin brother before he died, again a few scenes detailing how the game came about would help me to understand the whole spy theme better.
Picture the Dead was a highly entertaining read. It is a dash of mystery, a bit of romance and a ghost story set during the final year of the Civil War. This is the story of the plucky Jennie, who is trying to save herself from an uncertain future while she attempts to unravel the cryptic messages she is receiving from her dead finance. The use of pictures makes this a special read. If you are looking for a good ghostly historical mystery, definitely pick this one up!
Favorite Quotations:
"For if memory is the wave that buoys our grief, haunting is the undertow that drags us to its troubled source."
"What else could I ever possibly say about a senseless death and a war that I do not understand."
"Dreams are nonsense, a cluttered attic of the unconscious."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Posted @Rainy Day Ramblings.
August 14, 2016
For me, there is nothing better than a ghost story with some historical romance, some mystery, and some paranormal mixed in. It's pretty much the recipe to some of my favorite books and when I came across this book, I knew it would be something that I enjoyed, because it possesses all of those characteristics. Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown's novel, Picture the Dead, is a haunting ghost story that I couldn't get enough of.
The main character, Jennie, is in a tough place when we first meet her. Not only is she an orphan, but she was also sent to live with her aunt and uncle, who I found to be extremely disagreeable, along with her twin brother, Toby. Like I sad, her aunt and uncle aren't the warmest people; however, that can be overlooked since her cousins Will and Quinn live there as well. As time goes by, Jennie falls in love with her cousin, Will, and becomes engaged to him. (Yes, marrying your cousin wasn't unusual during that time period....think Ashley and Melanie from Gone with the Wind.) Everything seems to be looking up until Jennie's world is shattered, along with many others during that time period. The Civil War is upon them and Will, Toby and Quinn enlist. Unfortunately, Quinn is the only one that comes back alive and Jennie is faced with the fact that she not only lost her brother, but her fiance as well. Jennie wants to know exactly what happened to Will and of course, seeks out Quinn for information. Shockingly, Quinn reports that Will didn't die honorably in battle as was originally told to her, instead he went crazy and became violent at one of the horrid prison camps. With this new information, Jennie is heartbroken, but something doesn't seem right. She pieces together this mystery by meeting with a spiritualist photographer, which was all the rage back then. She also gathers clues in her scrapbook, which is expertly illustrated by Lisa Brown. Jennie doesn't know what to believe, but the answer was right in front of her all along.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is the scrapbook portion before each chapter. I loved the detail and the mystery that surrounded it. I would examine it looking for clues and read the letters to piece together the Will's death which seems shrouded in mystery. It was as if I was following Jennie's every move and was experiencing it right alongside of her. The illustrations also included an eerie wallpaper-ish page separating each chapter, which was a nice touch. Plus, check out the cover! It's so ghostly; I'm reminded of Disney's Haunted Mansion ride, which, by the way, I love!
I am a fan of historical fiction, so immediately I was engrossed. I love the Civil War time period and I felt Jennie really captured what some women had to endure during this unfortunate time in our history. During this time period, spiritualism and medium photographers were a hit and learning more about that was also intriguing. The book also highlights the horrors of prison camps like Andersonville. When I cover a few examples of Civil War literature with my 8th graders, most of them aren't aware of the horrible conditions at the prison camps. I liked how this book touches on important aspects of history, while still captivating the readers with some sprinkles of mystery, romance, and the paranormal. I found Griffin's combination of all this to be the perfect formula, if you will, and I'm sure my students would agree, too.
Jennie is a character that I found myself rooting for immediately. She is the underdog and she isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in. At the same time, you could also feel the pain she was dealing with adjusting to the loss of her twin and her fiance. The character of Quinn is extremely mysterious and I was very surprised by him. He is definitely complex and there is more to him than meets the eye. Additionally, Jennie's aunt is an insufferable character and I felt strong animosity towards her, which is only a testament to Griffin's superb writing.
Adele Griffin is a local author; she grew up in Wayne, PA, which is not far from where I grew up. (WOOT!) I love supporting local authors and I was so glad that I got to meet her, as well as Lisa Brown, at a recent book signing. I plan on reading more of Griffin's novels this summer. And I can't say enough about Lisa Brown's illustrations. They are fantastic and really add to the novel. I must say I was hesitant to read this book at first, because I am not usually a fan of illustrations in young adult literature; however, Brown truly added to the book's meaning and brought the mystery to life. I am now a fan and I hope that they will collaborate together in the future. In sum, Picture the Dead is the perfect book to curl up with on a hot summer night, but don't blame me if you spend most of your time looking over your shoulder for an unexpected ghostly visitor.
The main character, Jennie, is in a tough place when we first meet her. Not only is she an orphan, but she was also sent to live with her aunt and uncle, who I found to be extremely disagreeable, along with her twin brother, Toby. Like I sad, her aunt and uncle aren't the warmest people; however, that can be overlooked since her cousins Will and Quinn live there as well. As time goes by, Jennie falls in love with her cousin, Will, and becomes engaged to him. (Yes, marrying your cousin wasn't unusual during that time period....think Ashley and Melanie from Gone with the Wind.) Everything seems to be looking up until Jennie's world is shattered, along with many others during that time period. The Civil War is upon them and Will, Toby and Quinn enlist. Unfortunately, Quinn is the only one that comes back alive and Jennie is faced with the fact that she not only lost her brother, but her fiance as well. Jennie wants to know exactly what happened to Will and of course, seeks out Quinn for information. Shockingly, Quinn reports that Will didn't die honorably in battle as was originally told to her, instead he went crazy and became violent at one of the horrid prison camps. With this new information, Jennie is heartbroken, but something doesn't seem right. She pieces together this mystery by meeting with a spiritualist photographer, which was all the rage back then. She also gathers clues in her scrapbook, which is expertly illustrated by Lisa Brown. Jennie doesn't know what to believe, but the answer was right in front of her all along.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this book is the scrapbook portion before each chapter. I loved the detail and the mystery that surrounded it. I would examine it looking for clues and read the letters to piece together the Will's death which seems shrouded in mystery. It was as if I was following Jennie's every move and was experiencing it right alongside of her. The illustrations also included an eerie wallpaper-ish page separating each chapter, which was a nice touch. Plus, check out the cover! It's so ghostly; I'm reminded of Disney's Haunted Mansion ride, which, by the way, I love!
I am a fan of historical fiction, so immediately I was engrossed. I love the Civil War time period and I felt Jennie really captured what some women had to endure during this unfortunate time in our history. During this time period, spiritualism and medium photographers were a hit and learning more about that was also intriguing. The book also highlights the horrors of prison camps like Andersonville. When I cover a few examples of Civil War literature with my 8th graders, most of them aren't aware of the horrible conditions at the prison camps. I liked how this book touches on important aspects of history, while still captivating the readers with some sprinkles of mystery, romance, and the paranormal. I found Griffin's combination of all this to be the perfect formula, if you will, and I'm sure my students would agree, too.
Jennie is a character that I found myself rooting for immediately. She is the underdog and she isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in. At the same time, you could also feel the pain she was dealing with adjusting to the loss of her twin and her fiance. The character of Quinn is extremely mysterious and I was very surprised by him. He is definitely complex and there is more to him than meets the eye. Additionally, Jennie's aunt is an insufferable character and I felt strong animosity towards her, which is only a testament to Griffin's superb writing.
Adele Griffin is a local author; she grew up in Wayne, PA, which is not far from where I grew up. (WOOT!) I love supporting local authors and I was so glad that I got to meet her, as well as Lisa Brown, at a recent book signing. I plan on reading more of Griffin's novels this summer. And I can't say enough about Lisa Brown's illustrations. They are fantastic and really add to the novel. I must say I was hesitant to read this book at first, because I am not usually a fan of illustrations in young adult literature; however, Brown truly added to the book's meaning and brought the mystery to life. I am now a fan and I hope that they will collaborate together in the future. In sum, Picture the Dead is the perfect book to curl up with on a hot summer night, but don't blame me if you spend most of your time looking over your shoulder for an unexpected ghostly visitor.
February 22, 2012
***Originally posted to: Bookish Blog as a part of the blog tour.
I am currently hosting a giveaway for a paperback copy of this book. US/Canada, ends: March 15th
Picture the Dead is more than a ghost story. It's a truly masterful, original, and jaw-dropping creation - a work of art. There's a touch of romance, beautifully described historical setting, goose-bumpy atmosphere, and a thrilling mystery. Above all, there's a skillfully executed, bone-chilling plot line, emotionally engaging first-person narrative, and a totally unexpected yet entirely satisfying conclusion. Combining Adele Griffin's excellent writing style with Lisa Brown's phenomenal illustrations, Picture the Dead reaches a whole new level of storytelling, taking the reader back in time to the last months of American Civil War. The deliciously eerie scrapbook-like graphics perfectly complement the plot line, adding flavor and resulting in an unforgettable reading experience. Be prepared, this book will haunt you long after you turn the last page.
In this riveting book, set in 19th-century America (1864-65 - the last two years of American Civil War), we meet sixteen-year old Jennie Lovell, who, after both her parents died and her twin brother was killed on the battlefield, was taken in by her Aunt and Uncle - the parents of her childhood friend and soon-to-be-married fiance, William. Jennie doesn't have anyone left. She has no other family members to turn to, nor does she have any savings of her own. She's fully dependent on her fiance's family, and when the news about Will's death reach the Pritchett household, Jennie finds herself in a very difficult living situation. Aunt Clara becomes even more hostile towards her, making it clear that Jennie does not belong there. With no status and nowhere else to go, she tries desperately to prove herself useful to her Aunt and Uncle by performing various household tasks. She's also caring for Will's brother, Quinn, who returned home seriously injured. Moody and withdrawn, Quinn refuses to speak about his war experiences, nor does he want to talk about Will and what happened to him. It quickly becomes obvious that he knows more than he lets on. There's an air of mystery surrounding Will's passing, and Jennie is determined to find the truth. Even if it means doing something unconventional, like, say, trusting in the supernatural and looking beyond the rational to seek answers to her fiance's death. What she uncovers is so much worse than she ever expected.
In this enthralling wonder of a book, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown managed to create a truly breath-taking and spine-tingling atmosphere, without the book becoming overly creepy or frightening. Is it scary? Oh yes, it is, but in a very subtle and balanced way. Mystery and supernatural play a big role in this novel, and the delicious Gothic illustrations blend well with the story, enhancing the already powerful, eerie atmosphere. The amount of thought put into this project is really admirable. Down to the last detail, everything is well thought-out and executed with care: all the mesmerizing drawings, choice of colors, even the font type.
With rich descriptions and accurate language for the time period, Adele Griffin does an excellent job painting a vivid and realistic historical background, and breathing life into the characters. The landscapes, the city and the Pritchett House are all very well drawn, the dialogues come across as natural and believable, the scrapbook elements add intensity and flavor to the story, the pacing is excellent and, in the end, it all comes together in a way that is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, we get a look at the social/class issues of the period. Not only do we see the suffering of the families affected by the Civil War, but we're also introduced to a fascinating phenomenon of 19th-century Spiritualism - a significant social movement, that was especially popular during the war, when so many lives have been lost, and people would do anything to contact their loved ones one last time.
All in all, this was a very unique and enriching reading experience and one that I won't forget for a long time. If ever. Picture the Dead is a haunting and painfully beautiful tale of love, betrayal, trust, hope, perseverance, death and new beginnings. Extremely well-written and gorgeously illustrated, it's a fabulous ghost mystery. Highly recommended!
I am currently hosting a giveaway for a paperback copy of this book. US/Canada, ends: March 15th
Picture the Dead is more than a ghost story. It's a truly masterful, original, and jaw-dropping creation - a work of art. There's a touch of romance, beautifully described historical setting, goose-bumpy atmosphere, and a thrilling mystery. Above all, there's a skillfully executed, bone-chilling plot line, emotionally engaging first-person narrative, and a totally unexpected yet entirely satisfying conclusion. Combining Adele Griffin's excellent writing style with Lisa Brown's phenomenal illustrations, Picture the Dead reaches a whole new level of storytelling, taking the reader back in time to the last months of American Civil War. The deliciously eerie scrapbook-like graphics perfectly complement the plot line, adding flavor and resulting in an unforgettable reading experience. Be prepared, this book will haunt you long after you turn the last page.
In this riveting book, set in 19th-century America (1864-65 - the last two years of American Civil War), we meet sixteen-year old Jennie Lovell, who, after both her parents died and her twin brother was killed on the battlefield, was taken in by her Aunt and Uncle - the parents of her childhood friend and soon-to-be-married fiance, William. Jennie doesn't have anyone left. She has no other family members to turn to, nor does she have any savings of her own. She's fully dependent on her fiance's family, and when the news about Will's death reach the Pritchett household, Jennie finds herself in a very difficult living situation. Aunt Clara becomes even more hostile towards her, making it clear that Jennie does not belong there. With no status and nowhere else to go, she tries desperately to prove herself useful to her Aunt and Uncle by performing various household tasks. She's also caring for Will's brother, Quinn, who returned home seriously injured. Moody and withdrawn, Quinn refuses to speak about his war experiences, nor does he want to talk about Will and what happened to him. It quickly becomes obvious that he knows more than he lets on. There's an air of mystery surrounding Will's passing, and Jennie is determined to find the truth. Even if it means doing something unconventional, like, say, trusting in the supernatural and looking beyond the rational to seek answers to her fiance's death. What she uncovers is so much worse than she ever expected.
In this enthralling wonder of a book, Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown managed to create a truly breath-taking and spine-tingling atmosphere, without the book becoming overly creepy or frightening. Is it scary? Oh yes, it is, but in a very subtle and balanced way. Mystery and supernatural play a big role in this novel, and the delicious Gothic illustrations blend well with the story, enhancing the already powerful, eerie atmosphere. The amount of thought put into this project is really admirable. Down to the last detail, everything is well thought-out and executed with care: all the mesmerizing drawings, choice of colors, even the font type.
With rich descriptions and accurate language for the time period, Adele Griffin does an excellent job painting a vivid and realistic historical background, and breathing life into the characters. The landscapes, the city and the Pritchett House are all very well drawn, the dialogues come across as natural and believable, the scrapbook elements add intensity and flavor to the story, the pacing is excellent and, in the end, it all comes together in a way that is nothing short of brilliant. Plus, we get a look at the social/class issues of the period. Not only do we see the suffering of the families affected by the Civil War, but we're also introduced to a fascinating phenomenon of 19th-century Spiritualism - a significant social movement, that was especially popular during the war, when so many lives have been lost, and people would do anything to contact their loved ones one last time.
All in all, this was a very unique and enriching reading experience and one that I won't forget for a long time. If ever. Picture the Dead is a haunting and painfully beautiful tale of love, betrayal, trust, hope, perseverance, death and new beginnings. Extremely well-written and gorgeously illustrated, it's a fabulous ghost mystery. Highly recommended!
September 1, 2014
This is my second time reading this book, and I found myself enjoying it much more than I did than when I first read it, which led me to up my original rating of three stars to four stars. It may be that I'm older or that I'm more experienced with really taking apart a book and separating what I enjoyed and did not enjoy or that maybe this book is just a book that is better the second time around. Either way, it was a ride that I had fun with.
Probably the best part of this book that we hope is present in all books is an interesting and engaging plot. It was full of mystery and the pictures (what really drove me into buying this book in the first place, to be honest) help make the book that much more entertaining. There is a huge plot twist at the end of this book that I didn't see coming at all. The plot was just so good, and that's all I can reveal without giving anything away completely.
I also really love the time period. Picture the Dead takes place during the Civil War and three of the main characters family members are part of the Union army. One of my favorite things is when books take a time period and add a twist to them, which is what this book did. Much of the supernatural things (ghost photography, anyway. I can't speak for the whole 'feeling presences' thing) are real events that Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown used to their advantage.
A cool aspect of this book that really surprised me and that I enjoyed very much was that it seemed to have a little bit of everything: it had history, supernatural aspects, romance, mystery, and took place during a war. Every one of these things were present in equal regard and captivated me. It always helps if a book has a damn good setting and the authors pushed it even further by having it in a mixture of genres.
Finally, as I mentioned before, the pictures are great in this book. It was pretty much the entire reason I bought it, and I bought it when I bought Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Although it isn't real photography as in Miss Peregrine's, the drawings help the story immensely by giving you slips of paper and letters to read in addition to the actual novel.
Although I liked many things about this book, there were two things I absolutely hated. First is the romance in the book. It seemed a little annoying and unrealistic. I couldn't seen the main character doing such a thing after her fiance recently died. It made me dislike the main character for a while until she redeemed herself toward the end of the book.
My other problem is the writing present in the pictures. Much of it is in cursive, which wouldn't be a problem, but it's so ornate or cramped or messy (there are many different people writing, mind you) that it was difficult to read some of the notes that were vital to the story. I feel like it could have been a bit neater.
Anyway, I plan to write a discussion about the character Quinn in this story, which I'll publish as soon as I write it. It may be tonight. It may be a few days from now, but I'll eventually post it once I'm finished with my speculations. I encourage everyone to read this if they want to read that speculation, because it contains MAJOR spoilers!
A LINK TO MY BLOG FOR REVIEWS ON BOOKS, MOVIES, TV SHOWS, MUSIC, AND MORE! DISCUSSIONS ARE ALSO A PART OF THIS BLOG (INCLUDING THE ONE FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER QUINN) -----> http://booksandmoviesandmusic.blogspo...
Probably the best part of this book that we hope is present in all books is an interesting and engaging plot. It was full of mystery and the pictures (what really drove me into buying this book in the first place, to be honest) help make the book that much more entertaining. There is a huge plot twist at the end of this book that I didn't see coming at all. The plot was just so good, and that's all I can reveal without giving anything away completely.
I also really love the time period. Picture the Dead takes place during the Civil War and three of the main characters family members are part of the Union army. One of my favorite things is when books take a time period and add a twist to them, which is what this book did. Much of the supernatural things (ghost photography, anyway. I can't speak for the whole 'feeling presences' thing) are real events that Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown used to their advantage.
A cool aspect of this book that really surprised me and that I enjoyed very much was that it seemed to have a little bit of everything: it had history, supernatural aspects, romance, mystery, and took place during a war. Every one of these things were present in equal regard and captivated me. It always helps if a book has a damn good setting and the authors pushed it even further by having it in a mixture of genres.
Finally, as I mentioned before, the pictures are great in this book. It was pretty much the entire reason I bought it, and I bought it when I bought Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Although it isn't real photography as in Miss Peregrine's, the drawings help the story immensely by giving you slips of paper and letters to read in addition to the actual novel.
Although I liked many things about this book, there were two things I absolutely hated. First is the romance in the book. It seemed a little annoying and unrealistic. I couldn't seen the main character doing such a thing after her fiance recently died. It made me dislike the main character for a while until she redeemed herself toward the end of the book.
My other problem is the writing present in the pictures. Much of it is in cursive, which wouldn't be a problem, but it's so ornate or cramped or messy (there are many different people writing, mind you) that it was difficult to read some of the notes that were vital to the story. I feel like it could have been a bit neater.
Anyway, I plan to write a discussion about the character Quinn in this story, which I'll publish as soon as I write it. It may be tonight. It may be a few days from now, but I'll eventually post it once I'm finished with my speculations. I encourage everyone to read this if they want to read that speculation, because it contains MAJOR spoilers!
A LINK TO MY BLOG FOR REVIEWS ON BOOKS, MOVIES, TV SHOWS, MUSIC, AND MORE! DISCUSSIONS ARE ALSO A PART OF THIS BLOG (INCLUDING THE ONE FOR THE MAIN CHARACTER QUINN) -----> http://booksandmoviesandmusic.blogspo...
November 21, 2012
I'll be very honest and say that I had some preconceived notions about how awesome this book was going to be because it had three of my favorite things: ghosts, the civil war and PICTURES! Yes, I'll admit that I'm basically 12 at heart and love illustrations to go along with a story. I'm a very visual person so the right illustrations can really enhance my reading enjoyment. Many people scoff at such things but I welcome pictures in novels! Ghosts and the Civil War kind of go hand in hand for me so if a book has both, it is a must read. Throw in an author like Adele Griffin and a super spooky plot and I expect nothing less than awesome. Picture the Dead mostly lived up to this expectation. Mostly.
LIKES:
Scrapbooks: Not only was this book beautifully illustrated, the illustrations were done as a scrapbook. They included letters and drawings as well as photos. Each scrapbook page pulled you farther into the story and helped to move it along at an exciting pace. The only problem with this is that I did catch myself cheating and jumping ahead to see what pictures were next. Bad!
Twists and turns: I thought at one point that I new exactly what the "twist" was going to be and I was feeling pretty smug about the whole then. Then the story did a one-eighty and I was completely at a loss. I just didn't see the end coming and It hit me hard. I love it when a story surprised me.
Jennie: Jennie was a genuinely likeable character with a lot of spunk, especially for a nineteenth century girl. I really felt for her and cared about her plight. She pulled me into the story and made it very real.
DISLIKES:
Kissing cousins, no seriously: First off let me say that I understand that it was common practice until fairly recently (in the grand scheme of things) for people to marry cousins. That being said, it still creeps me right out. For whatever reason I just can't put it in the context of "that was then, this is now". This is probably because I grew up being very close to my cousins. They were like my siblings so the idea of being romantically involved with one of them makes me want to heave. Jennie isn't just involved with one, but two cousins, with whom she has lived for the past several years after the deaths of her parents. This is probably the thing that bothered me most about the book.
It could have been scarier: I was looking forward to a scary read and, while spooky, I wouldn't call this book scary. It really read more like an historical fiction with some ghostly elements. I would have like to have seen a bit more creepiness.
Jennie's Uncle: This character really didn't add much to the story except to underline Jennie's desperate situation. I wish he would have been developed a bit more.
When all is said and done, Picture the Dead is exactly what it claims to be: a spooky, romantic story with some really great twists and turns. The illustrations and the scrapbook idea only adds to the story and the overall ambiance of the tale. This is a quick, fun read that is sure to keep the reader guessing.
LIKES:
Scrapbooks: Not only was this book beautifully illustrated, the illustrations were done as a scrapbook. They included letters and drawings as well as photos. Each scrapbook page pulled you farther into the story and helped to move it along at an exciting pace. The only problem with this is that I did catch myself cheating and jumping ahead to see what pictures were next. Bad!
Twists and turns: I thought at one point that I new exactly what the "twist" was going to be and I was feeling pretty smug about the whole then. Then the story did a one-eighty and I was completely at a loss. I just didn't see the end coming and It hit me hard. I love it when a story surprised me.
Jennie: Jennie was a genuinely likeable character with a lot of spunk, especially for a nineteenth century girl. I really felt for her and cared about her plight. She pulled me into the story and made it very real.
DISLIKES:
Kissing cousins, no seriously: First off let me say that I understand that it was common practice until fairly recently (in the grand scheme of things) for people to marry cousins. That being said, it still creeps me right out. For whatever reason I just can't put it in the context of "that was then, this is now". This is probably because I grew up being very close to my cousins. They were like my siblings so the idea of being romantically involved with one of them makes me want to heave. Jennie isn't just involved with one, but two cousins, with whom she has lived for the past several years after the deaths of her parents. This is probably the thing that bothered me most about the book.
It could have been scarier: I was looking forward to a scary read and, while spooky, I wouldn't call this book scary. It really read more like an historical fiction with some ghostly elements. I would have like to have seen a bit more creepiness.
Jennie's Uncle: This character really didn't add much to the story except to underline Jennie's desperate situation. I wish he would have been developed a bit more.
When all is said and done, Picture the Dead is exactly what it claims to be: a spooky, romantic story with some really great twists and turns. The illustrations and the scrapbook idea only adds to the story and the overall ambiance of the tale. This is a quick, fun read that is sure to keep the reader guessing.
April 4, 2014
3.75 stars.
I'm very conflicted about rating this and collecting my thoughts and opinions. I don't believe the synopsis is even an accurate description of what happens. Here, let me try to explain.
In Picture the Dead,a young woman is faced with the aftermath of losing almost everyone dear to her. We start out with the return of her cousin (from war), Quinn. When she doesn't see her fiance Will, she is immediately struck with grief. If being looked down upon by those you live with and those who run the house isn't enough, she went from being tolerated to working in the kitchens and such. Keep in mind that at this time that was a huuuge thing because a 'lady' should never have to do such labor. *gasp* We go on a very confusing journey and try to piece together a mystery.
First,I'd like to talk about the theme of this book. I understand it was supposed to have a bit of a darker theme, but I found this down right depressing. Throughout this entire book Jennie is either reflecting on the loss of her parents, the loss of her lover, how crewel she is being treated, or spending all of her time (SEVEN MONTHS) stuck in the past and trying to piece together the story of her dead lover. Now, I get that she was filled with sadness, I do, but did that require her to automatically discredit her cousin's story about Will's death? I guess so.
Secondly,
Jennie wasn't a completely awful character, I actually enjoyed reading about her journey a lot. She was very inquisitive and investigated everything she has suspicions about.
Okay, wow this is a lot longer than I expected. I would definitely recommend this if you're one for mysteries or ghosts.
I'm very conflicted about rating this and collecting my thoughts and opinions. I don't believe the synopsis is even an accurate description of what happens. Here, let me try to explain.
In Picture the Dead,a young woman is faced with the aftermath of losing almost everyone dear to her. We start out with the return of her cousin (from war), Quinn. When she doesn't see her fiance Will, she is immediately struck with grief. If being looked down upon by those you live with and those who run the house isn't enough, she went from being tolerated to working in the kitchens and such. Keep in mind that at this time that was a huuuge thing because a 'lady' should never have to do such labor. *gasp* We go on a very confusing journey and try to piece together a mystery.
First,I'd like to talk about the theme of this book. I understand it was supposed to have a bit of a darker theme, but I found this down right depressing. Throughout this entire book Jennie is either reflecting on the loss of her parents, the loss of her lover, how crewel she is being treated, or spending all of her time (SEVEN MONTHS) stuck in the past and trying to piece together the story of her dead lover. Now, I get that she was filled with sadness, I do, but did that require her to automatically discredit her cousin's story about Will's death? I guess so.
Secondly,
Jennie wasn't a completely awful character, I actually enjoyed reading about her journey a lot. She was very inquisitive and investigated everything she has suspicions about.
Okay, wow this is a lot longer than I expected. I would definitely recommend this if you're one for mysteries or ghosts.
June 26, 2010
Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genres. I love reading about our past- the people, clothes, customs, etc. The Civil War, surprisingly, is a time period I’ve rarely read about. I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read Picture the Dead.
Jennie was a well developed and likable main character. She had a strong head on her shoulders and knew what she wanted with life. Jennie had faced a lot of death in her short life; both her parents, her twin brother, and her fiancé. Her parents died years before and she was currently living with her horrid Aunt and Uncle. Her brother and fiancé both died in the Civil War. One from disease before he even faced battle, and her fiancé? His death was a big mystery/twist in the book. When Quinn, Jennie’s fiancé’s brother, returned from the War; injured and half mad, Jennie learned her fiancé Will had perished on the battle field. Supposedly.
When Jennie realizes Will may be haunting her, to tell her something, suspicions regarding his death are starting to brew in her head. Spiritualism plays a big role in this novel. The idea of a spirit haunting Jennie and also the family visits a medium. The medium, also a photographer, plays a large role in the novel and really helps Jennie unravel the mystery surrounding Will’s disappearance.
I loved all the mystery and intrigue in this novel, and several of the twists completely shocked me and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a variety of sub-plots and secondary characters that added a lot to Picture the Dead. The historical facts were accurate and interesting, and will help readers learn even more about the Civil War and some of the lesser known aspects of the time period.
The images at the end of each chapter helped me picture the characters and memorabilia mentioned in the story even better. Photography played a large role in the book, so it helped to be able to actually see the photos described in the text.
If you’re looking for an exciting, suspenseful, and well written historical novel I highly recommend Picture the Dead. My only complaints were that some of the characters were a bit under developed and at times the plot got a little confusing. Overall, it was a great read, and I’m looking forward to checking out more of the author’s novels.
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Jennie was a well developed and likable main character. She had a strong head on her shoulders and knew what she wanted with life. Jennie had faced a lot of death in her short life; both her parents, her twin brother, and her fiancé. Her parents died years before and she was currently living with her horrid Aunt and Uncle. Her brother and fiancé both died in the Civil War. One from disease before he even faced battle, and her fiancé? His death was a big mystery/twist in the book. When Quinn, Jennie’s fiancé’s brother, returned from the War; injured and half mad, Jennie learned her fiancé Will had perished on the battle field. Supposedly.
When Jennie realizes Will may be haunting her, to tell her something, suspicions regarding his death are starting to brew in her head. Spiritualism plays a big role in this novel. The idea of a spirit haunting Jennie and also the family visits a medium. The medium, also a photographer, plays a large role in the novel and really helps Jennie unravel the mystery surrounding Will’s disappearance.
I loved all the mystery and intrigue in this novel, and several of the twists completely shocked me and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a variety of sub-plots and secondary characters that added a lot to Picture the Dead. The historical facts were accurate and interesting, and will help readers learn even more about the Civil War and some of the lesser known aspects of the time period.
The images at the end of each chapter helped me picture the characters and memorabilia mentioned in the story even better. Photography played a large role in the book, so it helped to be able to actually see the photos described in the text.
If you’re looking for an exciting, suspenseful, and well written historical novel I highly recommend Picture the Dead. My only complaints were that some of the characters were a bit under developed and at times the plot got a little confusing. Overall, it was a great read, and I’m looking forward to checking out more of the author’s novels.
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
June 13, 2010
Throughout the entire book I felt it hard to actually connect with Jennie. We're thrown right into the action of the plot and told about her past so splattered throughout the story that I feel I just don't know her well enough to really care. That's not to say the story wasn't good, nor was Jennie not a good character. I was just detached from her situation, like I was watching a TV show play out before me.
It wasn't until the very end that I really felt anything for her but I have to say, the ending was fantastic and quite possibly the best part of the book. The last couple of chapters, where the charade started to unravel, had me turning page after page after page to find out what's going on. The rest of the story was interesting enough although I think the spirit photography wasn't as in the forefront as it's portrayed as being. It plays a catalyst for certain plot points in the story but really stays in the background for the most part.
I did like how the story added some validity to the Spiritualist movement. While the spirit photographer was widely a hoax, some of the things that happened to Jennie's photos were rather hard to explain and even if they could be, they were rather enormously coincidental to be, well, a coincidence.
For me the secondary characters were much more three dimensional than Jennie herself was. I loved Aunt, in all her bitchtastic attitude. She was just a character that begged to be loved to hated. Even Quincey was quite a dynamic character. He was such a train wreck - I couldn't keep my eyes off of him, especially at the end. Very much bat shit but it made him all the more interesting to read.
I loved the drawings. They added so much more depth to the story, as if I were paging through Jennie's scrapbook myself. The script was hard to read sometimes but the photos were creepy, so solemn and morbid, most without actually intending to be so. They just made the overall feel of the story that much better.
Picture the Dead was a good read, especially at the end where some real girl power and suck it attitude comes into play, but I still had a distance with it. I wish I could have connected more with Jennie. Maybe if there was a little more exposition at the beginning to give us a better understanding of just where Jennie came from and why her situation was the way it was would have helped. But it is what it is.
It wasn't until the very end that I really felt anything for her but I have to say, the ending was fantastic and quite possibly the best part of the book. The last couple of chapters, where the charade started to unravel, had me turning page after page after page to find out what's going on. The rest of the story was interesting enough although I think the spirit photography wasn't as in the forefront as it's portrayed as being. It plays a catalyst for certain plot points in the story but really stays in the background for the most part.
I did like how the story added some validity to the Spiritualist movement. While the spirit photographer was widely a hoax, some of the things that happened to Jennie's photos were rather hard to explain and even if they could be, they were rather enormously coincidental to be, well, a coincidence.
For me the secondary characters were much more three dimensional than Jennie herself was. I loved Aunt, in all her bitchtastic attitude. She was just a character that begged to be loved to hated. Even Quincey was quite a dynamic character. He was such a train wreck - I couldn't keep my eyes off of him, especially at the end. Very much bat shit but it made him all the more interesting to read.
I loved the drawings. They added so much more depth to the story, as if I were paging through Jennie's scrapbook myself. The script was hard to read sometimes but the photos were creepy, so solemn and morbid, most without actually intending to be so. They just made the overall feel of the story that much better.
Picture the Dead was a good read, especially at the end where some real girl power and suck it attitude comes into play, but I still had a distance with it. I wish I could have connected more with Jennie. Maybe if there was a little more exposition at the beginning to give us a better understanding of just where Jennie came from and why her situation was the way it was would have helped. But it is what it is.
March 29, 2017
I love ghost stories. They are something new to me and so they are still unique. I haven't read very many but Picture The Dead ranks high among the ones that I have read and makes me very interested in reading more.
Jennie Lovell does not have an easy life. After being orphaned, she and her twin, Toby, are forced to live with their Aunt Clara and Uncle Henry. Things aren't too terrible though because Will and Quinn are there. Things get even better when Jennie falls in love with Will and he ask her to marry him. All that changes though when all three boys join up and are sent to fight in the civil war. Quinn is the only one who makes it home alive. But Will is still there and his ghost is trying to tell Jennie something. Will she find out what it is before it's too late?
Like I said, I haven't read many ghost stories so I didn't really know what to expect. At first it was kind of creepy but the ghosts were friendly so it got better. The mystery of what Will was trying to tell Jennie was what kept me reading. I never would have guessed it. The book was definitely a quick read and not just because of the plot. There were pictures and letters in the book that were very cool and they sped the book up a bit. It wasn't just words like most YA books.
The characters were only okay to me. I liked Jennie but she was almost obsessed with the ghost which seemed to blind her to what was right in front of her. I did like that she wasn't whiny or snotty though. She grew up in a wealthy household but she was friends with the servants and actually cared for them. It was nice. Quinn, on the other hand, confused me most of the book. I understood him more at the end.
Overall, Picture The Dead is just a really good book. If you are a fan of ghost stories, check it out. Well, even if you are not a fan, I recommend it. And who knows, maybe it will make you a fan! =]
Jennie Lovell does not have an easy life. After being orphaned, she and her twin, Toby, are forced to live with their Aunt Clara and Uncle Henry. Things aren't too terrible though because Will and Quinn are there. Things get even better when Jennie falls in love with Will and he ask her to marry him. All that changes though when all three boys join up and are sent to fight in the civil war. Quinn is the only one who makes it home alive. But Will is still there and his ghost is trying to tell Jennie something. Will she find out what it is before it's too late?
Like I said, I haven't read many ghost stories so I didn't really know what to expect. At first it was kind of creepy but the ghosts were friendly so it got better. The mystery of what Will was trying to tell Jennie was what kept me reading. I never would have guessed it. The book was definitely a quick read and not just because of the plot. There were pictures and letters in the book that were very cool and they sped the book up a bit. It wasn't just words like most YA books.
The characters were only okay to me. I liked Jennie but she was almost obsessed with the ghost which seemed to blind her to what was right in front of her. I did like that she wasn't whiny or snotty though. She grew up in a wealthy household but she was friends with the servants and actually cared for them. It was nice. Quinn, on the other hand, confused me most of the book. I understood him more at the end.
Overall, Picture The Dead is just a really good book. If you are a fan of ghost stories, check it out. Well, even if you are not a fan, I recommend it. And who knows, maybe it will make you a fan! =]
February 8, 2012
Picture The Dead is a charming gothic ghost story which incorporates elements of suspense, mystery and paranormal. Each chapter is ended with detailed illustrations which reflects the bits and pieces of Jennie's scrapbook. The overall design of the book is very eye-catching and special. However, I don't feel particularly spooked or frightened by the story.
Jennie is a likeable heroine. She has just lost her beloved Will in a battlefield, and her heart aches for him, but be that as it may, she is still a normal girl who craves for love and attention. So when Quinn (Will's brother) expresses his love for her, her heart starts to flutter. She considers of letting go of Will and try focusing her life in a new direction.
However, when strange things begin to happen in the Pritchett household, Jennie fears that Will's spirit is angry and unforgiving. But then, she also discovers various clues in different forms, which arouses her suspicion about things that happen around her.
The author's command of language is rather impressive. Her writing style is distinctive and descriptive, her words significant yet easy to understand, gives the reader a better perceptive of what is happening at an exact moment. The historical background of the story is quite refreshing - it is set during the period of the Civil War in America, when spiritualism is starting to take hold of the society.
I liked how the story turned out in the end. It was really unforeseen that I would heartily applaud the author's way of turning the direction of the novel. Clues are thrown in bit by bit, but I never thought of the possibilities that there is a secret behind Will's death.
Picture The Dead is a quick, enjoyable read, but it is not as creepy and haunting as I'd expected. I'd say this book is more suitable for middle graders, but if you're a teen or adult who likes ghost stories, then just go ahead and pick it up. ;)
Jennie is a likeable heroine. She has just lost her beloved Will in a battlefield, and her heart aches for him, but be that as it may, she is still a normal girl who craves for love and attention. So when Quinn (Will's brother) expresses his love for her, her heart starts to flutter. She considers of letting go of Will and try focusing her life in a new direction.
However, when strange things begin to happen in the Pritchett household, Jennie fears that Will's spirit is angry and unforgiving. But then, she also discovers various clues in different forms, which arouses her suspicion about things that happen around her.
The author's command of language is rather impressive. Her writing style is distinctive and descriptive, her words significant yet easy to understand, gives the reader a better perceptive of what is happening at an exact moment. The historical background of the story is quite refreshing - it is set during the period of the Civil War in America, when spiritualism is starting to take hold of the society.
I liked how the story turned out in the end. It was really unforeseen that I would heartily applaud the author's way of turning the direction of the novel. Clues are thrown in bit by bit, but I never thought of the possibilities that there is a secret behind Will's death.
Picture The Dead is a quick, enjoyable read, but it is not as creepy and haunting as I'd expected. I'd say this book is more suitable for middle graders, but if you're a teen or adult who likes ghost stories, then just go ahead and pick it up. ;)
May 10, 2010
I absolutely loved that Adele Griffin wove a haunting love story around historical fiction. I am such a sucker for history and really enjoyed this YA paranormal book. It's a haunting read, with a dark and twisty plot that had me devouring the pages. While it's not a shake in the seat of your pants haunting, it's a vivid and real life haunting. I like that through out the book, there are vivid illustrated pages with pictures from Jennie's scrapbook. The illustrations are of pictures, letters and little notes that detail this era perfectly and help Jennie figure out clues to her beloved William's death.
The characters and the setting felt very real to me, as the story takes place during the Civil War. Jennie, and her twin brother Toby have lived with their Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Brookline, MA since her parents died. The Civil War claimed the live of her twin brother Toby and now her cousin/finance William. Broken hearted and shunned from her wealthy relatives, Jennie finds she's neither women of the house, nor slave. She's left to feel invisible.
William's death feels unsettling to Jennie, and someone starts leaving her clues. The more clues Jennie uncovers, the more the hauntings continue. Feeling like she's going mad, she turns to her cousin, William's younger brother Quincy and a spirit photographer, Mr. Geist for answers. Being the only one from the family who survived the Civil War, a severely wounded Quincy returns home with some dark secrets of his own. As Quincy and Jennie become closer, something sinister in the Pritchett household wants Jennie. Before it's too late, she must figure out if it's from among the living or the dead.
The characters and the setting felt very real to me, as the story takes place during the Civil War. Jennie, and her twin brother Toby have lived with their Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Brookline, MA since her parents died. The Civil War claimed the live of her twin brother Toby and now her cousin/finance William. Broken hearted and shunned from her wealthy relatives, Jennie finds she's neither women of the house, nor slave. She's left to feel invisible.
William's death feels unsettling to Jennie, and someone starts leaving her clues. The more clues Jennie uncovers, the more the hauntings continue. Feeling like she's going mad, she turns to her cousin, William's younger brother Quincy and a spirit photographer, Mr. Geist for answers. Being the only one from the family who survived the Civil War, a severely wounded Quincy returns home with some dark secrets of his own. As Quincy and Jennie become closer, something sinister in the Pritchett household wants Jennie. Before it's too late, she must figure out if it's from among the living or the dead.
July 1, 2010
"A ghost will find its way home." That's the opening line of this novel and it immediately grabbed me. I love ghost stories and really enjoyed this one. Jennie is a sympathetic character, a girl on the step of womanhood and she has suffered much in her young life. Her parents are deceased and her twin, Toby, died. Then he fiance, Will, is killed in the war. All she has left is an unloving aunt and uncle, a distant and aloof cousin, Quinn, and her maid, Mavis.
Despite all her losses, Jennie is not a depressing girl. She feels the ghost of Toby by her at times. After an incident at a photographer's house, she sees her beloved Will for a moment. Is he trying to tell her something?
Picture the Dead is not an action-packed novel. it reads more like a historical novel filled with mystery, longing, loss and the awakening of a young girl's mind and body to the world surrounding her. Jennie has led a sheltered life and is trusting, but she loved Will and as the story progresses the reader sees this affection was returned by him as well. I also liked how Jennie wasn't flawless, especially with her tendency to steal things to add to her scrapbook. Griffn did a wonderful job of recreating the Civil War days and crafted a believable mystery with Gothic tendencies.
Brown's illustrations throughout really helped me picture this time period and gave the story authenticity. Recommended.
From my review: http://readergirls.blogspot.com/2010/...
Despite all her losses, Jennie is not a depressing girl. She feels the ghost of Toby by her at times. After an incident at a photographer's house, she sees her beloved Will for a moment. Is he trying to tell her something?
Picture the Dead is not an action-packed novel. it reads more like a historical novel filled with mystery, longing, loss and the awakening of a young girl's mind and body to the world surrounding her. Jennie has led a sheltered life and is trusting, but she loved Will and as the story progresses the reader sees this affection was returned by him as well. I also liked how Jennie wasn't flawless, especially with her tendency to steal things to add to her scrapbook. Griffn did a wonderful job of recreating the Civil War days and crafted a believable mystery with Gothic tendencies.
Brown's illustrations throughout really helped me picture this time period and gave the story authenticity. Recommended.
From my review: http://readergirls.blogspot.com/2010/...
June 23, 2010
When Jennie's fiancé dies in war and only his brother, Quinn, comes home, Jennie is heartbroken. She soon learns there is more to Will's death than she thought. She is haunted by his ghost, and by the mysteries left unanswered. Piece by piece she begins to uncover his secrets… and at the same time starts to fall in love with Quinn. But there is always more to a story when there are ghosts involved.
Picture the Dead had a lot of thought put into it. The mysteries presented and the way they were unearthed were fabulous—there were questions and surprises and answers that I didn't expect all the way up to the last page.
I liked Jennie, though I didn't like Quinn at all, even after she grew to love him. I had never met Will, since he was dead in the beginning of the story, but by the end of the book I felt I knew why Jennie had loved him.
I will say that the ending didn't have nearly enough closure for me, and I am left feeling slightly confused, though satisfied by how all the events played out.
The illustrations were very good, although I had a very hard time reading what was written on them. Hopefully in the finished copy of the book the words will be easier to read.
Content/recommendation: clean, mild language. Ages 13+
Picture the Dead had a lot of thought put into it. The mysteries presented and the way they were unearthed were fabulous—there were questions and surprises and answers that I didn't expect all the way up to the last page.
I liked Jennie, though I didn't like Quinn at all, even after she grew to love him. I had never met Will, since he was dead in the beginning of the story, but by the end of the book I felt I knew why Jennie had loved him.
I will say that the ending didn't have nearly enough closure for me, and I am left feeling slightly confused, though satisfied by how all the events played out.
The illustrations were very good, although I had a very hard time reading what was written on them. Hopefully in the finished copy of the book the words will be easier to read.
Content/recommendation: clean, mild language. Ages 13+
December 11, 2012
This is an example of wanting a different book based on the original setup. Like, really badly desiring this book which needs to be written. Basically, girl can see the ghosts of her brother and fiance killed in the Civil War. Twin brother of fiance returns to house. He has always been in love with girl. Like forever. But fiance is older, the heir, made move first, etc. So this is what I wanted: girl figuring out what fiance was really like while falling in love with twin brother. (Snarky twin brother, who was ridiculously concerned for her welfare) And well, maybe the mystery would have been fiance’s involvement in bad stuff going down at Andersonville. And twin feeling guilty because he either A) didn’t stop fiance or B) he DID stop him, but he had to kill him. See, lots of angst potential there. Now, this is what I got: romance free, twin was responsible for fiance’s death, but trying to hide it so girl will love him. And some hijinks about an inheritance that she had the rights to or something. Blah. I like my version so much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2010
Summary: After Jennie Lovell's fiancé, Will, is killed during the Civil War, she forms an alliance with a spirit photographer and uses her ability to talk to the dead to investigate the secrets Will was hiding and how he really died.
Considering this is written much like a traditional Gothic ghost story, I didn't find myself at all creeped out. I figured out the "mystery" way too quickly in the story. I also found Jennie, the main character who tells the story, to be pretty silly. I think I only kept reading because the design of the book is so awesome. The book is illustrated throughout to resemble Jennie's scrapbook of objects that she finds or steals and which relate to her life's story. I also found much of the historical information from the novel to be interesting. In other words, I'm glad I read it, but I am equally glad that it was a short, quick read or I probably would have given up on it.
Considering this is written much like a traditional Gothic ghost story, I didn't find myself at all creeped out. I figured out the "mystery" way too quickly in the story. I also found Jennie, the main character who tells the story, to be pretty silly. I think I only kept reading because the design of the book is so awesome. The book is illustrated throughout to resemble Jennie's scrapbook of objects that she finds or steals and which relate to her life's story. I also found much of the historical information from the novel to be interesting. In other words, I'm glad I read it, but I am equally glad that it was a short, quick read or I probably would have given up on it.
May 7, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up*
There was a definite creep factor to the ghostly side of this tale, but what really gripped me were the last 100 pages or so of intrigue between Quinn and Jennie. I wish there would have been more time and story devoted to that.
I liked this story a lot and probably would have liked it more without the accompanying "letters" and illustrations. They were distracting (I personally didn't like the style), and the letters were hard to read- to the point that I gave up and ended up skipping over them as I progressed further in the story.
My only other criticism would be that I felt Quinn's shift at the end was a little rushed. I would have liked more nuance throughout the story to hint towards his nature other than Jennie's descriptions- kind of a case of telling versus showing?
Overall, this was well written and immersive! I love a good ghost story with a historical twist.
There was a definite creep factor to the ghostly side of this tale, but what really gripped me were the last 100 pages or so of intrigue between Quinn and Jennie. I wish there would have been more time and story devoted to that.
I liked this story a lot and probably would have liked it more without the accompanying "letters" and illustrations. They were distracting (I personally didn't like the style), and the letters were hard to read- to the point that I gave up and ended up skipping over them as I progressed further in the story.
My only other criticism would be that I felt Quinn's shift at the end was a little rushed. I would have liked more nuance throughout the story to hint towards his nature other than Jennie's descriptions- kind of a case of telling versus showing?
Overall, this was well written and immersive! I love a good ghost story with a historical twist.
December 10, 2024
A very interesting idea to combine story and "art"/"pictures" into a creepy ghost story, but poorly executed. The past is revealed only when needed for some event to happen in the story, which means you really have no sense of Will until halfway through the book, making the "mourning" of the first half boring and meaningless.
The way the past is revealed in terms of her brother also seemed very constructed and artificial. His remembered "spy lessons" change how Jennie acts, but if they had happened in the past then she should have already incorporated them.
Finally, some events are just poorly designed. At one point, for example, Jennie decides she absolutely must go into her uncle's study despite her hesitation...which makes little sense since the room had never previously been described as off limits or anything.
The way the past is revealed in terms of her brother also seemed very constructed and artificial. His remembered "spy lessons" change how Jennie acts, but if they had happened in the past then she should have already incorporated them.
Finally, some events are just poorly designed. At one point, for example, Jennie decides she absolutely must go into her uncle's study despite her hesitation...which makes little sense since the room had never previously been described as off limits or anything.
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