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Thin Space
Ever since the car accident that killed his twin brother, Marshall Windsor has been consumed with guilt and crippled by secrets of that fateful night. He has only one chance to make amends, to right his wrongs and set things right. He must find a Thin Space—a mythical point where the barrier between this world and the next is thin enough for a person to step through to the other side.
But, when a new girl moves into the house next door, the same house Marsh is sure holds a thin space, she may be the key—or the unraveling of all his secrets.
As they get closer to finding a thin space—and closer to each other—Marsh must decide once and for all how far he’s willing to go to right the wrongs of the living…and the dead.
But, when a new girl moves into the house next door, the same house Marsh is sure holds a thin space, she may be the key—or the unraveling of all his secrets.
As they get closer to finding a thin space—and closer to each other—Marsh must decide once and for all how far he’s willing to go to right the wrongs of the living…and the dead.
243 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2013
29 people are currently reading
3092 people want to read
About the author
Jody Casella
1 book105 followersYA writer on the verge. Author of THIN SPACE (Beyond Words/Simon & Schuster). She blogs. She reviews books. She walks her dog. A lot.
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June 4, 2020
looks like it's just me out here, not liking this book. which is fine - i don't like crowds anyway. imma just stretch out my arms and wave 'em around and tell you all the things i didn't like about this book.
now, some of them are specific to me. i have twin-fear/suspicion, i have hang-ups about people rolling up in public spaces with bare feet, and i find it very difficult to connect emotionally with books. the first one is only half-serious, the second is dead-serious and comes from years of having to explain to people that we are meant to be civilized and the civilized do not run around a bookstore barefoot in manhattan, and the third one is something i wish i could change, but it's not going to happen. i love reading. i love books. i love them for their characters and stories and structure. but when i read, it's like all my emotions turn off completely. i am never scared by books, i have cried maybe twice as an adult reader, and i rarely ell oh ell. it's just how i'm wired. my thinking-bits do not connect to my feeling-bits.
and this book requires you to be able to access your emotions in order to fully appreciate it.
marsh has just lost his twin brother austin in a car accident in which he was driving, but not at fault. even though he wasn't to blame, he feels crippling survivor's guilt, and has not been able to readjust to life on his own, without his other half. he drifts through his days, having lost contact with his former friends and his girlfriend, unable to communicate with his parents and focused on a mystical goal: to discover a "thin space" between this world and the afterlife and find his brother in whatever comes next. he learned about the concept of thin spaces from mrs. hansel, an elderly neighbor who has since died. she told him about the ancient celtic belief that whenever a soul passes out of this world in the exact same place where it entered, a thin space forms, allowing a living being to slip through and enter the afterlife. she was convinced that she knew the exact spot where her soul entered, and, near death herself, she promised to create such a space for marsh, dying on that spot, so he could visit his brother.
the only catch is that the thin space can only be entered if the living person is barefoot, so, unable to get into his neighbor's home after her death, marsh has been walking all over town barefoot ever since the death of his brother, hoping to find another thin space. school, the bus, the streets, the hospital, the football field - in the dead of winter, his feet and legs turning red and numb, marsh has been searching for a way in.
fortunately for his nerve endings, his neighbor's house is sold to a family with two kids who end up at marsh's school, one of whom is a pretty girl named maddie he decides to befriend in order to gain access to the thin space mrs. hansel promised to leave for him.
i think a big stumbling block i have with this book is the way the characters behave, particularly maddie. let's just look at the situation objectively, as an outsider, without any insight into marsh's thoughts/feelings/inner turmoil/objectives and without that automatic sympathetic connection we feel with the character in whose head we find ourselves when reading. let's approach the situation as though we are maddie. she is new to the school, trying to put her past behind her, and making an adjustment to a whole new world in terms of surroundings and climate, and dealing with her overprotective big brother and her mother's rapid-fire romantic life. and the first person she gravitates towards is the troubled dude who wanders around school barefoot, not talking to anyone, except to snap crossly, conversationally distant at best, and getting into physical fights pretty regularly. he is clearly unstable, and it's also clear her brother has cause to be so overprotective - maddie seems to make poor choices. maddie is a sweet, friendly girl, so why her first instinct is to invite the barefoot kid spouting off about celtic rituals and doorways to the afterlife into her home beggars belief.
and this:"Hey, do you ever wish you could go back in time, do something over?" seems a particularly insensitive question to pose to a boy who she knows has just lost his twin brother. like many of the conversations in this book, it seems to exist not as an example of how people would actually interact, but in order to push the characters to their next episode or to heighten marsh's distress. his girlfriend stays away from him to give him space until it becomes necessary to the plot for her to come back in. bullies and resentments spring up at psychologically-opportune checkpoints, adults and backstories surface as needed. it's less organic than orchestrated and it doesn't do the plausibility any favors.
as far as the twist - it was set up so early on, and so clearly hinted-at, that there was absolutely no element of surprise or reveal when the time eventually came.
i dunno - i am surprised this has such high ratings on here, but it might just be because other readers are able to feel for marsh in a way i myself cannot, and are responding to the grief-narrative like empathetic humans and not a horrible robot.
not bad, just not luminous.
come to my blog!
now, some of them are specific to me. i have twin-fear/suspicion, i have hang-ups about people rolling up in public spaces with bare feet, and i find it very difficult to connect emotionally with books. the first one is only half-serious, the second is dead-serious and comes from years of having to explain to people that we are meant to be civilized and the civilized do not run around a bookstore barefoot in manhattan, and the third one is something i wish i could change, but it's not going to happen. i love reading. i love books. i love them for their characters and stories and structure. but when i read, it's like all my emotions turn off completely. i am never scared by books, i have cried maybe twice as an adult reader, and i rarely ell oh ell. it's just how i'm wired. my thinking-bits do not connect to my feeling-bits.
and this book requires you to be able to access your emotions in order to fully appreciate it.
marsh has just lost his twin brother austin in a car accident in which he was driving, but not at fault. even though he wasn't to blame, he feels crippling survivor's guilt, and has not been able to readjust to life on his own, without his other half. he drifts through his days, having lost contact with his former friends and his girlfriend, unable to communicate with his parents and focused on a mystical goal: to discover a "thin space" between this world and the afterlife and find his brother in whatever comes next. he learned about the concept of thin spaces from mrs. hansel, an elderly neighbor who has since died. she told him about the ancient celtic belief that whenever a soul passes out of this world in the exact same place where it entered, a thin space forms, allowing a living being to slip through and enter the afterlife. she was convinced that she knew the exact spot where her soul entered, and, near death herself, she promised to create such a space for marsh, dying on that spot, so he could visit his brother.
the only catch is that the thin space can only be entered if the living person is barefoot, so, unable to get into his neighbor's home after her death, marsh has been walking all over town barefoot ever since the death of his brother, hoping to find another thin space. school, the bus, the streets, the hospital, the football field - in the dead of winter, his feet and legs turning red and numb, marsh has been searching for a way in.
fortunately for his nerve endings, his neighbor's house is sold to a family with two kids who end up at marsh's school, one of whom is a pretty girl named maddie he decides to befriend in order to gain access to the thin space mrs. hansel promised to leave for him.
i think a big stumbling block i have with this book is the way the characters behave, particularly maddie. let's just look at the situation objectively, as an outsider, without any insight into marsh's thoughts/feelings/inner turmoil/objectives and without that automatic sympathetic connection we feel with the character in whose head we find ourselves when reading. let's approach the situation as though we are maddie. she is new to the school, trying to put her past behind her, and making an adjustment to a whole new world in terms of surroundings and climate, and dealing with her overprotective big brother and her mother's rapid-fire romantic life. and the first person she gravitates towards is the troubled dude who wanders around school barefoot, not talking to anyone, except to snap crossly, conversationally distant at best, and getting into physical fights pretty regularly. he is clearly unstable, and it's also clear her brother has cause to be so overprotective - maddie seems to make poor choices. maddie is a sweet, friendly girl, so why her first instinct is to invite the barefoot kid spouting off about celtic rituals and doorways to the afterlife into her home beggars belief.
and this:"Hey, do you ever wish you could go back in time, do something over?" seems a particularly insensitive question to pose to a boy who she knows has just lost his twin brother. like many of the conversations in this book, it seems to exist not as an example of how people would actually interact, but in order to push the characters to their next episode or to heighten marsh's distress. his girlfriend stays away from him to give him space until it becomes necessary to the plot for her to come back in. bullies and resentments spring up at psychologically-opportune checkpoints, adults and backstories surface as needed. it's less organic than orchestrated and it doesn't do the plausibility any favors.
as far as the twist - it was set up so early on, and so clearly hinted-at, that there was absolutely no element of surprise or reveal when the time eventually came.
i dunno - i am surprised this has such high ratings on here, but it might just be because other readers are able to feel for marsh in a way i myself cannot, and are responding to the grief-narrative like empathetic humans and not a horrible robot.
not bad, just not luminous.
come to my blog!
January 8, 2014
Jody Casella's "Thin Space" is a story of loss and grief. Be prepared to bring out the tissue box, because it's not without moments that kick one at their core. For me, this was a personal read because it talks about a character who experiences the loss of their twin. As a fraternal twin myself, I couldn't imagine losing my sister in any measure. She's been a part of my life for almost 30 years. She's my best friend and maybe even more than I can explain in mere words. I knew going into this novel that it was probably going to resonate with me on the subject matter in itself, but I honestly had no idea how much. Nor did I realize just how well the story came across on its own terms.
Marsh lost his identical twin Austin three months before this story takes off, from a terrible car crash that left him and his family broken in more ways than one. For Marsh, it's like he's lost a part of himself, and he wanders between desperation, depression, anger, identity issues, and wondering what his life measures up to. All sentiments I could feel for in the spectrum of the story. But there's a bit of a catch to this. Marsh believes he can find a way to reach his brother again, through a Celtic legend that was told to him by a neighbor who passed on as well. He has to find a "thin space" - a link between the world of the living and the world of the dead. He believes it's the only way to reach his brother one last time. His neighbor told him that one of the ways to reach the world is to find the space and walk barefoot into it. So Marsh tries to find a "thin space" everywhere he can possibly go, even walking barefoot on pavement, through snow, and other areas. Sometimes even to the point where his feet are raw.
Suffice to say, people around him think he's crazy. Either that or in such a state of grief, they don't know what to do with him.
Marsh finds himself compromised to a point when he realizes a new family's moving into his deceased neighbor's house. The daughter of that family, Maddie, ends up in his company and the two have a complicated relationship of hidden truths and understanding of grief while Marsh continues his search for a thin space. But there are other factors to consider, such as the fact that Marsh is neglecting his old girlfriend, crossing boundaries with Maddie's brother in the mix, and acting up in school where he'd previously been a good student, even where he used to be on the football team, but fell out of it.
Maddie makes an unlikely union with Marsh to find a thin space, while also wanting to use it for her own aims. The two eventually find it, but both receive answers that they did not bargain for in the measure of things, and it's a coming of terms that really hits home.
I think after a point, I suspected the end point of this story, but it still managed to shock me with the reveal. It was very well done, and a nice punctuation of grief that straddles the realistic and the supernatural, though very light on the latter. The ending comes across as something of a new beginning, a coming of terms, and a realization of grief from something that Marsh can't run from anymore. It's clear, from the encounter that comes with Marsh finding his brother in the thin space, that he has to come to terms with the reality, and progress from there.
I'll admit this story made me shed tears when it was all over. It hit that far home with me, and I'd certainly applaud Casella for weaving an important tale like this so well, for its contemporary elements as well as its punctuation on grief and the ways that a boy copes with losing his identity, in more ways than one.
Overall score: 4.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Simon Pulse.
Marsh lost his identical twin Austin three months before this story takes off, from a terrible car crash that left him and his family broken in more ways than one. For Marsh, it's like he's lost a part of himself, and he wanders between desperation, depression, anger, identity issues, and wondering what his life measures up to. All sentiments I could feel for in the spectrum of the story. But there's a bit of a catch to this. Marsh believes he can find a way to reach his brother again, through a Celtic legend that was told to him by a neighbor who passed on as well. He has to find a "thin space" - a link between the world of the living and the world of the dead. He believes it's the only way to reach his brother one last time. His neighbor told him that one of the ways to reach the world is to find the space and walk barefoot into it. So Marsh tries to find a "thin space" everywhere he can possibly go, even walking barefoot on pavement, through snow, and other areas. Sometimes even to the point where his feet are raw.
Suffice to say, people around him think he's crazy. Either that or in such a state of grief, they don't know what to do with him.
Marsh finds himself compromised to a point when he realizes a new family's moving into his deceased neighbor's house. The daughter of that family, Maddie, ends up in his company and the two have a complicated relationship of hidden truths and understanding of grief while Marsh continues his search for a thin space. But there are other factors to consider, such as the fact that Marsh is neglecting his old girlfriend, crossing boundaries with Maddie's brother in the mix, and acting up in school where he'd previously been a good student, even where he used to be on the football team, but fell out of it.
Maddie makes an unlikely union with Marsh to find a thin space, while also wanting to use it for her own aims. The two eventually find it, but both receive answers that they did not bargain for in the measure of things, and it's a coming of terms that really hits home.
I think after a point, I suspected the end point of this story, but it still managed to shock me with the reveal. It was very well done, and a nice punctuation of grief that straddles the realistic and the supernatural, though very light on the latter. The ending comes across as something of a new beginning, a coming of terms, and a realization of grief from something that Marsh can't run from anymore. It's clear, from the encounter that comes with Marsh finding his brother in the thin space, that he has to come to terms with the reality, and progress from there.
I'll admit this story made me shed tears when it was all over. It hit that far home with me, and I'd certainly applaud Casella for weaving an important tale like this so well, for its contemporary elements as well as its punctuation on grief and the ways that a boy copes with losing his identity, in more ways than one.
Overall score: 4.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Simon Pulse.
July 31, 2013
Every once in a while you come upon a book that completely rocks your world, and Thin Space by Jody Casella was one of those books.
When I first heard about Thin Space, I knew I had to read it. I'm always looking to read more books featuring a male POV. Plus the concept of a "thin space" was fascinating. Then Jennifer Castle, one of my FAVORITE YA authors, burbled it, making everything a tad more exciting. Therefore, when Thin Space ended up in my hands a few weeks ago, I jumped right in.
There's a lot of amazing things going for Thin Space, and one of those is the concept. As mentioned before, I was completely taken aback by the concept of thin spaces. I had never heard of them before; however, I was curious to see how Jody would intertwine the idea into the book. Luckily, she did a great job.
Mixing together the main character Marsh's knowledge of them and the fact that he had just lost his twin brother brought so many raw emotions the book. Marsh's dire need to find a thin space jumped off the page and came to life from the start as did his sadness, loneliness, and anger over his brother's recent death. I felt so much for Marsh to say the least. I could understand his want to connect with his brother, to make everything better, just as I'm sure anyone who has ever lost anyone close to them will be able to. At the same time, I was rooting for Marsh to be able to move on and allow himself to be happy again, and thankfully, that started to happen with the addition of Maddie, the new girl in town. Sweet but just as broken as Marsh, Maddie was someone I adored from the start. I loved the scenes that featured her, especially when they involved her helping Marsh. However, what I loved most about their relationship was that it didn't focus on romance or insta-love. Instead, it focused on friendship really and people connecting in the worst of times. It was an awesome change from the typical YA book.
Jody's writing was also great. I loved the way in which she developed the plot as well as the big reveal towards the end. I was never sure of what was going to happen next, especially when it came to Marsh's big secret. When it was finally reveled, I was completely thrown for a loop. In some ways, it made perfect sense (there were so many clues and hints toward it) but in others it completely flabbergasted me, making me love this book all the more. I also have to add that I loved how well she captured the feel of winter. As I write this review, it's nearing the end of July; however, no matter how warm it is outside, the descriptions in this threw a chill at me, making me feel like I was right there with Marsh and Maddie on their journey to find a thin space.
Heartbreaking yet hopeful and beautifully written, Thin Space has added a new favorite author to my list. I sincerely hope Jody Casella doesn't stop writing such emotion filled books anytime soon.
Grade: A+
When I first heard about Thin Space, I knew I had to read it. I'm always looking to read more books featuring a male POV. Plus the concept of a "thin space" was fascinating. Then Jennifer Castle, one of my FAVORITE YA authors, burbled it, making everything a tad more exciting. Therefore, when Thin Space ended up in my hands a few weeks ago, I jumped right in.
There's a lot of amazing things going for Thin Space, and one of those is the concept. As mentioned before, I was completely taken aback by the concept of thin spaces. I had never heard of them before; however, I was curious to see how Jody would intertwine the idea into the book. Luckily, she did a great job.
Mixing together the main character Marsh's knowledge of them and the fact that he had just lost his twin brother brought so many raw emotions the book. Marsh's dire need to find a thin space jumped off the page and came to life from the start as did his sadness, loneliness, and anger over his brother's recent death. I felt so much for Marsh to say the least. I could understand his want to connect with his brother, to make everything better, just as I'm sure anyone who has ever lost anyone close to them will be able to. At the same time, I was rooting for Marsh to be able to move on and allow himself to be happy again, and thankfully, that started to happen with the addition of Maddie, the new girl in town. Sweet but just as broken as Marsh, Maddie was someone I adored from the start. I loved the scenes that featured her, especially when they involved her helping Marsh. However, what I loved most about their relationship was that it didn't focus on romance or insta-love. Instead, it focused on friendship really and people connecting in the worst of times. It was an awesome change from the typical YA book.
Jody's writing was also great. I loved the way in which she developed the plot as well as the big reveal towards the end. I was never sure of what was going to happen next, especially when it came to Marsh's big secret. When it was finally reveled, I was completely thrown for a loop. In some ways, it made perfect sense (there were so many clues and hints toward it) but in others it completely flabbergasted me, making me love this book all the more. I also have to add that I loved how well she captured the feel of winter. As I write this review, it's nearing the end of July; however, no matter how warm it is outside, the descriptions in this threw a chill at me, making me feel like I was right there with Marsh and Maddie on their journey to find a thin space.
Heartbreaking yet hopeful and beautifully written, Thin Space has added a new favorite author to my list. I sincerely hope Jody Casella doesn't stop writing such emotion filled books anytime soon.
Grade: A+
July 7, 2013
*A head's up to readers: if you pick up an ARC of this, do not read the jacket copy unless you want the big twist ruined for you. Because the referenced titles on the copy will tell you exactly what happens, if you're not interested in the story being spoiled for you.
Marsh's twin brother died in a car accident a few months ago; Marsh was the driver. It was only a couple months later when Mrs. Hansel, Marsh's neighbor, died. She was the older woman that Marsh and brother Austin used to do community service for, and she was the one who introduced the boys to the concept of the thin space -- the portal where souls enter and leave the body, where it's possible to traverse time and space and be reunited with those who've passed on. Now that both Austin and Mrs. Hansel are gone, Marsh has become the crazy kid, looking for this thin space.
He's convinced it's in Mrs. Hansel's old home, since she was born there and died there.
The grief consumes Marsh, and he's finding himself acting out of character. He's being aggressive, getting involved in altercations, wandering around barefoot, careless. When Mrs. Hansel's home is sold to a new family, he finds himself making quick friends with Maddie, one of the new kids who moved in. He's not so much taken with her in a romantic sense; he knows that getting to know Maddie means he can get into the house and seek out this thin space.
Of course, he begins to fall for her. It's slow but earned. However, it's not without complications -- Logan, Marsh's girlfriend, isn't ready for them to break up. And it's not entirely clear whether or not Marsh is ready for that relationship to end either. Because that relationship reminds him of Austin and Austin's relationship with Katie. The four of them would double date.
The four of them had been on a double date the night Austin died.
Little by little, Marsh opens up to Maddie, though, and he learns that she, too, is dealing with loss in her life. That she, too, would love to find a thin space to reconnect with her departed father. And the night that Mrs. Golden, school counselor, wanders into Maddie's house on the promise of delivering treats, Maddie discovers that the counselor is also looking for the thin space. And she has found it.
The writing here is good, and the pacing is spot-on. The story kept me hooked and eager to see how much Marsh would reveal and how much he'd hold back. I wanted to know what would happen, what could change, the moment he got to see Austin through the thin space. The story was wholly satisfying and solid, and it'll appeal big time to readers who loved the parallel worlds of Emily Hainsworth's Through to You, as well as those who love the whats-real-what's-supernatural elements of Nova Ren Suma's books (it is not as lush in the writing, but it is similarly structured in plot). This is indeed a book that tiptoes the line and begs the reader to wonder whether or not there is a thin space or whether or not that thin space
I see this being really popular with readers who love ghost stories, who love stories about grief and mourning, and who like there to be just a tiny touch of romance. This isn't about finding and falling in love with someone else. It's about finding and appreciating the love that's already around you and coming to terms with what it is YOU have to do to maintain and sustain it. For Marsh, it meant games of truth and games of deceit. For Marsh, it's about dealing with grief in its many ugly, confusing, frustrating forms.
Longer review to come. I see this book getting some Morris talk. It's satisfying, well-written, and compelling, with loads of reader appeal.
Marsh's twin brother died in a car accident a few months ago; Marsh was the driver. It was only a couple months later when Mrs. Hansel, Marsh's neighbor, died. She was the older woman that Marsh and brother Austin used to do community service for, and she was the one who introduced the boys to the concept of the thin space -- the portal where souls enter and leave the body, where it's possible to traverse time and space and be reunited with those who've passed on. Now that both Austin and Mrs. Hansel are gone, Marsh has become the crazy kid, looking for this thin space.
He's convinced it's in Mrs. Hansel's old home, since she was born there and died there.
The grief consumes Marsh, and he's finding himself acting out of character. He's being aggressive, getting involved in altercations, wandering around barefoot, careless. When Mrs. Hansel's home is sold to a new family, he finds himself making quick friends with Maddie, one of the new kids who moved in. He's not so much taken with her in a romantic sense; he knows that getting to know Maddie means he can get into the house and seek out this thin space.
Of course, he begins to fall for her. It's slow but earned. However, it's not without complications -- Logan, Marsh's girlfriend, isn't ready for them to break up. And it's not entirely clear whether or not Marsh is ready for that relationship to end either. Because that relationship reminds him of Austin and Austin's relationship with Katie. The four of them would double date.
The four of them had been on a double date the night Austin died.
Little by little, Marsh opens up to Maddie, though, and he learns that she, too, is dealing with loss in her life. That she, too, would love to find a thin space to reconnect with her departed father. And the night that Mrs. Golden, school counselor, wanders into Maddie's house on the promise of delivering treats, Maddie discovers that the counselor is also looking for the thin space. And she has found it.
The writing here is good, and the pacing is spot-on. The story kept me hooked and eager to see how much Marsh would reveal and how much he'd hold back. I wanted to know what would happen, what could change, the moment he got to see Austin through the thin space. The story was wholly satisfying and solid, and it'll appeal big time to readers who loved the parallel worlds of Emily Hainsworth's Through to You, as well as those who love the whats-real-what's-supernatural elements of Nova Ren Suma's books (it is not as lush in the writing, but it is similarly structured in plot). This is indeed a book that tiptoes the line and begs the reader to wonder whether or not there is a thin space or whether or not that thin space
I see this being really popular with readers who love ghost stories, who love stories about grief and mourning, and who like there to be just a tiny touch of romance. This isn't about finding and falling in love with someone else. It's about finding and appreciating the love that's already around you and coming to terms with what it is YOU have to do to maintain and sustain it. For Marsh, it meant games of truth and games of deceit. For Marsh, it's about dealing with grief in its many ugly, confusing, frustrating forms.
Longer review to come. I see this book getting some Morris talk. It's satisfying, well-written, and compelling, with loads of reader appeal.
November 12, 2015
Honestly, this book has been on my self for at least a year. I decided to pick it up to fill the time, until my one book arrived in the mail.
I've tried to get into this book multiple times, but just kept on putting it off. It was an impulse buy from Amazon. The price tag was good and the premise seemed interesting at the time.
There's one thing about this book that doesn't make sense, logically. That really bothered me, because it seemed like such a simple thing to do. The main character, Marsh, never wore shoes or socks. The reasoning behind this was because he wanted to be able to pass through thin space. It just seems so much more reasonable to put on some socks and shoes and then take them off when a thin space is near. I mean, his feet were obviously in distress from not wearing any socks or shoes. I don't know, it just seems illogical.
I really didn't enjoy this book at all. This book is so dull. The characters are mundane and uninteresting to read about. I didn't really like any of them for that reason alone. I tried to sympathize with Marsh, because he lost his brother, but I found him to be incredibly odd and lifeless.
The beginning kind of dragged a bit. The ending was okay. Just not my cup of tea.
I've tried to get into this book multiple times, but just kept on putting it off. It was an impulse buy from Amazon. The price tag was good and the premise seemed interesting at the time.
There's one thing about this book that doesn't make sense, logically. That really bothered me, because it seemed like such a simple thing to do. The main character, Marsh, never wore shoes or socks. The reasoning behind this was because he wanted to be able to pass through thin space. It just seems so much more reasonable to put on some socks and shoes and then take them off when a thin space is near. I mean, his feet were obviously in distress from not wearing any socks or shoes. I don't know, it just seems illogical.
I really didn't enjoy this book at all. This book is so dull. The characters are mundane and uninteresting to read about. I didn't really like any of them for that reason alone. I tried to sympathize with Marsh, because he lost his brother, but I found him to be incredibly odd and lifeless.
The beginning kind of dragged a bit. The ending was okay. Just not my cup of tea.
July 31, 2018
I wanted to rate this book higher, I really did. But the truth is, I can’t. I was bored out of my mind until the last 50 or so pages. I was planning on putting it down so many times but I kept reading it only because it was part of a read-a-thon.
I couldn’t find myself relating to any of the characters at all, and even though I felt bad for them, I just didn’t care about their lives. The MC was a dick the majority of the time, which I could sort of understand because he’s dealing with grief, but it was just too much for me.
The ending and the plot twist were both really good. I did not see it coming at all, but I just couldn’t enjoy the rest of the book, which is why I gave it such a low rating. So unfortunate cause it could have had so much potential.
I couldn’t find myself relating to any of the characters at all, and even though I felt bad for them, I just didn’t care about their lives. The MC was a dick the majority of the time, which I could sort of understand because he’s dealing with grief, but it was just too much for me.
The ending and the plot twist were both really good. I did not see it coming at all, but I just couldn’t enjoy the rest of the book, which is why I gave it such a low rating. So unfortunate cause it could have had so much potential.
August 18, 2013
This review first posted on Book.Blog.Bake.
I started reading this book on March 22, 2013. I finished on May 6th. For the month and a half I was “reading” this novel, I was thoroughly uncaptivated by the story Casella was telling, which is a shame, because it’s actually fairly well-written, and it’s gotten really glowing reviews. It’s become one of those instances were I wonder if I read the same book as everyone else, because I found Thin Space poorly paced and the middle section of the novel dragged for me enough that I considered not finishing it. Ultimately, I’m glad I did, but I had quite a few issues with Thin Space.
If this novel was being rated on the last 10% of the story alone, it would be a solid five stars. The ending has everything I ever want in a incredible novel– a great twist(even if I saw it coming), emotions so intensely catatheric without being sentimental, and a feeling of firm resolution without everything being wrapped up in a neat bow. I love books about siblings probably more than any other relationship, and the ending delivered on that.
However, there was quite a bit of words I struggled through before I reached that 90% mark. Mainly, I was just bored. The mystery in this book didn’t seem much like a mystery to me, as much as I love the idea of a teenage boy who has lost his brother trying to find a thin space. For the most part, Marsh’s character fell flat for me, and the twist that comes at the end is fairly easy to spot if you’ve been paying attention. The plot in the middle of the book consists mainly of Marsh and Maddie, the girl mentioned in the summary, walking around without shoes trying to find a thin space. There’s a lot 0f walking in this book, and not much of a destination.
Basically, this is plot summary of the book for me:
Introduction to car crash and dead twin. Marsh walks around barefoot a lot, searching for a not-very-well-described “thin space”. Marsh walks some more. He meets a girl, Maddie, who’s also dealing with things. Marsh walks around some alone. Marsh walks around some with Maddie. Marsh tries to walk around barefoot in Maddie’s house to find a thin space he “knows” is in the house. Marsh walks around some more. Plot twist, emotional impact, the end.
The dynamic between Marsh and Maddie is kinda strange. Sometimes I really liked their friendship and thought it was headed for something more, sometimes I thought there WAS something more that they were both denying, and sometimes I thought it was just a strange pairing. I normally like the whole “pair-the-misfits-together-and-show-them-they’re-not-alone” theme, but I’m not a hundred percent sure it worked for me in Thin Space.
As mentioned before, I really like sibling relationships, and that was probably the biggest aspect of Thin Space that I truly enjoyed. Obviously, one of the siblings isn’t actually present due to the car crash, but the entire story line does revolve around the twins, and Maddie and her brother Sam serve as a second story line. This wasn’t the book for me, but it wasn’t bad by any means, and I would recommend it to people who like books about siblings, about misfits, or perhaps even about journeys. This isn’t really that emotional book considering the subject, so if you read hoping for that(as I was) you’ll probably be disappointed.
Final Impression: Even though I can see the appeal of Thin Space for many readers, it did not have that same appeal for me. It had a good start and an absolutely superb ending, but unfortunately I found the majority of the book lacking in pacing, emotions, or mystery. It had a great basis with the sibling relationship as a focused, but felt lackluster to me.
Disclaimer: I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I started reading this book on March 22, 2013. I finished on May 6th. For the month and a half I was “reading” this novel, I was thoroughly uncaptivated by the story Casella was telling, which is a shame, because it’s actually fairly well-written, and it’s gotten really glowing reviews. It’s become one of those instances were I wonder if I read the same book as everyone else, because I found Thin Space poorly paced and the middle section of the novel dragged for me enough that I considered not finishing it. Ultimately, I’m glad I did, but I had quite a few issues with Thin Space.
If this novel was being rated on the last 10% of the story alone, it would be a solid five stars. The ending has everything I ever want in a incredible novel– a great twist(even if I saw it coming), emotions so intensely catatheric without being sentimental, and a feeling of firm resolution without everything being wrapped up in a neat bow. I love books about siblings probably more than any other relationship, and the ending delivered on that.
However, there was quite a bit of words I struggled through before I reached that 90% mark. Mainly, I was just bored. The mystery in this book didn’t seem much like a mystery to me, as much as I love the idea of a teenage boy who has lost his brother trying to find a thin space. For the most part, Marsh’s character fell flat for me, and the twist that comes at the end is fairly easy to spot if you’ve been paying attention. The plot in the middle of the book consists mainly of Marsh and Maddie, the girl mentioned in the summary, walking around without shoes trying to find a thin space. There’s a lot 0f walking in this book, and not much of a destination.
Basically, this is plot summary of the book for me:
Introduction to car crash and dead twin. Marsh walks around barefoot a lot, searching for a not-very-well-described “thin space”. Marsh walks some more. He meets a girl, Maddie, who’s also dealing with things. Marsh walks around some alone. Marsh walks around some with Maddie. Marsh tries to walk around barefoot in Maddie’s house to find a thin space he “knows” is in the house. Marsh walks around some more. Plot twist, emotional impact, the end.
The dynamic between Marsh and Maddie is kinda strange. Sometimes I really liked their friendship and thought it was headed for something more, sometimes I thought there WAS something more that they were both denying, and sometimes I thought it was just a strange pairing. I normally like the whole “pair-the-misfits-together-and-show-them-they’re-not-alone” theme, but I’m not a hundred percent sure it worked for me in Thin Space.
As mentioned before, I really like sibling relationships, and that was probably the biggest aspect of Thin Space that I truly enjoyed. Obviously, one of the siblings isn’t actually present due to the car crash, but the entire story line does revolve around the twins, and Maddie and her brother Sam serve as a second story line. This wasn’t the book for me, but it wasn’t bad by any means, and I would recommend it to people who like books about siblings, about misfits, or perhaps even about journeys. This isn’t really that emotional book considering the subject, so if you read hoping for that(as I was) you’ll probably be disappointed.
Final Impression: Even though I can see the appeal of Thin Space for many readers, it did not have that same appeal for me. It had a good start and an absolutely superb ending, but unfortunately I found the majority of the book lacking in pacing, emotions, or mystery. It had a great basis with the sibling relationship as a focused, but felt lackluster to me.
Disclaimer: I was provided an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2013
This is powerful! This is haunting! This is why I love to read! Thin Space by Jody Casella is like being trapped in a dream, and until someone finds the way to pull you out, it goes on and on. Honestly, I have read this twice, it was that good, that intriguing and I picked up even more to like about it the second time around!
Grief, guilt and loss can blur our existence, warp our perspectives and cause us to block out the truth, while searching for unknowable answers, believing in a Thin Space between the living and the dead, something an elderly neighbor swore existed. Marshall, grieving over his guilt in the loss of his twin, undergoes a huge mental change that manifests itself in unusual and odd behavior. He needs to “talk” with his brother, make things right, but no one believes in the Thin Space, until Maddie comes along. Does it exist? Can Marshall lay his ghosts to rest? What about Maddie?
Jody Casella has packed a lot of story, strong characters and enough tear-jerking intensity into her writing, that you are almost sad to get to the last page, as I said, I’ve read this twice and can, without a doubt, see read number three on the horizon! Ms. Casella has created a fresh and deeply moving story that will stick with you long after the last page with its great pacing, well-developed characters and a touch of the supernatural!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley & Beyond Words Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing
ISBN: 158270435X
Genre: YA Fiction
Age Recommendation: 12 & up to Adults
My Rating: 5 Stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Grief, guilt and loss can blur our existence, warp our perspectives and cause us to block out the truth, while searching for unknowable answers, believing in a Thin Space between the living and the dead, something an elderly neighbor swore existed. Marshall, grieving over his guilt in the loss of his twin, undergoes a huge mental change that manifests itself in unusual and odd behavior. He needs to “talk” with his brother, make things right, but no one believes in the Thin Space, until Maddie comes along. Does it exist? Can Marshall lay his ghosts to rest? What about Maddie?
Jody Casella has packed a lot of story, strong characters and enough tear-jerking intensity into her writing, that you are almost sad to get to the last page, as I said, I’ve read this twice and can, without a doubt, see read number three on the horizon! Ms. Casella has created a fresh and deeply moving story that will stick with you long after the last page with its great pacing, well-developed characters and a touch of the supernatural!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley & Beyond Words Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Beyond Words Publishing
ISBN: 158270435X
Genre: YA Fiction
Age Recommendation: 12 & up to Adults
My Rating: 5 Stars
Available from: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
July 24, 2013
3.5 stars
I was expecting a book about the paranormal, but that's most definitely not what I got. This is not a book about ghosts and spirits; it's a book about grief, memories, and letting go.
Twin brothers, both high school football players and academic superstars, are in a car accident. One survives; the other doesn't. The brother who lives is haunted by the accident, by what he did and didn't do. He becomes obsessed with finding his dead brother by using a "thin space," an entryway or gate to a kind of in-between place where the living can cross to the other side and visit with the dead who are lingering there.
He believes that a thin space, which according to Celtic beliefs is formed only if a soul enters and leaves the body in the same physical space, can be found in the house of an elderly woman who recently passed away, a woman for whom he and his brother did odd jobs. This same house is now home to 15-year-old Maddie, the new girl in town, who moves in with her mom and older brother. A friendship develops between the boy and Maddie, and together they try to find a working thin space.
What worked in this book was the portrayal of a boy coping with the loss of his twin, his other half. His pain, anger, and withdrawal felt raw and real, and his relationship with Maddie was tender and believable.
What didn't work, and what detracted from the book, was the various scenes of high school angst: the angry ex-girlfriend wanting to get back together, the jock who insists on picking fights, etc. There was lot of this, too much. We also have the well-meaning school counselor who keeps showing up at Maddie's house for reasons of her own, and a backstory that's supposed to explain why Maddie's brother is so protective of her (but which felt undeveloped and flat).
The book is slowed-paced, and very little happens until 90 percent in. Yes, 90 percent - it takes a while to get there, and by the time you do, you feel like if you read one more fight scene, you'll scream. But don't give up! There are reveals at the end, which I started anticipating fairly early on, but which are powerful nonetheless.
And the last line of the book - well, it was brilliant; such power in one little word. I won't give it away; read it and find out!
I was expecting a book about the paranormal, but that's most definitely not what I got. This is not a book about ghosts and spirits; it's a book about grief, memories, and letting go.
Twin brothers, both high school football players and academic superstars, are in a car accident. One survives; the other doesn't. The brother who lives is haunted by the accident, by what he did and didn't do. He becomes obsessed with finding his dead brother by using a "thin space," an entryway or gate to a kind of in-between place where the living can cross to the other side and visit with the dead who are lingering there.
He believes that a thin space, which according to Celtic beliefs is formed only if a soul enters and leaves the body in the same physical space, can be found in the house of an elderly woman who recently passed away, a woman for whom he and his brother did odd jobs. This same house is now home to 15-year-old Maddie, the new girl in town, who moves in with her mom and older brother. A friendship develops between the boy and Maddie, and together they try to find a working thin space.
What worked in this book was the portrayal of a boy coping with the loss of his twin, his other half. His pain, anger, and withdrawal felt raw and real, and his relationship with Maddie was tender and believable.
What didn't work, and what detracted from the book, was the various scenes of high school angst: the angry ex-girlfriend wanting to get back together, the jock who insists on picking fights, etc. There was lot of this, too much. We also have the well-meaning school counselor who keeps showing up at Maddie's house for reasons of her own, and a backstory that's supposed to explain why Maddie's brother is so protective of her (but which felt undeveloped and flat).
The book is slowed-paced, and very little happens until 90 percent in. Yes, 90 percent - it takes a while to get there, and by the time you do, you feel like if you read one more fight scene, you'll scream. But don't give up! There are reveals at the end, which I started anticipating fairly early on, but which are powerful nonetheless.
And the last line of the book - well, it was brilliant; such power in one little word. I won't give it away; read it and find out!
December 31, 2013
I very much liked the liminal nature of this book, with the reader kept uncertain as to whether the thin space really *does* exist, or whether the characters who believe it does are just looking for a way to cope with grief. The big, shocking twist didn't surprise me at all, but that wasn't a problem. The only thing I thought was a bit lacking was that there was a rather easy resolution to some of the problems at the end. However, the after-that-part ending left the protagonist with one of the least easy resolutions I've read in a long time, so full marks for that.
March 21, 2015
2.5 Stars
This was not a bad book, really. I enjoyed the second half very much. It was kind of a thriller and kept me on my toes. But, given the fact that the first half was extremely slow paced and I considered DNFing this book several times, I can't give it 3 stars. Also, the twist was predictable and I saw it coming even before I had reached half of the book, which is also a reason for the low rating.
Overall, it was a nice read but the the slow start and the constant urge to add it to my DNF pile made me give it a low rating.
This was not a bad book, really. I enjoyed the second half very much. It was kind of a thriller and kept me on my toes. But, given the fact that the first half was extremely slow paced and I considered DNFing this book several times, I can't give it 3 stars. Also, the twist was predictable and I saw it coming even before I had reached half of the book, which is also a reason for the low rating.
Overall, it was a nice read but the the slow start and the constant urge to add it to my DNF pile made me give it a low rating.
March 31, 2018
This turned out to be a compelling read, although I had my doubts at first. Having been a middle-and-high-school librarian, I was afraid that this was going to turn really dark like so many YA books about death can do. However, this didn't happen, and I think that the book will have real appeal to many teens (and possibly adults who work with and/or care about teens, like me).
Marshall has mostly recovered -- physically, at least -- from the car accident that killed his twin brother Austin, but he is psychologically traumatized. So much so, in fact, that he is completely and utterly focused on finding what his elderly, dying neighbor called a "thin space." This is a space through which one can enter the next world and so commune with the departed. Marshall is desperate to see Austin again -- and to change places with him.
Changing places is something identical twins often do for fun, but Austin and Marshall rarely did this. So why is Marshall so intent now on changing places with Austin? Is it guilt over the accident? Yes, he was driving, but it was a drunk driver who hit their car; he wasn't at fault at all. Is it that he can't bear the grief of his parents any more? Does he feel responsible for that? Is he simply depressed and looking for escape? It's not until near the very end of the book that the reader finds out -- although there were a few clues along the way.
Coinciding with Marshall's search for the thin space is his growing friendship with Maddie, the new girl in school who just happens to have moved into the house vacated by the elderly neighbor -- now dead -- who told Marshall and Austin about thin spaces in the first place. Strangely enough, she becomes his thin space partner, helping him figure out where a thin space may be and even going so far as looking for thin spaces, herself. She has her own reasons for doing this. In some ways, Marshall and Maddie are using each other for their own individual purposes, but the friendship they form while doing so eventually supercedes the selfish motives they at first hide from each other. Along the way, they deal with the usual "stuff" of teen life: bullying, girlfriends, family issues, loneliness.
The biggest drawback I found to this book, reading it for myself, is that the story is sometimes a bit confusing, especially when it comes to Logan and Kate, Marshall and Austin's former girlfriends. Which girl went with which twin? Herein lie the clues to the mystery of why Marshall is so determined to change places with Austin -- but the confusion for the reader doesn't clear until the book's end, and I think that this way of obscuring Marshall's reasons didn't quite work. Perhaps teen readers will feel differently, but it seemed a little clumsy to me.
I am certain that teens will find this a good read. My only caution would be that the theme of changing places with a dead person -- impossible as we know that is -- is in some ways tantamount to suicide, and those adults who work with teens (parents, librarians, teachers, etc.) might want to keep that in mind if they suspect a certain reader to be vulnerable to a suicide attempt.
Overall, a really interesting story, well-told.
Marshall has mostly recovered -- physically, at least -- from the car accident that killed his twin brother Austin, but he is psychologically traumatized. So much so, in fact, that he is completely and utterly focused on finding what his elderly, dying neighbor called a "thin space." This is a space through which one can enter the next world and so commune with the departed. Marshall is desperate to see Austin again -- and to change places with him.
Changing places is something identical twins often do for fun, but Austin and Marshall rarely did this. So why is Marshall so intent now on changing places with Austin? Is it guilt over the accident? Yes, he was driving, but it was a drunk driver who hit their car; he wasn't at fault at all. Is it that he can't bear the grief of his parents any more? Does he feel responsible for that? Is he simply depressed and looking for escape? It's not until near the very end of the book that the reader finds out -- although there were a few clues along the way.
Coinciding with Marshall's search for the thin space is his growing friendship with Maddie, the new girl in school who just happens to have moved into the house vacated by the elderly neighbor -- now dead -- who told Marshall and Austin about thin spaces in the first place. Strangely enough, she becomes his thin space partner, helping him figure out where a thin space may be and even going so far as looking for thin spaces, herself. She has her own reasons for doing this. In some ways, Marshall and Maddie are using each other for their own individual purposes, but the friendship they form while doing so eventually supercedes the selfish motives they at first hide from each other. Along the way, they deal with the usual "stuff" of teen life: bullying, girlfriends, family issues, loneliness.
The biggest drawback I found to this book, reading it for myself, is that the story is sometimes a bit confusing, especially when it comes to Logan and Kate, Marshall and Austin's former girlfriends. Which girl went with which twin? Herein lie the clues to the mystery of why Marshall is so determined to change places with Austin -- but the confusion for the reader doesn't clear until the book's end, and I think that this way of obscuring Marshall's reasons didn't quite work. Perhaps teen readers will feel differently, but it seemed a little clumsy to me.
I am certain that teens will find this a good read. My only caution would be that the theme of changing places with a dead person -- impossible as we know that is -- is in some ways tantamount to suicide, and those adults who work with teens (parents, librarians, teachers, etc.) might want to keep that in mind if they suspect a certain reader to be vulnerable to a suicide attempt.
Overall, a really interesting story, well-told.
April 24, 2017
There is a plethora of good, structured books, and this is one of them. The book is called Thin Space and it is science fiction. Thin Space is written by Jody Casella. It is This book has a fairly interesting plot and something new always happens. There is twists and unexpected plot points in it that make you want to read on. I feel like the novel was executed in a very well way that was easy to understand. That is why I liked it so much.
This book was good, but with everything that’s good, there is something that isn’t so good. With that being said, I wasn’t really interested into the first half of the book. It seemed kind of repetitive and tedious. We were just listening to what Marsh was thinking. He clearly wasn’t at his… best. Nobody talked to him, and he didn’t talk to anybody. By the second half of the book, we knew a lot about Marsh, but not too much about the other characters. By the time Maddie started to talk to him, she got him to reveal some deeper stuff about his character and we slowly got to see Maddie’s story unfold and thicken. It was good to see that she joined Marsh in the search for the thin space. By now, I started liking the book. It was beginning to seem like more was going on, there were some deep conversations between the characters, and there is a HUGE twist at the end. I didn’t see it coming at all. The plot twist made me think about it for a while. This book was very interesting, and that is good.
In conclusion, this book was a fun read and I really enjoyed it once it got near the halfway mark. If you want an interesting book to enjoy, then pick up Thin Space. I promise it will not disappoint. There are plenty of interesting things inside of the book. It Will also leave you asking “What did I just read?” because what happens will want to make you go back and reread it a few times.
This book was good, but with everything that’s good, there is something that isn’t so good. With that being said, I wasn’t really interested into the first half of the book. It seemed kind of repetitive and tedious. We were just listening to what Marsh was thinking. He clearly wasn’t at his… best. Nobody talked to him, and he didn’t talk to anybody. By the second half of the book, we knew a lot about Marsh, but not too much about the other characters. By the time Maddie started to talk to him, she got him to reveal some deeper stuff about his character and we slowly got to see Maddie’s story unfold and thicken. It was good to see that she joined Marsh in the search for the thin space. By now, I started liking the book. It was beginning to seem like more was going on, there were some deep conversations between the characters, and there is a HUGE twist at the end. I didn’t see it coming at all. The plot twist made me think about it for a while. This book was very interesting, and that is good.
In conclusion, this book was a fun read and I really enjoyed it once it got near the halfway mark. If you want an interesting book to enjoy, then pick up Thin Space. I promise it will not disappoint. There are plenty of interesting things inside of the book. It Will also leave you asking “What did I just read?” because what happens will want to make you go back and reread it a few times.
July 20, 2015
This review, is in fact, extremely spoilery.
I cannot even being to express my emotions for this book in words. I loved it so so much. The main character revealed so little to us, and it made so much sense why he wouldn't want to think about or talk about certain things that the reader may have wanted to know. Do we want to know about the night his brother died? Absolutely. Does he want to relive it just for the sake of satisfying our curiosity? Nope. I found myself analyzing everything that he said, to try to put the pieces together. This was a kind of book where every once in a while it had to put it down just to process everything, or to try to fit things together to guess at the things we didn't yet know. Unfortunately, my over analyzing did lead me to discover the plot twist before it was revealed. And oh my gosh, what a brilliant plot twist it was. How whenever Austin spoke of his brother, he referred to him as "my brother" or "my twin" or just "him" which to the reader, makes enough sense. He's grieving. He doesn't want to say his brothers name. But this managed to conceal the fact that his dead brother's true identity. Genius!! Jody Casella is actually a genius, and I canny stress this enough. I feel like even if my mind wasn't blown when the plot twist was revealed, the foreshadowing alone is enough to blow my mind. Everything fits together so PERFECTLY. I just can't seem to get over this. Overall, this book was thrilling, exciting, and a really fun read. I'll most definitely be recommending it in the future.
I cannot even being to express my emotions for this book in words. I loved it so so much. The main character revealed so little to us, and it made so much sense why he wouldn't want to think about or talk about certain things that the reader may have wanted to know. Do we want to know about the night his brother died? Absolutely. Does he want to relive it just for the sake of satisfying our curiosity? Nope. I found myself analyzing everything that he said, to try to put the pieces together. This was a kind of book where every once in a while it had to put it down just to process everything, or to try to fit things together to guess at the things we didn't yet know. Unfortunately, my over analyzing did lead me to discover the plot twist before it was revealed. And oh my gosh, what a brilliant plot twist it was. How whenever Austin spoke of his brother, he referred to him as "my brother" or "my twin" or just "him" which to the reader, makes enough sense. He's grieving. He doesn't want to say his brothers name. But this managed to conceal the fact that his dead brother's true identity. Genius!! Jody Casella is actually a genius, and I canny stress this enough. I feel like even if my mind wasn't blown when the plot twist was revealed, the foreshadowing alone is enough to blow my mind. Everything fits together so PERFECTLY. I just can't seem to get over this. Overall, this book was thrilling, exciting, and a really fun read. I'll most definitely be recommending it in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 2, 2013I went into Thin Space expecting a paranormal grief book and got something more like a cool paranormal suspense story. Marsh, still mourning the death of his twin in a car accident, wanders his New Hampshire town in bare feet, trying to locate a "thin space" where he can cross over into the world of the dead. He becomes convinced that one of these thin spaces is in the house of Maddie, the new girl at school, and he befriends her as a way to get access to it.
I loved the isolated New Hampshire setting and the whole eerie mythology behind the thin spaces. As I read, I began to wonder if a certain plot development would come to pass -- there are plenty of hints and, while it would have probably have been more fun if I'd been caught completely by surprise, it was still pretty fun to find out that I was right.
Because so much of the story is spent setting up a big reveal, Thin Space doesn't pack the kind of emotional punch of other realistic YA books that deal with the aftermath of a sibling's death, books like The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie, or Saving June by Hannah Harrington. But Thin Space has the spooky, fun vibe of a creepy story you'd tell at a sleepover.
I loved the isolated New Hampshire setting and the whole eerie mythology behind the thin spaces. As I read, I began to wonder if a certain plot development would come to pass -- there are plenty of hints and, while it would have probably have been more fun if I'd been caught completely by surprise, it was still pretty fun to find out that I was right.
Because so much of the story is spent setting up a big reveal, Thin Space doesn't pack the kind of emotional punch of other realistic YA books that deal with the aftermath of a sibling's death, books like The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie, or Saving June by Hannah Harrington. But Thin Space has the spooky, fun vibe of a creepy story you'd tell at a sleepover.
October 24, 2014
Enjoyed this a lot!
I didn't even think this was categorized as "teen/young adult" at first, despite the characters being high school aged, because of the lack of wangst and romantic idiocy.
It was that thing I'm always looking for: a book about characters. Not a romance. Not a mystery. Not genre-ified to death. That's what makes it relatable.
Also, I thought the author, who is female, did well writing convincingly from the point of view of a male protagonist. Of course, I'm not a guy, so not really the authority on that, but she didn't make the really obvious mistakes that you often encounter when a lady tries to write a guy's point of view. There wasn't a bunch of bullshit about the girl-character's hair cascading down her back in tumbling curls or what she was wearing or any of that crap.
I didn't even think this was categorized as "teen/young adult" at first, despite the characters being high school aged, because of the lack of wangst and romantic idiocy.
It was that thing I'm always looking for: a book about characters. Not a romance. Not a mystery. Not genre-ified to death. That's what makes it relatable.
Also, I thought the author, who is female, did well writing convincingly from the point of view of a male protagonist. Of course, I'm not a guy, so not really the authority on that, but she didn't make the really obvious mistakes that you often encounter when a lady tries to write a guy's point of view. There wasn't a bunch of bullshit about the girl-character's hair cascading down her back in tumbling curls or what she was wearing or any of that crap.
September 5, 2016
This is an interesting and unique read. I knew that there was a twist at the end, so I was determined to figure it out. This probably ruined the experience for me though because I was thinking the author would have done something much more creative with some of the details in the plot. The foreshadowing was so obvious (even on my first read!) that the ending fell a little flat for me. I had a few more exciting resolutions planned in my head, so I was a little disappointed. Nevertheless, I will still recommend it to others. I will just leave out the part about the twist so that maybe the ending will be more shocking.
May 10, 2014
This is labelled as a young adult book because the characters are school aged. However, I feel the content applies to anyone. It deals with the real emotions experienced when someone close to you dies, an a unique way that a young man attempts to deal with and cope with the new reality of only being half of a pair of twins. An excellent first novel by an up and coming new author.
April 24, 2015
I loved this book...biggest surprise of 2013 for me. Full review soon.
August 1, 2019
This just changed my life. One word. Amazing.
February 22, 2020
Wow! Great book! Saw the twist coming but still so, so good!!
March 20, 2017
So I finished reading Thin Space by Jody Casella earlier this month. The book is about two twins who got in a car crash and the one that survives is constantly looking for a thin space so he can see his brother again. At first I thought the book was dumb but it turned out to be a book I enjoyed.
One of the main reasons I liked this book was for the romance in it and for the huge plot twist at the end. Like it was foreshadowed throughout the whole book but you never really get it until you finish the book. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that you never find out what happens when Marsh tells everyone his secret.
So yeah the book was really good, and it got me so hooked on it that i almost cried at the end. I would definitely recommend it to someone if there looking for a great book.
One of the main reasons I liked this book was for the romance in it and for the huge plot twist at the end. Like it was foreshadowed throughout the whole book but you never really get it until you finish the book. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that you never find out what happens when Marsh tells everyone his secret.
So yeah the book was really good, and it got me so hooked on it that i almost cried at the end. I would definitely recommend it to someone if there looking for a great book.
September 5, 2013
See this review and more on my blog Lilybloombooks
When I first requested Thin Space, I was under the assumption this was a contemporary novel. So tickle me surprised when I discovered it wasn't. Which was interesting yet at the same time, a little disappointing.
After the death of his twin brother and cryptic ramblings from his dying neighbor, Marshall embarks on his own "quest" to find a Thin Space. Plagued with guilt and vying to make things right, he shuffles from place to place, barefoot, hoping to find one of these very rare veils to the after life. But then Maddie comes to town, moving into the one place he knows for certain a Thin Space is. Which in turn, complicates things.
For starts, the writing is outstanding. Initially, I thought it was choppy and distorted but in actuality, it's genius. Marshall is seriously scatter brained and messed up and Casella did a remarkable job writing a less than reliable main character. As he grew, the writing changed to match his voice. There was so much mystery about the night his brother died, it drove me crazy trying to piece it all together. There was a HUGE twist towards the end, in which I found myself going back over and over the book to find any clues or mistakes in the execution. There were none. Well done Casella!
I liked the idea of the Thin Space. The concept of creating one was very fascinating, albeit odd. It would pretty much make them impossible to find. Which in turn, is the point I suppose. Add in that you have to be bare foot to enter one, adds to the WTFery.
Marshall, like I mentioned before, is scatter brained and weird. I hate to say that, since he is suffering survivors guilt and just all around is messed up after the death of his brother. But he is. He literally shuffles all over town, school and at home, barefoot. He is closed off, spacey and carrying some serious guilt and harboring some huge and shocking secrets. He is also a little bitter, which was irritating at first BUT once that huge twist played in, I completely understood. I really liked how he slowly opened up to Maddie. Granted, his sole focus was the Thin Space, but once he confided in her and they grew close, he slowly started to trust her more and open up. As for Maddie, I didn't really understand her almost instant support of Marshall's claims, until a little awhile later we found out that she needed a Thin Space too. There really isn't much "romance" which I am thankful for. I was hoping this wouldn't be one of those books that has everything pushed aside for some one and one, ya know?
OK. Now to discuss what my issues were. For one, I was royally pissed about how Marshall's "friends" treated him. He lost his twin brother. I mean, there wasn't too much details about AFTER the accident, so you could assume he just pushed everyone away, but still. NO ONE really stuck up for him. And these people are supposed to be his best friends? There was also some drama with two girls. I could have went without all the drama. However, as much as I didn't like it and it does play a major part in later developments. Still. I hate High School Drama. And the last rift, which isn't really an issue.. it's what made this book a little disappointing..-- I am adding a spoiler box because this is, well a spoiler.
The ending. Oy, the ending. I think I was still in shock after the twist that I was expecting so much more to happen. And nothing did. Seriously, what kind of ENDING IS THAT? *sigh* Like a lot of this book, it was brilliant yet frustrating.
Overall- Thin Space was fantastic. I really liked it. It's gripping, original and with the added mystery and twist, moves this up on my favorites. Jody Casella is one to watch folks.
*A copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU*
When I first requested Thin Space, I was under the assumption this was a contemporary novel. So tickle me surprised when I discovered it wasn't. Which was interesting yet at the same time, a little disappointing.
After the death of his twin brother and cryptic ramblings from his dying neighbor, Marshall embarks on his own "quest" to find a Thin Space. Plagued with guilt and vying to make things right, he shuffles from place to place, barefoot, hoping to find one of these very rare veils to the after life. But then Maddie comes to town, moving into the one place he knows for certain a Thin Space is. Which in turn, complicates things.
For starts, the writing is outstanding. Initially, I thought it was choppy and distorted but in actuality, it's genius. Marshall is seriously scatter brained and messed up and Casella did a remarkable job writing a less than reliable main character. As he grew, the writing changed to match his voice. There was so much mystery about the night his brother died, it drove me crazy trying to piece it all together. There was a HUGE twist towards the end, in which I found myself going back over and over the book to find any clues or mistakes in the execution. There were none. Well done Casella!
I liked the idea of the Thin Space. The concept of creating one was very fascinating, albeit odd. It would pretty much make them impossible to find. Which in turn, is the point I suppose. Add in that you have to be bare foot to enter one, adds to the WTFery.
Marshall, like I mentioned before, is scatter brained and weird. I hate to say that, since he is suffering survivors guilt and just all around is messed up after the death of his brother. But he is. He literally shuffles all over town, school and at home, barefoot. He is closed off, spacey and carrying some serious guilt and harboring some huge and shocking secrets. He is also a little bitter, which was irritating at first BUT once that huge twist played in, I completely understood. I really liked how he slowly opened up to Maddie. Granted, his sole focus was the Thin Space, but once he confided in her and they grew close, he slowly started to trust her more and open up. As for Maddie, I didn't really understand her almost instant support of Marshall's claims, until a little awhile later we found out that she needed a Thin Space too. There really isn't much "romance" which I am thankful for. I was hoping this wouldn't be one of those books that has everything pushed aside for some one and one, ya know?
OK. Now to discuss what my issues were. For one, I was royally pissed about how Marshall's "friends" treated him. He lost his twin brother. I mean, there wasn't too much details about AFTER the accident, so you could assume he just pushed everyone away, but still. NO ONE really stuck up for him. And these people are supposed to be his best friends? There was also some drama with two girls. I could have went without all the drama. However, as much as I didn't like it and it does play a major part in later developments. Still. I hate High School Drama. And the last rift, which isn't really an issue.. it's what made this book a little disappointing..-- I am adding a spoiler box because this is, well a spoiler.
The ending. Oy, the ending. I think I was still in shock after the twist that I was expecting so much more to happen. And nothing did. Seriously, what kind of ENDING IS THAT? *sigh* Like a lot of this book, it was brilliant yet frustrating.
Overall- Thin Space was fantastic. I really liked it. It's gripping, original and with the added mystery and twist, moves this up on my favorites. Jody Casella is one to watch folks.
*A copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU*
March 21, 2017
Brooklynn Moore
I read Thin Space which is a science fiction novel written by Jody Casella. This book is about teenager named Marsh who had a twin brother die in a car accident. Marsh felt responsible for his brother’s death. Marsh and his brother their elderly neighbor named Mrs Hansel and she told them about thin spaces. A thin space is a doorway from the real world to the spiritual world. Marsh gets a new neighbor, Maddie, and Marsh thinks that there is a thin space inside Maddie’s house so he can talk to his brother. I liked this book
One thing I liked about the book was how much Marsh thinks that a thin space exists. He walked around barefoot in the cold trying to find a thin space to get to talk to his brother. He walks by Mrs. Hansel’s house and plans a break in to find a thin space. Another thing I like about this book was the plot twist. I won’t get into much detail about the plot twist, but it caught me off guard.
This book is good and i might read it again. I know my family and friends would enjoy this book too.
I read Thin Space which is a science fiction novel written by Jody Casella. This book is about teenager named Marsh who had a twin brother die in a car accident. Marsh felt responsible for his brother’s death. Marsh and his brother their elderly neighbor named Mrs Hansel and she told them about thin spaces. A thin space is a doorway from the real world to the spiritual world. Marsh gets a new neighbor, Maddie, and Marsh thinks that there is a thin space inside Maddie’s house so he can talk to his brother. I liked this book
One thing I liked about the book was how much Marsh thinks that a thin space exists. He walked around barefoot in the cold trying to find a thin space to get to talk to his brother. He walks by Mrs. Hansel’s house and plans a break in to find a thin space. Another thing I like about this book was the plot twist. I won’t get into much detail about the plot twist, but it caught me off guard.
This book is good and i might read it again. I know my family and friends would enjoy this book too.
October 2, 2013
Review first appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Thin Space by Jody Casella is an unconventional novel that explores grief, introduces the strong bond between family, promises a surprising mystery, shows us how the paranormal may affect the way we view life after death, and finally, gives us a twist ending that is slowly hinted at throughout the whole novel. Thin Space may appear to be a straightforward read, but there is a depth to it that will make the reader sympathize with the protagonist.
Marshall, the protagonist, at first comes off as the type of character that is unfeeling and obsessive. But as the novel progresses and he slowly comes to terms with his grief, we see a side of this character that connects us to him.
Okay, so he walks barefoot in order to find the so-called "thin space" that will reunite him with his twin brother, but we all have our own ways of dealing with a difficult death.
What makes this young adult novel unconventional is that it explores grief in a completely new way. We're used to moody teenagers, depressed loners, and even promiscuous teens who are so numb, that adding more to their current pain means nothing to them. Instead, Casella takes the idea of obsession and blends it together with depression to create a new way of dealing--or foregoing the idea of coming to terms with the past.
And fine, it's not completely original to have a teenager cope with a death by having them find a way to bring back said dead relative--or to reject the idea of coping with a death, period. What is original, however, is how Casella plays with the idea of the paranormal and makes it entirely her own. I've never heard of the thin space, but it would probably be safest to say that it's a personalized way of referring to purgatory. The idea that someone could stumble upon a place where the dead roam, waiting to see their loved ones again, is creepy to us, but the solution to those who can't let go.
The connections between the characters is a bit raw, since it feels so real. No one is perfect in Marshall's world, which makes the story that much more relatable. We are, of course, limited to Marshall's interactions with other characters, making us feel sorry for him. Like him, we see a society that has already moved on from the tragedy, even though Marshall has yet to fully cope with his brother's death.
But seeing his world through his eyes limits us exponentially, since we can't see, for example, how Marshall's girlfriend is handling the accident, or we only catch biased snippets of how his own parents are handling their grief. We, like Marshall, are locked in a world of grief that he is both unable and unwilling to access and control.
What's awesome though about this one, is how the story builds up to the conclusion. We are given hints here and there about the truth that haunts Marshall, and the effect is subtle. Some may be able to pick up on the clues right away, while others may remain unaware until the fantastic twist ending.
My greatest issue with this one is that the pacing could use a pick me up. While the storytelling is beautiful, thought-provoking, and enticing, the pacing drags a bit.
If you're a fan of contemporary novels featuring a male perspective, a view into the family dynamic, unconventional ways of dealing with grief, and an imperfect friendship between a boy and a girl, then you might enjoy this one.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Thin Space by Jody Casella is an unconventional novel that explores grief, introduces the strong bond between family, promises a surprising mystery, shows us how the paranormal may affect the way we view life after death, and finally, gives us a twist ending that is slowly hinted at throughout the whole novel. Thin Space may appear to be a straightforward read, but there is a depth to it that will make the reader sympathize with the protagonist.
Marshall, the protagonist, at first comes off as the type of character that is unfeeling and obsessive. But as the novel progresses and he slowly comes to terms with his grief, we see a side of this character that connects us to him.
Okay, so he walks barefoot in order to find the so-called "thin space" that will reunite him with his twin brother, but we all have our own ways of dealing with a difficult death.
What makes this young adult novel unconventional is that it explores grief in a completely new way. We're used to moody teenagers, depressed loners, and even promiscuous teens who are so numb, that adding more to their current pain means nothing to them. Instead, Casella takes the idea of obsession and blends it together with depression to create a new way of dealing--or foregoing the idea of coming to terms with the past.
And fine, it's not completely original to have a teenager cope with a death by having them find a way to bring back said dead relative--or to reject the idea of coping with a death, period. What is original, however, is how Casella plays with the idea of the paranormal and makes it entirely her own. I've never heard of the thin space, but it would probably be safest to say that it's a personalized way of referring to purgatory. The idea that someone could stumble upon a place where the dead roam, waiting to see their loved ones again, is creepy to us, but the solution to those who can't let go.
The connections between the characters is a bit raw, since it feels so real. No one is perfect in Marshall's world, which makes the story that much more relatable. We are, of course, limited to Marshall's interactions with other characters, making us feel sorry for him. Like him, we see a society that has already moved on from the tragedy, even though Marshall has yet to fully cope with his brother's death.
But seeing his world through his eyes limits us exponentially, since we can't see, for example, how Marshall's girlfriend is handling the accident, or we only catch biased snippets of how his own parents are handling their grief. We, like Marshall, are locked in a world of grief that he is both unable and unwilling to access and control.
What's awesome though about this one, is how the story builds up to the conclusion. We are given hints here and there about the truth that haunts Marshall, and the effect is subtle. Some may be able to pick up on the clues right away, while others may remain unaware until the fantastic twist ending.
My greatest issue with this one is that the pacing could use a pick me up. While the storytelling is beautiful, thought-provoking, and enticing, the pacing drags a bit.
If you're a fan of contemporary novels featuring a male perspective, a view into the family dynamic, unconventional ways of dealing with grief, and an imperfect friendship between a boy and a girl, then you might enjoy this one.
March 24, 2013
This review is of a arc galley from the publisher via NetGalley. Also posted on Blue Butterfly Books.
Losing an identical twin in a car accident at sixteen is something I know very well. To be honest, I'm surprised I let myself request it, let alone even read it. It hit so very close to home. But I read it. And, really, I more than read it. I devoured it in only a couple hours. Casella is a new voice that I will love to see more work from.
From the beginning, I loved her writing and style. She managed to give Marsh a strong voice that could have very easily tipped to the "annoying" side of the scale, but never did. There are many things while reading that I found either annoying or unrealistic, but the ending set everything straight. Most of those things I had wanted to note Casella clearly had thought out and put in for a reason. I do, however, think she put in a couple of characters that didn't need to be in the story: Lindsay and Heather. I felt they were distractions every time they popped up, like they were characters that never quite made it to the supporting level, but were supposed to be.
Speaking of characters, I very much liked and identified with Marsh. Even if we didn't have losing a twin in common, I think I would have sympathized with him anyway. I will admit, in the beginning, I really, really wanted to see that Casella did research into twinloss; I didn't really see the early stages of losing a twin from Marsh. Casella brought many of the feelings later, but I just feel as though Casella should have spent a bit more time with twinless twins.
As for Maddie and Sam and the others, I liked them. I felt for Maddie, which is a big deal considering the very tough level of Marsh's loss. I didn't, however, care for the characterization of the other students. I don't know if Casella talked with anyone who had been through a loss at a high school, but it just seemed too...as though no one had cared about Austin. I think we should have seen a bit more of their looks. Kate especially. The most realistic characterization, to me, was with Marsh's parents. It was almost as though Casella just reached into my brain and plucked out my memory of how my parents had reacted. It was very, very well done.
Now, I have mixed feelings on the plot and its twist. The plot for me was fantastic and original. Having Marsh walk around barefoot, for one, was so refreshing. The bit with all the jocks and fighting and girls got kind of annoying. Where I get conflicted is when the climax hit. It's not really a spoiler. But the thin space is real. Around the halfway point of the book, I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish the thin space would be fake. I feel as though the message and twist could have been so much more powerful if the thin space didn't exist/they never found it. Kept this a contemporary read. When they went into the thin space, it just seemed so rushed.
The twist. I still don't know how I feel about it. For the most part, it shocked me. I did love it. It wasn't expected at all. Then again, wasn't it? Once I read it and got over the shock, my first thoughts were (without getting into spoilers), Is it that original? I can't say too much without spoiling it, but when you read this, message me on Goodreads or something and we can discuss it.
Overall, I thought this was a great read. I have a feeling the finished product will be even better. I hope, anyway. And I highly recommend it to everyone. More of a 3.5.
Losing an identical twin in a car accident at sixteen is something I know very well. To be honest, I'm surprised I let myself request it, let alone even read it. It hit so very close to home. But I read it. And, really, I more than read it. I devoured it in only a couple hours. Casella is a new voice that I will love to see more work from.
From the beginning, I loved her writing and style. She managed to give Marsh a strong voice that could have very easily tipped to the "annoying" side of the scale, but never did. There are many things while reading that I found either annoying or unrealistic, but the ending set everything straight. Most of those things I had wanted to note Casella clearly had thought out and put in for a reason. I do, however, think she put in a couple of characters that didn't need to be in the story: Lindsay and Heather. I felt they were distractions every time they popped up, like they were characters that never quite made it to the supporting level, but were supposed to be.
Speaking of characters, I very much liked and identified with Marsh. Even if we didn't have losing a twin in common, I think I would have sympathized with him anyway. I will admit, in the beginning, I really, really wanted to see that Casella did research into twinloss; I didn't really see the early stages of losing a twin from Marsh. Casella brought many of the feelings later, but I just feel as though Casella should have spent a bit more time with twinless twins.
As for Maddie and Sam and the others, I liked them. I felt for Maddie, which is a big deal considering the very tough level of Marsh's loss. I didn't, however, care for the characterization of the other students. I don't know if Casella talked with anyone who had been through a loss at a high school, but it just seemed too...as though no one had cared about Austin. I think we should have seen a bit more of their looks. Kate especially. The most realistic characterization, to me, was with Marsh's parents. It was almost as though Casella just reached into my brain and plucked out my memory of how my parents had reacted. It was very, very well done.
Now, I have mixed feelings on the plot and its twist. The plot for me was fantastic and original. Having Marsh walk around barefoot, for one, was so refreshing. The bit with all the jocks and fighting and girls got kind of annoying. Where I get conflicted is when the climax hit. It's not really a spoiler. But the thin space is real. Around the halfway point of the book, I'd be lying if I said I didn't wish the thin space would be fake. I feel as though the message and twist could have been so much more powerful if the thin space didn't exist/they never found it. Kept this a contemporary read. When they went into the thin space, it just seemed so rushed.
The twist. I still don't know how I feel about it. For the most part, it shocked me. I did love it. It wasn't expected at all. Then again, wasn't it? Once I read it and got over the shock, my first thoughts were (without getting into spoilers), Is it that original? I can't say too much without spoiling it, but when you read this, message me on Goodreads or something and we can discuss it.
Overall, I thought this was a great read. I have a feeling the finished product will be even better. I hope, anyway. And I highly recommend it to everyone. More of a 3.5.
May 18, 2017
Jody Casella’s Thin Space is a novel about Marsh Windsor, a high school junior mourning his twin-brother’s death. During this moping, a girl moves into a house Marsh thinks holds a thin space, a place where the living can cross into the world of the dead. I did not enjoy the novel because it doesn't explain the concept of thin spaces well.
For example, it does not explain the fact that you can or can't bring someone back with you through a thin space. This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that Marsh’s plan is to go bring his brother back. This leaves us wondering if it will work, or if it is a waste of time.
I think that this book can be fixed by clarifying in a preface, what a thin space is and there parameters and rules. Also, it leaves you confused and lost by the end. Other than these issues, the author did a good job and it is definitely not the worst book that I have read.
For example, it does not explain the fact that you can or can't bring someone back with you through a thin space. This wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that Marsh’s plan is to go bring his brother back. This leaves us wondering if it will work, or if it is a waste of time.
I think that this book can be fixed by clarifying in a preface, what a thin space is and there parameters and rules. Also, it leaves you confused and lost by the end. Other than these issues, the author did a good job and it is definitely not the worst book that I have read.
September 11, 2013
Real Rating: 3.5 Stars
The summary for this book sounded super intriguing and sounded like it would be bursting with paranormal happenings and elements. Unfortunately, THIN SPACE didn't deliver this as much as I would have liked. There were some great aspects of the novel that I loved, but there were also some things that fell flat for me.
Marsh has lost his other half and is living through a fog the months after his brother was killed in a car accident that he was the driver of. He walks around barefoot and just goes through the motions, not truly knowing what is going on around. He is sad, depressed, and absolutely desperate to find this mythical thin space that his old neighbor told him about. He believes it's the only way to fix things and to see his brother again.
The whole first half of the novel was Marsh post falling apart. It's obvious that he's hit rock bottom. He doesn't talk to anyone, no one talks to him. This section of the book is basically just Marsh thinking to himself. You really don't get any interaction with others. While this is critical to showing Marsh's downfall, it did get a bit irritating. I liked Marsh's voice but I wanted to get to know other characters, hear a dialogue, something. I got kind of tired of just being inside his head.
When the girl next door, Maddie, moved in, the novel picked up quite significantly. She was a happy go lucky, shy girl who brought some new dynamics to the scene. She got Marsh to talk and open up. She had a history of her own that slowly was unveiled. She wasn't perfect but I really liked how she added to the novel and woke up Marsh, so to speak. She took everything weird that Marsh said or did with a grain of salt and joined him in his search for a thin space. Like I said, this is when the novel finally picked up. They are now on a search, looking in strange places they think the thin space would be. They had deep conversations and it was enjoyable to read.
There is a big twist near the end. BIG. It'll make you go back and reread things. You'll be honestly sitting on your bed thinking for a good 30 minutes. After I finished, I was still thinking about the implications of this twist. I did see it coming, though. I had my suspicions here and there but I never expected that I would be right. It changes the novel completely and I liked what it did to my whole reading experience.
Overall, THIN SPACE is more of a character story about what it's like to lose the one person you thought you would be with the rest of your life, your brother, your twin. It was deep, emotional, and raw. I really liked watching Marsh learn to deal with this loss, cope, and find a way to move on and open up to someone else. I do wish there was more paranormal aspects of the novel, though. I think that would have added to the novel significantly and kept it more interesting. But this book will leave you thinking and rethinking everything you just read, you can count on that!
I received an ebook ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review can be found at The Bookish Daydreamer
The summary for this book sounded super intriguing and sounded like it would be bursting with paranormal happenings and elements. Unfortunately, THIN SPACE didn't deliver this as much as I would have liked. There were some great aspects of the novel that I loved, but there were also some things that fell flat for me.
Marsh has lost his other half and is living through a fog the months after his brother was killed in a car accident that he was the driver of. He walks around barefoot and just goes through the motions, not truly knowing what is going on around. He is sad, depressed, and absolutely desperate to find this mythical thin space that his old neighbor told him about. He believes it's the only way to fix things and to see his brother again.
The whole first half of the novel was Marsh post falling apart. It's obvious that he's hit rock bottom. He doesn't talk to anyone, no one talks to him. This section of the book is basically just Marsh thinking to himself. You really don't get any interaction with others. While this is critical to showing Marsh's downfall, it did get a bit irritating. I liked Marsh's voice but I wanted to get to know other characters, hear a dialogue, something. I got kind of tired of just being inside his head.
When the girl next door, Maddie, moved in, the novel picked up quite significantly. She was a happy go lucky, shy girl who brought some new dynamics to the scene. She got Marsh to talk and open up. She had a history of her own that slowly was unveiled. She wasn't perfect but I really liked how she added to the novel and woke up Marsh, so to speak. She took everything weird that Marsh said or did with a grain of salt and joined him in his search for a thin space. Like I said, this is when the novel finally picked up. They are now on a search, looking in strange places they think the thin space would be. They had deep conversations and it was enjoyable to read.
There is a big twist near the end. BIG. It'll make you go back and reread things. You'll be honestly sitting on your bed thinking for a good 30 minutes. After I finished, I was still thinking about the implications of this twist. I did see it coming, though. I had my suspicions here and there but I never expected that I would be right. It changes the novel completely and I liked what it did to my whole reading experience.
Overall, THIN SPACE is more of a character story about what it's like to lose the one person you thought you would be with the rest of your life, your brother, your twin. It was deep, emotional, and raw. I really liked watching Marsh learn to deal with this loss, cope, and find a way to move on and open up to someone else. I do wish there was more paranormal aspects of the novel, though. I think that would have added to the novel significantly and kept it more interesting. But this book will leave you thinking and rethinking everything you just read, you can count on that!
I received an ebook ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review can be found at The Bookish Daydreamer
September 12, 2013
For this review and more visit my blog
Thin Space was an interesting book that kept me entertained but I found it a little transparent and despite there being many twists and turns it never managed to surprise me.
Overall I enjoyed Thin Space but there were loads of niggley little things that took away from the reading experience. The opening was vague and it took me a while to get into, I wasn’t really sure what was going on or why things were happening. It was simple things like why Marshall walked around in no shoes that should have probably been explained a little early in the book so I didn’t spend half my time wondering why he was doing it. The writing, pace and plot were all really good but I never managed to lose myself in it. For some reason I remained detached and although it was entertaining I never really cared what happened. One big reason for my detachment was the fact that pretty early on I knew all this books secrets. I do not know if that was intentional but either way I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it did something I wasn’t expecting.
The characters were alright but again there was something missing. Marshall is really mixed up and I did feel for him a lot. I cannot imagine what he went through and I did manage to relate to him but he was just so cold. In the book he can’t let anyone get close to him and I felt that feeling so strongly that I couldn’t either. Maddie was alright but I didn’t really get her. There were moments where she seemed strong and moments where she was a bit of a push over. Again, getting to know her was hard and I would have liked a little more insight into her situation as not all of it made sense to me.
I liked the romance, it was sweet but not terribly important, and it was very much in the background. I could see the chemistry building between Maddie and Marshall and knew that them getting together was inevitable but it was not what this book was about at all. Maddie changes Marshall, she opens him up and it is their friendship and not the romance that begins to fix him.
Thin Space was an interesting and enjoyable book that needed a little more depth and emotion to truly grip me. I will look out for more from Jody Casella in the future.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
September 7, 2013
This book was such a wonderful surprise. I was immediately drawn to it when I read the synopsis, which is why I requested it. But that short description didn’t prepare me for the amazing story, the unique concept, the incredible writing and how much it would touch my heart.
From the very first page, I was treated to a stream of consciousness from Marsh. He was honest about his feelings and open with his emotions. He’s broken, he’s guilty, he’s sad and he’s alone. His twin brother is dead and he’s left to face the world without him. But Marsh will do whatever it takes to find the Thin Space, a doorway between reality and the next world, so that he can right this wrong. My heart broke for Marsh over and over…for his loneliness and for the tremendous amount of blame he carried on his shoulders. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and somehow make things better.
The writing was perfect…the words and phrases were seamless, pushing emotions off the page and towards me effortlessly. I saw what Marsh saw, felt what he felt, and rooted for him from the very beginning. What was different here was that I didn’t feel like I was on the sidelines but, somehow, right behind him in every barefoot step he took.
I immediately liked Maddie and, even though Marsh saw her as a means to an end initially, I knew she would be good for him. And she was. Her character brought a spark of light to his dark world and helped him see the possibilities. I also thought that the author did a great job with Marsh’s parents. Although we don’t see them a lot in the book, I could feel their heartache over the loss of a child and their confusion about how to help Marsh.
Along with the emotions came twists and turns and surprises. Marsh didn’t reveal his story all at once and, when he finally told me everything, I was both shocked and somehow sure I must have already known that. That’s the beauty of this book; it lures you in because you instinctively know there’s more than meets the eye.
This story unabashedly dives into the raw emotions of loss, the overwhelming weight of guilt and the single-mindedness of despair but it also shows the importance of hope and the healing power of love. It’s a wonderful debut novel from an author that I’ll be keeping my eye on! You should definitely read it!
From the very first page, I was treated to a stream of consciousness from Marsh. He was honest about his feelings and open with his emotions. He’s broken, he’s guilty, he’s sad and he’s alone. His twin brother is dead and he’s left to face the world without him. But Marsh will do whatever it takes to find the Thin Space, a doorway between reality and the next world, so that he can right this wrong. My heart broke for Marsh over and over…for his loneliness and for the tremendous amount of blame he carried on his shoulders. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and somehow make things better.
The writing was perfect…the words and phrases were seamless, pushing emotions off the page and towards me effortlessly. I saw what Marsh saw, felt what he felt, and rooted for him from the very beginning. What was different here was that I didn’t feel like I was on the sidelines but, somehow, right behind him in every barefoot step he took.
I immediately liked Maddie and, even though Marsh saw her as a means to an end initially, I knew she would be good for him. And she was. Her character brought a spark of light to his dark world and helped him see the possibilities. I also thought that the author did a great job with Marsh’s parents. Although we don’t see them a lot in the book, I could feel their heartache over the loss of a child and their confusion about how to help Marsh.
Along with the emotions came twists and turns and surprises. Marsh didn’t reveal his story all at once and, when he finally told me everything, I was both shocked and somehow sure I must have already known that. That’s the beauty of this book; it lures you in because you instinctively know there’s more than meets the eye.
This story unabashedly dives into the raw emotions of loss, the overwhelming weight of guilt and the single-mindedness of despair but it also shows the importance of hope and the healing power of love. It’s a wonderful debut novel from an author that I’ll be keeping my eye on! You should definitely read it!
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